Wildflower Fun Run, East Cal Desert April 3

[djongeward]

I'm inviting everyone for a Wildflower Fun Run in the Eastern Imperial Valley on Saturday April 3.

This will be in the East Mesa BLM area SE of Brawley. For more info check out the SCFSJ link. I'm just doing this on my own because I am a wildflower fanatic and this years wildflower show will be a once in a lifetime event. The El Nino rain patterns this year have set in motion a near perfect bloom by keeping the emerging plants well watered. It is raining still at this moment.

I think this will be the best in 10 to 20 years and not the only areas to see these, but I know where to go out here and know a bit about the local flora.

Currently the patches are filling in and not in bloom. We also have an abundance of desert lily's. These are some of the first to bloom and are from bulbs that can lie dormant for years. They are coming up everywhere out there and are almost full hight and are setting buds.

I have a GPS route marked out and it's nothing a stock waggy couldn't handle. You do need 4x4 and perhaps airing down but I have air back at the ranch to re-inflate. There are a few sand traps and small hills but nothing sketchy. I would suggest a cb for communication and each vehicle should carry a snatch strap and a shovel. Hi-lift jacks are good but not necessary.

More information to follow.

[will e]

I wish I was near ya. We are watching for wild flowers here in AZ. Should also be an awesome year here but they are just now barely starting to bloom.

Post pictures!

[djongeward]

I wish I was near ya. We are watching for wild flowers here in AZ. Should also be an awesome year here but they are just now barely starting to bloom.

Post pictures!

When they bloom I will. I usually don't get that excited about them because we have them every spring, wonderful. However, this year is really unusual in the near perfect timing of consecutive rain events.

It's interesting how mother nature works sometimes. We have a plant out here, in AZ too, called Desert Lily. They are bulbs and no matter what the rain is they appear about this time. I have always seen a few and they are rare out there, but this season, there are thousands of them. I know where some patches are and check on them, normally just a few here and there. I've been shocked lately. The deal is they start to grow before the rains, how did they know there was going to be this much rain? What sets them off?

From just little sprouts a few weeks ago to total green out in some areas out there. It is really an interesting site to see previously naked sand dunes turn green and soon to be covered in blooms.

Temps will be in the mid 70's this week so I'm out there as soon as it dries out. It rained all day yesterday and you really can't even go down a farm road till at least tomorrow. I am stoked. :D

On the Zonies side, I think the valley between Parker and Quartzite will start soon but last I checked there was a lot of grass. Good for those cattle ranges though.

[will e]

That's very interesting about how that plant knows it is going to rain.

It is almost magical here. The mountain sides are turned into yellow blankets of flowers.

[djongeward]

That's very interesting about how that plant knows it is going to rain.

It is almost magical here. The mountain sides are turned into yellow blankets of flowers.

Cool eh? Folks have no idea how gorgeous this time of year is out here. Well, maybe the masses of snowbirds do. We're getting to mid 70's low 80's. Spring starts in February here. Corn is up and I'm surrounded by thousands of acres of wheat a foot high already. Beats the beets we had last year. :D

[djongeward]

Everything is going off in the local deserts. Tons and Tons. Pics to follow.:D

[fsj1978]

My wife and I are interested, so keep us posted on when and where to meet. And thanks for hosting the run. :-) Wow, this would be our first FSJ outing since Ouray 2002!

[Badawg]

I am all over this! I want to go. My trip into Laguna Salada 2 weks ago showed a LOT of growth, but not many flowers yet...

[djongeward]

I was getting worried that no one wanted to go. I just got back from a boy scout camp in our local desert just West of Brawley, the flowers are still going off and still more to go. We were out early Friday in the East Desert and still going off even more than earlier in the week.

I was worried about the high temps denting the bloom. I guess it isnt a problem. We are getting 90 degrees by tuesday and then going down into the low 70's the rest of the week till the weekend. We may even get a bit of rain on Wed/Thurs.

I have been on the trail I picked at least twice a week for the last month. Easy run, but for those who want some challenge there are alternative routes. I'm doing this in my stock wagg with tires aired down to 20. I usually air down at the trail head and then dirt road it back to the ranch and air back up. You can use my air there or have your own.

You should top of your tank, depending on which way you get here, in Brawley, Holtville, or El Centro.

I think going as early in the morning as possible. My location, the ranch, is about 2hrs or so from San Diego, and about 3 or so from Orange County and only an Hour or so from Yuma. I am just South of the Glamis turn on Hwy 115. Easy to get to, so we migh as well meet here and it is basically a straight shot into the desert from there. The run will take about 3 hours including the drive out and back to the ranch. I have no time frame if we need to stop and smell the flowers and take pics.

Because of the distance some will be driving to get here, I'm thinking about a 9am start. If you want to get here the night before, I would suggest dry camping along Whitlock Road, which is just East of the Highline Canal. You can find these places on Google Earth.

I will take PM's and give you a specific address and phone number to locate us on Thursday.

I want this to be a de-stress fun run. Just take it all in and relax kinda thing in an area that most folks don't get to go see.

[Badawg]

There is a front coming in this week that has a chance of sobstantial rain and snow to 4K feet. Should cool it off nicely...

[djongeward]

That would be iceing on the cake, for sure! Sand would be firmer. It was really nice here today, still a balmy 71 at 8pm.

