The gang is all here. Our meeting spot was on S2 at the Anza-Borrego park boundary near the town of Ocotillo. This was also where I camped Friday night.
Joe(me), Dave, Liz, Chuck, Dave, Ray and Carol at the start of the hike to the windcaves.
The trail was steep soon as we left the parking area.
At this point we are still on the main trail. Soon we will leave it to make our own way.
After leaving the trail, we found ourselves in this tight little canyon.
There were a lot of fossilized seashells in this little canyon.
We stopped here for a short break. Dave is figuring out a way we can take to approach the windcaves from behind on an XC route.
We decided to drop down into this canyon that should rap around and take us close to the caves. I had the windcaves marked on the GPS from a visit there last year so I knew we could find them.
The group up ahead descending into the canyon.
We could see some windcave formations above, but these were not the ones we were going for. The GPS said they were less than half a mile away, but behind that ridge.
Making our way past a rock fall.
The GPS had the caves at about a quarter mile for a while now. We were making a arc around them.
We had to find a way up the side of the canyon to head for them. At this point the GPS showed the caves at half mile. We were getting further way from them, but there was no way up from here.
Just as we were talking about finding a route up, we found this rock arrow. Looked good to us and it was pointing in the right direction.
Dave up ahead checking the route.
A short way up we came upon this dry falls.
Looking up the falls.
This sand dollar was inbedded in the falls.
The views started looking good as soon as we gained a little altitude.
Across the canyon was this sand wash that ended on a cliff. Would make a great 50 foot falls if there only was water flowing.
The group waiting for me on the ridge.
Once we made it to the ridge, we followed a faint use trail towards the caves.
Looking back down the ridge we were following.
A small cave along the ridge.
The higher we climbed, the nicer the views got.
Another view shot.
The ridge was steep in places, but the GPS said we were going the right direction.
A view down the canyon as we near the caves. The GPS shows about a quarter mile to go.
Finally we get a view of the backside of the windcaves we were looking for.
The route we used was twice as long as the trail but it was a lot more fun on the ridge.
More fossil shells as we neared the caves.
At the windcaves, we all climbed inside to get out of the sun and have lunch.
A look through the main room, it was big enough for all of us to fit inside.
There was a pile of fossils at the cave entrance.
Dave checking out one of the fossilized shells.
While taking photos of the caves, I noticed smoke rising from behind the far mountains.
Looking through a window at Dave and Ray inside the cave.
Another view of the caves.
One last look at the caves as we head out on the main trail.
The gang stops for a view of the Carrizo Badlands.
View of a section of the Carrizo Badlands.
We pasted by another cave formation on the way out.
More windcaves.
Hiking along the trail.
A few of the ocotillos in the area were starting to bloom.
We decided to go off trail to hike through a small wash. Found a piece of a sand dollar there.