So Cal Earthquake - dodging boulders in Anza Borrego -*PICTURES ADDED*
Yesterday my husband and I decided to go to Anza Borrego Desert State Park and drive down Fish Creek Wash and Sandstone Canyon. We'd gone a few miles into the wash, and we had stopped to watch trickles of sand running down a cliff face when we felt the truck rocking back and forth. We backed up away from the cliff and were narrowly missed by the large cooler size rocks that followed the trickles of sand. EARTHQUAKE!!
I got out of the truck and took this picture of dust rising in the distance, about a minute after the quake hit. Something big obviously had landed on the desert floor!
This is the first real evidence that this had been a big quake that had caused some serious damage. There were still rocks and rivers of sand coming off this cliff face.
We continued down Fish Creek Wash and turned up into Broken Axle Gulch, only to find the way blocked right where the sign is posted at the first squeeze.
We turned around and headed back down Fish Creek and then turned in towards Sandstone Canyon. We didn't see any big rock slides, until at 1.2 miles up Sandstone Canyon we came upon this:
This next shot is taken just past the debris from the picture above and looking further up the canyon
I walked up into the canyon and called to see if anyone was there and needing help. This shot was taken as I was walking back down to the truck.
Notice the tire tracks leading up from the bottom of this next picture
I'd say that Sandstone Canyon is blocked until someone wants to move some big rocks!
__________________ "If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
So Cal Earthquake - dodging boulders in Anza Borrego Pt 2
As I started to type this second part of my trip report, we were hit by another smaller earthquake. Hang on! I guess California is falling into the ocean!
As we headed out of Fish Creek Wash we came upon numerous small rock slides like this one
Looking from the other direction
And this one
This was a pretty big one; the blue truck that's behind the bush in the middle of the shot can give you a little bit of perspective
This was by far the biggest rock slide that we saw.
The Fish Creek Wash area is one of my favorite parts of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Its a shame that Sandstone Canyon is blocked only 1.2 miles from the entrance. Though it wouldnt be impossible to clear the rubble from there and also from the entrance to Broken Axle Gulch. Here are some random shots from the wash and canyon, just to show how beautiful it is there
__________________ "If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Definitely would not want to be under one of the slides when it decides to come crashing down...
__________________
-Terry.
2004 Ranger XLT SC 4x4, 4.0L, M5OD, 4.10LS, Payload Package2, Towing Package.
1977 F150 Ranger 4x4, 414cid (6.8L) w/ '72 2V Cleveland heads, C6 Auto.
"Control will always be in the hands of people intelligent enough to operate in the shadows, while using puppets in the public eye." - shorebird
Holy smoke Melanie, glad you just escaped that. Is the spot that we were talking about awhile back? At least you had the sense to get out once you saw the trickles and shakes. Pretty country!!
Great pics...thanks for sharing. For those of us on the Rhght Coast...we only think of the ocean views...we don't often think of the deserts. I guess every part of the country has some beautiful areas.
__________________ Member of the Massachusetts Chapter
wow, awesome pics man! i'm from SD and have been down fish creek and elsewhere in the park cause I drove a lifted Cherokee for years when I lived there......just amazing pics, must have been crazy to be there of all places when the quake hit huh?? dang
So California and Northern Baja continue to get rocked by aftershocks. I'm surprised at how little attention this earthquake is getting. When I've mentioned it to friends living outside of the area, alot of times I'm asked "what earthquake?". I don't know if its the problems with bringing donations into Mexico, but I haven't seen an outpouring of help as I've seen with other disasters like the recent hurricane that struck central baja. Am I just missing something?
I heard that the quake caused a change in course of the Rio Hardy, just south of Mexicali, and many homes have been flooded. I'll post pictures of this as soon as I can.
These are some pictures that I received from friends living in Baja. Some taken around Mexicali and some on the highway that connects Tecate and Mexicali:
__________________ "If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
eye opening pictures, good point about the relief!
it would be bad to have been up Broken Axle Gulch when that happened
__________________ They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
the little people who live behind my eyes and scream directly at my brain told me to tell you HELLO Diamond K your complete automotive and truck repair center
This forum is owned and operated by Internet Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation. It is not authorized or endorsed by the Ford Motor Company and is not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or its related companies in any way. FordŽ is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company.
Let's keep it all together, please? 
Sounds like fun 
