Over the past several weeks, Paul KB5MU, has wanted to visit the Mud Caves to the East of S-1 in the Anza Borrego Desert to see what the lighting would be like for doing some serious picture taking. Paul was going to take some "trial" pictures while Jaye and myself were going to do some cave exploring in the same cave that Paul was in.

 

Yesterday, Thursday, was the day. Since Paul was interested in late afternoon light we left the Ramona ParkNride at 12:30pm and arrived at the Vallecito Overland Stage Routh off of S-2 at 1:47. Twelve minutes later we were at the first of the Mud Caves, Start Canyon, on the left side of Tapiado Canyon.

 

Start Canyon has a series of open and closed caves extending for long distances back into the mud hills. In some of the areas parts of the caves have collapsed over the past 1,000 years resulting in narrow passage ways with parts of the roof missing here and there. We only had several spots where we really need flashing lights in this cave complex. Several times Jaye disappeared in side slot caves only to return after they got too narrow.

 

Since this series of caves sometimes has several levels, Jaye and I had some interesting experiences of working around large holes in the floor of the passage that we were in. Also, it was sometimes challenging to change from a lower level to a higher level and back again. After penetrating the cave as far as we were willing to go, we worked our way back and met Paul coming up to meet us.

 

We next decided to drive up to Cave Canyon since a large amount of that cave area has an open top allowing Paul more opportunity to take pictures with various shades of light. This area also has lots of interesting arches to photograph. About half way up this slot canyon (formerly a long cave) there is a small hole on a right side wall that can be easily missed if you are not looking for it. As usual, I dropped down on my back and wiggled into the hole and slowly disappeared. After some discussion and questions of "is there room for us in there too", Jaye wiggled into the hole and disappeared. Next Paul entered with his cameras. (I have some good pictures of Jaye and Paul doing the wiggle).

 

We worked our way up to where the cave opened up and then did some overland hiking to drop back into the original canyon that we had started up in the first place. We had to return in the same canyon since Jaye and Paul had left some of their personal items outside of the small entrance hole. If you ever go to the mud caves, climbing into this hole is an absolute must and I take my hat off to Jaye and Paul who entered the hole without my describing what they would find on the other side of the tunnel.

 

After leaving Cave Canyon, we motored up Tapiado Canyon until we came to a road(?) which allowed us to jump up over a ridge and drop down into Canyon del Diablo to the East of Tapiado. El Diablo canyon is much different than Tapiado and has lots of "Slot" Canyons which sometime will need to be explored.

 

I think that day trips to the Mud Caves are always entertaining and a worthwhile trip, but it seems to me that a camp out of several days would allow for more thorough exploration of the area.

 

I ended up taking 43 pictures and I know that Paul took many more than that. Paul's pictures will be posted on his web site in the next few days and will publish the URL here on the Hiker's Reflector.

 

Our afternoon started out a little windy but the breeze was not noted in the caves.

 

Paul and Jaye are delightful "cave companions" so we had a good time and lots of laughs.

 

This was my 3rd trip to the Mud Caves and I am already thinking about my next trip.

 

Youngsters will find the place most interesting. The rest of you will wonder why you have never visited the Mud Caves before.

 

I hope that Jaye and Paul will add to this report as they have time.

 

73,

Stan

W9FQN