Everyone is welcome. :drivin:

[fsj1978]

Because of the distance some will be driving to get here, I'm thinking about a 9am start. If you want to get here the night before, I would suggest dry camping along Whitlock Road, which is just East of the Highline Canal. You can find these places on Google Earth.
Would that be a good (and relatively safe) place to setup a 19' pop up trailer? Nope, not looking for guarantees, just your opinion.

[djongeward]

The whole area along Whitlock Rd south from Hwy 78 is open BLM. It is a "Limited Use" area, that means you need to stay on trails. Other than that you can camp any where you want, set fires, and dance around naked for all anyone cares. Just ask the folks up near the hot springs. :D

Seriously, you can camp safely. The trail head we will be entering is South of Boyd Road off of Whitlock and goes east into the area. Look for any turn out and go in as far as your comfortable so your out of sight of the road. Even during busy weekends, I rarely see anyone on Whitlock in that area. We have a Scout camp during the cool months off of Whitlock just south of 78 and a few yards west. You can tell those by the large burn areas.

If you want to be near people, there is still a few SnowBird camps on the county trail #461 only a mile or so S of 78. This trail has some sand traps but these guys pull trailers in there. That trail is just E of Whitlock a few hundred feet and parallels it. There is a BLM sign there that says "Welcome to East Mesa".

There are no fees for any of these areas as long as you stay out of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area about 10 more miles to the East.

All the action is further East in the Dunes. We avoid that area, and all the weekend warriors because we prefer isolation. There is a hot spring in this area off of #461, a beautiful oasis warm pool surrounded by native fan palms. Which is why there are SnowBirds in the area. Unfortunately it burned down a few weeks ago, some kids set fire to the palm skirts. Sad. The last time that happened was about 10 years ago. Took the palms a long time to regrow. Locals are not amused. I was going to end our run there.

The weather is expected to be moderate, high 70's low 80's just after a storm system passes through on Thursday night. Saturday will be perfect. Nights will be chilly in the 50's.

Finally, you may notice many bee boxes set up along Whitlock. Local beekeepers leave them there. You might not want to camp near them. The beekeepers often leave them at access roads because, well, they can get to them. But they are all close to the road so you just go in a few hundred yards more, not a problem.

[fsj1978]

Cool deal. We may or may not have our Cherokee but it sounds like we'll be camping and attending the run. Is anybody else interested in camping out there somewhere??? I presume we'd be welcome to attend even in a... <gasp> Avalanche?

[fsj1978]

I'm sorry to say that we're not going to be attending. :( I do hope you guys have a good turnout and post a picture or two.

[djongeward]

To bad. We don't care what you ride. But you do need 4x4 and air down. So nice out here. Only got to 86 or so and then the west winds kicked in and are starting the cool down. Some locals think it may actually be cool an Saturday. We are still anticipating rain late Wed or early Thurs. Which would make it even better.

I'll be posting info on Thursday on where to meet up and a phone number.

[djongeward]

9AM California Time is Meet time.

PM me for a Phone # and directions please.

We have decided to meet at the trail head. This is one mile south of Whitlock Road and Boyd Road intersection. Boyd is the farm road you access the East Mesa Desert from. Boyd T's into Whitlock and then South on
Whitlock for 1 mile or so. You will notice trail markings on plastic flexable flat brown markers about 3 feet high. These are BLM Trail markers. You will see them all over this area. Whitlock Road is marked 460 and you will see a few of these until you see one that says 463. The trail head is 463. We will be there. This trail heads east and over some sand hills. The flower patches get more intense the further you go east. You should exit at this trail unless you can connect to 465 two miles north or 530 about two miles south. These are the most easiest trails in and out. You will need to go at least 2 miles in and then over a ridge of sand hills, you should air down your tires. I air down my stock sized AT's to 20 lbs. 4WD High, mostly second gear, some first.

Some said they may be late so if you are, we will be going out via trail #465 onto Whitlock. You could go in there and run into us. We will be out beyond the sand hills in a valley meandering north to connect to the 465.

I will be on channel 19 the whole time for CB. Cells sometimes work out there. You are only a few miles from Whitlock to the West at any given time.

It is real easy to get lost out there. I use a gps that lays down a track. You can always backtrack.

On getting stuck. It is very easy. I have gotten stuck this season, and I drive this at least once a week. Air down, dont gun or spin your tires. The wags will mostly power through as long as you keep rpms up and your moving. Do not stop suddenly or start suddenly. If you get stuck, you might try to back out easy. If you dig in your done.

Sand extracting: If you have another vehicle, good. Snatch strap out. Get a running start and let it have it. Don't get stuck by trying to muscle em out, won't work on sand.

If your by yourself you need a small shovel and a high lift jack with a wood sand platform. I use a big 6x10 block or a 2ft x 2ft heavy ply. Jack your self up out of the hole and fill it in. Pack it in good and don't dump the wagg on your foot. Do this all around till you back on level ground. Very gently drive forward or back depending.

[will e]

looking forward to pictures.

[djongeward]

We had a good run. Pics on the way.

[LHopper]

Looking forward to your pics. I`m just back from a 3 day trip to Anza Barroego, Sheeps Canyon, Which was a great trip.:fsj: