Picacho

Sometimes you just need to get away. This weekend was one of them.

Heading out of town on a holiday weekend wasn’t originally planned. Staying away from the crowds and keeping around the house was originally the idea, but that went out the window.

I was tired of the mountains and the desert was the last place I wanted to be as it’s the peak of summer. Talking about jets boats with a buddy of mine sparked an idea, why not head to the lower Colorado River and revisit a gem of a place – Picacho.

Years back, we made a trip to Picacho on a giant loop through Ocotillo Wells, Bradshaw Trail, along the river, Glamis and back. Shortly after, we boated from Lake Martinez to the giant rock face in Picacho, just across from the 4-S campground. Not wanting to go up in elevation and being in the middle of the desert without water would be ridiculous… so why not go to the middle of the desert with water?

Left a little late on Friday and began the journey towards Yuma through 79 south and hwy 78 as if you we’re heading to Ocotillo Wells from Temecula. Just past the Banner grade tiredness started to take hold after not being able to sleep the last few nights. Instead of jamming all the way out I decided to split the trip and stay in Anza Borrego.

Surprisingly, there was nobody out there… Maybe something to do with the 100+ degree weather and hair-drier like fast moving air. Found a good spot that acted like a slight wind block and got the camper all setup. Beer, dinner and a little time under the stars before calling it a night.

Got up a decent time and started the 2 hour drive through Imperial Valley to Yuma for a final pit stop on fuel, ice and some random supplies.

Restocked and refueled in Yuma, Picacho is roughly straight ahead.

Once on Picacho Rd, the first few miles are paved, then it’s solid 27 mile mixture of washboard, jagged rocks, sand and amazing scenery.

Picacho Mines

Opened by placer miners after 1852, the gold mines expanded into hard rock quarrying by 1872. Picacho employed 700 miners at it’s peak from 1895 to 1900. Mill accidents, low ore quality and the loss of cheap river transport with the building of Laguna Dam led to numerous periods of inactivity. With ores far from worked out, the Picacho Mines, using modern techniques, again resumed operations in 1984.

Once at the park boundary, I stopped to check out the information board, grab a pamphlet and pay the park’s fee. Rather steep at $25 bucks for a middle-of-nowhere primitive camping site, but I paid to help support the cause before moving on. Made a left before the main campground heading north towards the isolated sites. The dirt road is fairly basic other then a few blind crests and narrow areas and although signs said 4wd is required, I didn’t need it.

I was worried that it being a holiday weekend and arriving close to noon that everything would be taken and I’d have to resort staying at the main campground, or just make the drive home as I didn’t want to sweat out another night without some form of relief from the heat. A few vehicles occupied the first couple of areas but as I made the right onto the trail that leads to 4-S, I was pleasantly surprised that it was completely empty.

Felt good to be back after quite a few years of not visiting this area.

Being back here reminded me of a couple great memories. Was fun to relive them being in the same spot.

Back before “overlanding” was a thing.

Boated up from Lake Martinez and hung out below the rock face.

Enjoyed a few cold beers and jumped in the water before a park ranger pulled in directly behind the truck. For whatever reason I was expecting there was a problem, although I had nothing to worry about, but he ended up being extremely nice and helpful – just wanted to make sure I had paid my fee’s and that everything was alright and to chat. Later on, during their boat patrols, he’d shoot me a “hang loose” hand sign while passing by. Good stuff.

Hours of nobody around, scorching heat and an endless supply of cool river water was the perfect receipt for relaxation. Occasionally there would be a boat going by and a few hee-haws from the burros across the way but other than that it remained peaceful the entire day.

As the sun set and temperature began to “cool”, made a dinner then fired up the portable camp fire for ambient light. Solid day enjoying a piece of paradise all to myself.

It was dark when I saw headlights approaching from the distance. An older Chevy Suburban pulled up packed with people, fishing gear and a giant bumper mounted ice chest. Not sure what to expect when you’re in the middle of nowhere with no service and by yourself, had me a bit on my toes until we said our pleasantries and learning they were there to fish through the night. With that in mind and having a long day, I resided to the camper so they could do their thing on the beach.

Following morning, once again I was up early and decided to pack up and get on the road. The people ended up staying the night without any form of tent or the like. Instead there was 7 or so people spread out sleeping on the tables, the Suburbans hood, chairs and wherever else was comfortable at the time. I moved and got things ready as quiet as possible, but unfortunately when it came time to leave, the diesel isn’t exactly the most stealth when roaring to life…

No intentions of shooting straight home, I wanted to take my time and explore a bit along the way. First thing was checking out the main camping portion of Picacho. Didn’t get more then 500 feet before I ran into the morning commute… Burro’s were almost every direction you turned – on the road, on the hill, in the bushes, washes and water.

Bit of reminiscing on this part of the trail

I’m not a campground guy by any means, but I’d actually stay at the main park. Rangers were nice, ample room between sites – some of them even utilizing ruins of “squatters'” that used to live in this area, clean bathrooms, showers and a overall good feel to it. I made my rounds through the camping area, launch ramps and heading towards the old mill hiking trail.

Picacho Townsite

When gold was discovered here in 1862, settlers came from Sonora, Mexico and established the community called Rio.

In 1895, Jose Maria Mendivil recorded his riverside homestead as Picacho, Spanish for peak or crag. It became the first registered town in what would be Imperial County. At the turn of the century, Picacho boasted a population of 2,500 people, a post office, two saloons, and a polo field. Ninety children were enrolled at the school.

In 1910, Laguna Dam was built downstream from Picacho, cutting off shipping access by Yuma paddle-wheelers. Freight costs soared, ad the mines closed. Picacho dwindled an in 1939, finally drowned as water rose behind the newly built Imperial Dam. Today little remains of the lively town.

