Updated
12/6: added attendee's and trails.
12/28: updated attendees; Saturday meet-up location; days for each trail;

Attendees (dates attending)
Ray (Sat-Tues)
Tyson & crew (Sat-Sun; 2-3 rigs)
Jason A (Sat-Tues; pending successful rig repair)
Nick R (Sat-Tues) / Steve D (Sat-Tues)
Spencevans (??; prob not...)

Saturday:
Setup base camp and run @Lower Coyote Canyon trail
10:00am Meet up at Ocotillo Wells SVRA where we'll quickly find a good campsite site, set up camp, & have a possibly quick lunch.
12:00pm Head out & run the Lower Coyote Canyon trail which is just NW of Borrego Springs. This trail is only a 3-4 hour trip which should be short enough so we can get back to camp in time for dinner.

Sunday:
Pinion Canyon series of trails in Anza Borrego.
This will be a full day. We'll want to leave camp by 9:00am.
1) Oriflamme Cnyn
2) Pinyon Mtn Rd. and the infamous squeeze
3) Diablo Drop Off
4) Canyon Sin Nombre.

Monday:
We'll do the Ocotillo Wells trails so this will be a bit more relaxed. We'll want to leave camp by 10:00am.
1) Pumpkin Patch
2) Cross Over Trail

Tuesday:
Break camp and head home.

Trails
GPS waypoints(.gpx format files) can be freely downloaded from http://www.funtreks.com/suv-4x4-book-waypoint-downloads/free-gps-waypoint-downloads

44. Lower Coyote Canyon (In Red)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Soft sand, rocky climb,& a water crossing.
TIME & DISTANCE: 9.5 miles one way taking 3-4 hours for a round trip.

48. The Slot (Optional so not colored in)
DIFFICULTY: Difficult because of one very steep sand hill. Moderate rock crawling but mostly easy. Can drive in opposite direction to avoid the uphill.
TIME & DISTANCE: 11.7 mile loop takes 1hr + 15 minutes to hike up to the Slot.

49. Ocotillo Wells SVRA (In Yellow. This will be used as an easy route to get to trails 50 & 51)

50. Pumpkin Patch (In Yellow)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. One rocky wash & some tight undulating hills. Potentially impassible when wet.
TIME & DISTANCE: 4.4miles one way taking 1hr.

51. Cross Over Trail (In Yellow)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Step climbs, tight turns. Suitable for high clearance stock vehicles. Stay off when wet. Route finding is difficult.
TIME & DISTANCE: 6.7 miles taking 2hrs.


52. Oriflamme Canyon (In Blue)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Mildy rocky w/ steep, narrow switchbacks. Suitable for stock high clearance SUV's.
TIME & DISTANCE: 11.1 miles taking 1.5hrs each way.

54. Pinyon Mntn. Rd. (In Blue)
DIFFICULTY: Difficult. Passes through canyon with steep hills & one extremely steep descent. Not recommended for stock or full size rigs. Experienced drivers only. Lockers make the trip easier. Do not drive when there's heavy rain due to flash floods.
TIME & DISTANCE: 30.5 miles taking 4-5 hrs.

55. Sandstone Canyon (Optional so not colored in)
DIFFICULTY: Easy. Sandy wash bottom suitable for most stock SUV's. Conditions can get worse after storms. Flash flooding possible.
TIME & DISTANCE: 15 miles taking 1.5-4 hrs.

56. Canyon Sin Nombre (In Blue but am not sure which direction will be easier/harder)
DIFFICULTY: Easy. Route follows mostly sandy wash bottom suitable for stock SUV's. Don't park near steep embankments in case there's an earthquake that causes falling rocks.
TIME & DISTANCE: 11.6 miles taking 1.5-2 hrs.

JUSTICE: Do we turn left or right when we get to Canyon Sin Nombre?

57. Diablo Dropoff / Mud Caves (In Blue)
DIFFICULTY: Difficult. Primarily because of the Diablo Dropoff which is steep and badly eroded with soft sand at top. Above it the trail loops through 2 deeply cut washes of moderate diffculty. Canyon walls can collapse partially or totally blocking the trail.
TIME & DISTANCE: 17.6 miles which can take nearly a full day although we'll only be doing 60% of it so it should be a lot less time/distance.

High probability for me. My club does a New Years trip to Ocotillo Wells area. Where are you considering?

I wont be back yet for that, but bring russell. I showed him the best trail last year or the year before.

John, haven't decided which trails yet.

Justice, Russell? Not sure who he is... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> have been meaning to ask which trail you did with the squeeze obstacle?

I would be definitely down for Ocotillo Wells! Holmes camp area, or Pole line road?

I'm in if i can get the day off!

Sounds interesting. What dates are you thinking on going? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Not sure about John's club run, but I'm thinking of being there from 12/29-1/1.

Still not sure about which trails to run since its my first trip to that area. Am looking to do both difficult runs as well as average ones. I've only spent a short time looking over the runs shown the Charles Wells guide book to S. Ca.

I definitely want to do the Pinyon Mtn. trail with the 'squeeze' which is rated difficult. Then there are a bunch of other easy to difficult trails in the area. Which ones i choose will partially depend on the level of those going.

We may also split into 2 groups so some can do harder trails while others do easier trails.

Of course, I'm also open to any trail suggestions from anyone familiar with the area.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Tierra del Sol usually does the week between Xmas and New Years. We hit trails in the area north and south of S22.

There may be some closures in the Fish Creek/squeeze area. Might check with the park as the was a big flash flood that blew through there about a month ago and did significant rearrangement.

After a brief and cursory review of the trails in the 'Wells Guide', I'm considering the following trails...
# in book. | Trail Name | (D=Difficult, M=Moderate)
45. Calcite Mine (D):
46. Truckhaven (D)
48. The Slot (D)
50. Pumpkin Patch (M)
51. Cross Over Trail (M)
52. Oriflamme Canyon (M)
54. Pinyon Mntn. Rd. (D)
57. Mud Caves (D)
58. Mortero Wash (M)
59. Los Pinos Lookout (M)
60. Bronco Peak (D)
61. Sidewinder (D)
63. Table Mountain (M)
64. Smugglers Cave/Elliot Mine (D)

For those who've been there, any suggestions on trails to do?

From what I've been reading, it seems the Moderate trails should be fine for a Montero on 31 or 32's & Difficult trails with 33's and some armor. Justice you've been on some of these trails before with both a Gen I and Gen II so any insight on the difficulty is appreciated.

If there are enough going we can split to 2 groups especially for those who don't want to do Pinyon Mtn. (which will be a trail I definitely want to do) due to its difficulty and of course the SQUEEZE obstacle where wide rigs like full size pickups will experience damage to the body.

Map of Area with trail numbers.
Note: Diamond=Difficult | Square=Moderate