Bush Bash III in the Desert: January 15-18.

D

DWK2

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A Request to Our W&SS Friends: When someone pulls up a thread about a gathering and sees that twenty posters are not attending, it can give them a negative impression about the event---even if ten people have committed to attend. Because of our geographically diverse membership and busy lives, it is inevitable that many more people will not be able to participate in any given gathering than those who can. Our request is that those who do not plan to attend or are unlikely to participate, please don't post your non-attending status. We are delighted to have non-attendees post questions, comments, suggestions, etc. but we'd be grateful if you would refrain from posting the fact that you can't attend. Thanks for helping us get our W&SS friends together in the field.

Sasha gets credit for suggesting this winter gathering in the desert. He is working on the location details but we thought we'd get the date out as soon as possible so people can hold it on their calendars if they think they might want to participate. We are planning on holding this event over Martin Luther King's birthday, which is the weekend of January 15-18, 2010. Some of us may arrive on Thursday, January 14.

Although we are still working on the exact location arrangements, the general area is expected to be off Route S2 in Anza-Borrego State Park. We will be in the vicinity of Carrizo Valley, below the Terra Blanca Mountains. Details to follow over the next few weeks.

The area in which we will be camping has access to some excellent desert hiking, which Sasha can describe in greater detail. There is also good mountain biking. We will be playing with desert stills, transpiration bags, and other such things.

Because this is desert and within AB Park, there are some restrictions. For example, we will have to bring fire pans and our own firewood because ground fires aren't permitted in the Park. Furthermore, no shooting in the Park (although it's OK on the BLM land just outside the Park). We'll have to check the rules on practice with archery equipment, slingshots, throwing knives, hawks, etc.

We are planning to use a location with at least basic toilet facilities but everyone will have to bring his/her own water. In addition, bring a tent capable of being rigged for wind. Wind is not inevitable but when it comes up it can be ferocious.

We hope to see a lot of you there!

DancesWithKnives
 
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Reads like a lot of fun. The last time I camped in the Arizona desert, I ended up throwing the cheap dome tent away, because of winds, blowing sand, broken zippers, etc., so a good tent would be advised as well as a good whisking broom to clean up before packing it all away again.

The last time I camped in a state park, bows had to be unstrung, or locked so they couldn't be drawn. No exceptions at that time, but things can change. Still, I would check with state before taking any firearms (bow is considered one I think) into state park system.
 
Thanks for the bow info. It's possible that we won't be able to do archery practice, but I'll check. I believe that any firearms transported through AB Park have to be unloaded and in locked cases.

This area won't be as lightly regulated as Camp Lambertiana but in January it should be a heck of a lot warmer.:cool: Not to mention closer for the San Diego contingent.

DancesWithKnives
 
loooooooong drive. Can I get a flag on a google map with the location in the park, just roughly? is it close off 78 or further south or?
 
I'm totally inept with computers so I'll ask Sasha if he can flag the approximate location when he checks in.

It would definitely be a long commute from NorCal and the Central Coast. We decided to go for it anyway because it's hard to find a warm wilderness area during the winter. Furthermore, it will help some of our San Diego members participate. Camp Lambertiana above Visalia is a long drive for them.

We went with the extended weekend in the hope that would help some members with longer drives. If those folks can take an extra day or two off, they can see some other sights around AB Park or even enjoy some civilization/pampering in Palm Springs on their way home.

If you've never spent time in AB Park, it is worth the visit. It is the largest state park in the Lower 48 and offers everything from South Dakota style badlands to more forested areas. One creek seems almost jungle-like as the foliage forms a canopy completely over sections of it. Also a lot of history---native sites, old mining sites, emigrant trails, pony express routes, early railroad trestle bridges, WWII gunnery sites, palm oases, etc.

DancesWithKnives
 
I'm pretty much due West of that location on 78 about 8 miles off the coast...so I'm in. Probably take me about two hours to get there. Just turned in the vacation slip at work. I've always camped in the mountains, so this should be interesting.
 
Desert camping is certainly different but I think you'll enjoy getting out during the middle of winter without freezing. I've been going to AB Park since childhood and it has a lot to offer.

DancesWithKnives
 
Beautiful area! I normally park in Blair Valley and hike out into nowhere.

For anyone that's google Earth savy, the aprox. location is: 33.074613, -116.419573.
 
DavG said:
Beautiful area! I normally park in Blair Valley and hike out into nowhere.

For anyone that's google Earth savy, the aprox. location is: 33.074613, -116.419573.
Click to expand...

By the way, you can just plug coordinates into Google Maps and it will show the location. Here's the link to the coordinates that DavG just posted.
 
So are we talking maybe 3 to 5 miles South East of where 78 and S2 intersect?
 
I believe it will be more than 3-5 miles from the intersection. But remember, we are still working on the location so trying to pinpoint it at this time will be futile. Approximate area is the best we can do right now.

Blair Valley is nice but we are trying for something with a bit lower use level.

DancesWithKnives
 
I have a co-worker that has spent considerable time backpacking in that area, so if you have a certain criteria in mind I can run it by him.
 
DWK2 said:
I believe it will be more than 3-5 miles from the intersection. But remember, we are still working on the location so trying to pinpoint it at this time will be futile. Approximate area is the best we can do right now.

Blair Valley is nice but we are trying for something with a bit lower use level.

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...


Sorry, didn't mean to imply I knew where it was going to be; I was just showing the location of the park. Hope ya'll have fun.
 
DavG---No problem at all. I just wanted to avoid frustrating people who were looking for an exact location.

JCavSD: Thanks for the offer and we may want to tap his knowledge at some point. Sasha has been to a couple camping locations in the area that he believes will meet our criteria but needs to make some phone calls to the rangers, etc. It would have been a lot neater to post the complete info package for BBIII at the same time but we wanted to give people as much notice as possible of the dates. That's why we're doing it this way. We expect to have the arrangements finalized within the next few weeks.

Thanks a lot for everyone's interest. Sorry about the lack of completeness. We'll get it together.

DancesWithKnives
 
Well it's a big place and it certainly looks like there are plenty of camping & hiking options. Let me know if you'd like me to sniff anything out.
 
Let's move up from page 3 so that a few more folks can see these dates.

DancesWithKnives
 
Blair Valley is a nice spot but it gets a lot of action, particularly on a three-day weekend. That's why Sasha is working on a location somewhat southeast of there, off S-2. Hopefully we will have a little more privacy and closer access to the better hiking trails that Sasha has previously experienced.

DancesWithKnives
 
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