deserttrip

It was March 2006, and I’d finally made it out to the Ocotillo Badlands with my dad and my brother. Since my wife and daughter and I live out in Texas, we only get out to California about once a year, and we hadn’t been able to get any of our vacations to coincide with one of my dad’s infamous desert trips before.

I’d been itching to try out my new video camera and editing software on a project that wasn’t my daughter (first time dad here). As it turns out, I got to start my desert documentary before we even reached the desert. You see, that cooler we’d plugged in to the cigarette lighter drained the battery faster than we’d expected. I don’t really think we impressed too many people by trying to start out with a dead battery. After we got the battery recharged, we bid our wives farewell and headed out. My dad drove, and I played with my video camera. Good times.

After we got to the desert, we claimed our spot, raised the flag, and settled down in the meager shade our van could provide. It was hot. But that’s okay, on account of us being in the desert and stuff. Gotta expect that sort of thing I suppose. A 7-11 out there woulda been nice though. I mean, since we don’t have those stillsuits they had in Dune, a Big Gulp is pretty much the next best thing, right?

I tried to catch a variety of the action on video throughout the two days. There was the standard shooting range action. The remote control plane made a brief appearance before plunging to the desert floor, breaking off the propeller and nose assembly. The spud gun was fun to play around with. There’s something about shoving vegetables through wood at high speeds that’s insanely satisfying. Maybe it’s something God programmed into us. We also had several excellent rocket launches. We even launched the first rocket my brother and I ever got (an Estes Alpha). My grandfather bought it for us many years ago, and it still works.

Everything ended with the traditional pyrotechnics and bonfire. There were some high winds that last night that made the bonfire burn quite violently. Since we had decided to sleep under the stars during the trip, my dad and I struggled with staying sand free in our sleeping bags. That’s okay, I’m sure Luke Skywalker had the same problem on Tatooine.

I got all the good stuff on video ‘cept for the finale because my camera battery gave out five seconds too early. Well, fiddlesticks. I didn’t think anybody was going to let me call for a second take, so I just let it go.

Anyway, I was able to edit the whole trip onto DVD and make a downloadable version as well. I’m sure it’s linked here somewhere.

Ethan Cooper.

– How to get there

The simplist way is to take route 78 to Ocotillo Wells. I prefer going through Valley Center to Route 76. Take 76 East past Palomar Mountain and Lake Henshaw. Turn left on route 79 then right on S2. Turn left on 78 (Scissors Crossing) to Ocotillo wells. Continue on 78 to the Imperial County Line. Watch the mile markers The County Line is at 0.0 miles. The Imperial County line is 3.3 miles past Split Mountain Rd, according to my odometer. Turn a little less than 90 degees right and go straight as possible for about a half mile. Cross a broad wash then a small ridge. You should run into a road that bears to the right and takes you to camp Unless you get there before we do, we will have Old Glory flying from the top of a hill to the right of camp.

Another way is to go past the Imperial County Line until you see a 65 MPH and a 55 MPH sign a short distance beyond. The 55 MPH sign is 4.3 miles from Split Mountain Road, according to my odometer. Turn right 90 degrees, in front of the 55 sign and go about a hundred feet. Turn right 90 degrees on the trail which will join with a broad wash.. This will lead you through a gap betweem two ranges of low hills. Follow the road to camp. The distance from my house in Vista is almost exactly 100 miles.

We do not recommend coming in after dark unless you are familiar with the area.

We haven't had a trip report for a long time. I used to try to do a report on each trip but I sort of ran out of things to write about and didn't have much luck getting anyone else to do it.

Don L. sent me a note about our most recent trip. Here is his story:

Fred,

Wanted to give you an update on this weekend's desert trip.

I arrived at our location at 5 PM Friday afternoon and it was a beautiful

day.

Traffic was light heading east on 78 and pulling off of the main road to

drive south toward the camp site I could see that this was going to be a

great weekend because there weren't the number of campers & other rigs

scattered where they typically are. As I made the final right turn to go

down the wash to the camp I was really excited to be there and looking

forward to the couple of days away from everything. Pulling closer to

camp I saw that I was the first member of the party to arrive. I climbed

some hills, threw some rocks, watched a beautiful sunset and then about 8

PM headed back to Vista since no one else showed up. I hope no one else

drove out this weekend to find the place empty. Next year I think we

should try to develop a central base where people can inform others as to

whether or not they're going to be there so others can plan accordingly.

I really did enjoy myself Friday however the cost of gas made it for an

expensive drive.

Don

Thanks Don, I'm glad that you had a good time anyway. A little solitude can be great but

too much of it can be a bore. We will try to make sure this doesn't happen again. There won't be another trip to the badlands until October but I will be checking out some info on a place much closer to home where we can play paint ball and shoot all year. It is on private property and I am told there is no charge.

I will keep you posted.

Fred