Messing About in the Desert......

We are thoroughly enjoying the diversity and beauty of the desert....hiking, exploring the "out-back" and now.....making off-road adventures. 

Hiking into the Anza Badlands

Exploring the Badlands - a place to lose yourself in beauty!

 

Hiking up San Felipe Wash towards "Hills of the Moon" in the Badlands

 

Stumbling Across Rock Art.....

View from the "Hills of the Moon" ridge.....

Spectacular 360 degree view.....

Really, a must do again hike....!!

 Backcountry 4-wheeling...more endless opportunities!

The entrance to Coyote Canyon is just a few miles from the house...Once the home to the Cahuilla (Ka-wee-ah) people, this area offered both shelter by the canyons and year-round water.  Desert Bighorn Sheep (Borrego) now roam the canyons.

Definitely not a place to be during a heavy rain!!

One of the three crossings you must make to get into the upper canyon area.

 

Ocotillo and "Teddy Bear' Cactus abound!

Interesting find...reminded us of Mexico :)

Hiking....... up to Alcoholic Pass!

This mountain pass was once the quickest route to Borrego Springs from Rockhouse Canyon.  It is said the early settlers used this route to get both their supplies and booze.  Thus the name...
Alcoholic Pass.

Beautiful view back into the lower portion of Coyote Canyon
with Borrego Springs in the background.

All uphill from the floor of the canyon to the pass...
We figure it probably sobered the settlers up a bit.....

Signing the AA register at the pass....

The ocotillo is still green in the valley...due to late summer rains.

Our new mode of travel...OHV

 Ocotillo Wells OHV Recreational Area is only a 25 minute drive from the house.  Here some 80,000 acres of desert are open to Off-Highway-Vehicles.  These vehicles are generally not street-legal, and can not be operated inside the Anza Borrego State Park itself.... 

Our new toy, a Polaris RZR....you know what they say "when in Rome......"

Typical OHV trail in the upper portion of one of the desert washs.

This is called "The Pumpkin Patch"....a unique area with these odd rock formations scattered on the desert floor.

Nobody for miles, it's a lot like the open ocean!!

 

Known as Shell Reef....is a remnant of an ancient sea shore..4 million years ago.
The reef was uplifted when the surrounding mountains were formed.



The Reef is mostly composed of clam, scallop and oyster fossils...
Did you know that the Sea of Cortez once came all the way up and to this area?? 

Geothermal and "Mud Pots" can also be found in the desert.. like Yellowstone.

 

Rosie, liking the new toy.

Cross country trekking in the RZR...great fun.



 

A little clip of some "desert fun"...