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| no partners | | After my tour of Anza Borrego I had a new/old place to go, in that I had jeeped and hiked a little in the surrounding area.
I drove up to my car camp, unimpressed with the huge fire rings and shooter garbage, assorted shattered clay pigeons, and shell casings by the many dozens. Not a lot of regular trash though, but lots of wildcat quad trails running all over the place. I tried to place the Toyota out of the main drag for the night, I would move it a short distance to start the hike in the morning.
The evening was interesting. A couple of Jeeps drove by. Then a large dodge ram stopped not far from me and a tall, thin one armed man with an eye patch got out. I kid you not. The hair rose on the back of my neck and I locked myself in the vehicle. He walked around his vehicle, looked in a fire pit, then walked out to a view point for a few minutes. Then he got in his vehicle and left. I don't usually spook that easily but something about him really bothered me. I watched his departure and made sure he left the area entirely. If he hadn't I am not sure I wouldn't have packed up left, and come back the next day.
If that wasn't enough I had an after dinner walkabout to familiarize myself with the area, re: where the TH was.
It was not obvious but I did locate it. Then walking over a hill shortcut saw a strange thing. It appeared to be two people sitting on a table set up away from the road. I called out, no movement or answer. I walked up and it was three manikins dressed, two on a table and one on the ground, all wearing also gas masks, all female.
They hadn't been out here long as everything was not sun bleached or shot up. I of course took lots of pictures, mused as to their purpose, was tempted to pack them out then wondered what I would do with them if I did, finally wimped out and just left them as they were.
I had a night full of weird dreams. Next day though up and out to hike. The area was incredible, wonderful in that exploratory kind of way. I hiked an old washed out road to a mine, with great views, then tried a couple of canyons trying to get to some badlands. Both had great geology, narrows and high dry falls I could not get around. Hiked another wash out, and crossed a well traveled path. Followed that up to the mountain ridgeline. Things got real interesting when I rounded a corner. Just an incredible area of smooth sandstone like domes, with windows, arches and tunnels. I was like a kid in candyland. I ran around, but I was tired, and too soon wandered back toward my car with plans in my head to return here with a backpack. No need for a shelter, just camp in one of the many natural rock shelters. Then I could really explore and the photography potential with sunrise/set and a good moonrise would be awesome.
Need to watch the weather and hopefully make that happen before it gets too darn hot!
When I got back to the Toyota some people pulled up to hike. They asked me as I drove off, "uh, did you see those things over there---" Gotta love California weirdness-- |
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Route Editor
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