At about a two mile round trip, I had enough time to check out the old mill site before the temperature became too much. At the beginning of the trail you can grab a pamphlet for a self guided tour and a long the way there are rocks with painted numbers on them that corresponds to the guide. I found it well worth the time and effort to check it out.

Back at the truck I talked to the Park Rangers one more time before making my way towards the exit. On the way lays an old cemetery.

Time to get back to civilization and slowly make the journey home. Still not in any hurry decided to take Olgilby Rd then cut through Glamis to get a bit of excitement built up for the upcoming desert & dune season.

Yuma off in the distance

Ended up passing a site marker on the way and thought it’d be neat to stop and check out them out along the way. Usually something you fly-by and never really take the time to stop and read. So that’s what I did… Ended up giving me some great ideas for areas to explore in the future.

Obregon

The historic gold mining community of Obregon lies near here in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. As a frontier town, Obregon marks the location of several attempts to extract ore during the 1850s through the 1930s. Several different milling technologies were used during Obregon’s existence. These included a 20 stamp mill, cornish rolls, and a herdinge mill, all successively emplyed prior to 1913. Finally a flotation plant tired to extract gold from the meager ore in 1936 before all mining ceased in 1939. Today, modern heap leach and conventional milling operations continue the quest for gold.

In early 1989, American Girl Mining Joint Venture received the necessary governments approval to resume open pit and underground mining operations in American Girl Canyon. Prior to startup of these operations the remains of the original Obregon town site were thoroughly documented, and the 5 graves circa 1892 were relocated to the Holtville Cemetery.

A few miles up a lonely sign for Tumco stood pointing towards the desert. The place looked like a great place to explore and even had a self guided tour, although there were no pamphlets left and a lot of it seeming like it’s been left to wear the elements. Even if, it was far too hot to embark on a hike.

Tumco Townsite

Tumco is an abandoned gold mining town, and one of the earliest fold mining areas in California. Gold was first discovered here by Spanish colonists who were moving north from Sonora. Legends talk of two young boys who returned to camp one evening carrying loads of gold ore in their shirts. The surrounding Cargo Muchacho Mountains were named for these muchachos cargados (loaded boys). Following this initial discovery, Mexican settlers operated numerous small mines here for many years.

In 1894, during a mining boom, the previous mining camps in the area incorporated as the town of Hedges. The riches did not last long. Poor management and over expansion led to the complete abandonment of the area by 1905. The United Mines Company reopened the mines in 1910, and the town was renamed Tumco after the company.

This self-guided tour will take you 1.5 miles through historic residential, commercial, and mining areas. Be mindful that the artifacts at the site are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and leave them in place for future visitors.

We hope you enjoy your time here at Tumco.

Another one rested alongside hwy 78.

Pre-Columbian Indian Trail. Please keep off trail so that it may remain for future visitors.

The next one was kind of neat as I’ve always seen this huge mining operation on my way to the sand dunes and always wondered what the massive site was all about. Pictures can’t really show scale on something like this, at least not easily or through aerial photography but it’s obviously been quite the project.

Mesquite Mine

Felizario Parra discovered gold in April 1876, worked placers until 1880 and sold for $5,000. Dry washing of low grade ores continued intermittently for 100 years, along with many exploratory shafts. From 1957 to 1980, Dick and Anna Singer mined, recorded earlier efforts, made studies, and sold their findings to Gold Fields Mining Corporation.

After investing $70 million in exploration, development, and construction, Gold Fields began full scale production in March 1986. Production reached 207,897 ounces of gold in 1992. It is expected that this rate of production will be maintained through 1999 when the mine will be exhausted.

Gold Fields and it’s successor, Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, have given steady employment to over 300 persons, contributed heavily to public and private needs, operated with full concern for environmental issues, and have made Mesquite the second largest gold producer in California.

Pretty cool stopping to take the time to learn and discover parts of our history thus far. Ahead is the Algodones Dunes, the largest mass of sand dunes in California and one of the largest in North America – approximately eight miles wide and 40 miles long. I grew up playing in the dunes with my family and friends and have since continued the tradition, so it’s always a treat to be surrounded by a place that’s made so many memories.

A familiar place off in the distance

Headed home the same way I left it, and tried to stop at any roadside markers I could find before it was time to make a more serious push towards my hometown. Closer I got, the more the Palomar Mountain Observatory came into view and swayed my decision.

The observatory closed at 3:30 and according to the GPS I could be there at about 3:10, leaving about 20 minutes to explore the facility before they closed it all down. Given there wouldn’t be a lot of time to actually enjoy it, figured it’d be worth the drive anyways since it’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit and being so into astrophotography it made sense to make a mad dash.

I made it in time to check out the observatory and read all the information they have placed along the walls, and it really sparked my curiosity. I can only imagine what it would be like to be apart of the dome opening process, imaging and studying of our known universe (If anyone has a in or a recommendation, it’d be greatly appreciated!!!). I’d love to come back when I have more time to thoroughly enjoy it rather than being rushed, as well as check out other observatories throughout my travels and may start incorporating them along the way.

Afterwards, it was a rather uneventful drive home only thinking and wishing the adventure would continue.

The 200-inch Hale telescope

The celebrated 200-inch (5.1m) Hale Telescope, named for astronomer and visionary George E. Hale, is considered one of the most consequential scientific instruments of the past 100 years. The “Big Eye” was the world’s most prominent and productive telescope between 1948 and 1993, until Keck 1’s first light. The monolithic mirror’s vast collecting area – about 31,000 square inches or 10 square meter – in combination with state-of-the-art instrumentation maintain the Hale’s scientific contribution at the forefront of modern astronomy.