Today I headed out with a few guys to the In-Ko-Pah mountain range along the U.S./Mexico border south of Anza Borrego. The Wells SoCal Guide lists the trail as difficult. There were some difficult sections for sure with loose sand and well worn ruts. I even had to use the locker a couple time although i'd like to think if I bothered to air down I wouldn't have needed it.
View north toward Anza Borrego/Salton Sea/Plaster City.
Black line is the border fence
I knew our border is porous, but come on really?
Difficult climb up toward elliot Mine.
Peak of Elliot Mine
Elliot Mine
Border Patrol agent who came to check us out. He was hiking in full gear with vest, machine gun, pistol, backpack. He decided to stay and keep an eye out from the peak. He said it's a well known smuggling gulch with traffic on a daily basis. We told him we hadn't seen anyone but he assured us the smugglers had seen us.
Couple more shots of the border from his vantage point.
Coming down the Elliot Mine trail
Angeles Del Desierto designation. A volunteer group that leaves food and water for migrants to prevent deaths in the hot desert.
A Coyote head shaped hole in a rock. Clever graffiti or smugglers symbol?
The last hour of the day we were being watched by this plane. It circled us until we got off the trail.
View north toward Anza Borrego/Salton Sea/Plaster City.
Black line is the border fence
I knew our border is porous, but come on really?
Difficult climb up toward elliot Mine.
Peak of Elliot Mine
Elliot Mine
Border Patrol agent who came to check us out. He was hiking in full gear with vest, machine gun, pistol, backpack. He decided to stay and keep an eye out from the peak. He said it's a well known smuggling gulch with traffic on a daily basis. We told him we hadn't seen anyone but he assured us the smugglers had seen us.
Couple more shots of the border from his vantage point.
Coming down the Elliot Mine trail
Angeles Del Desierto designation. A volunteer group that leaves food and water for migrants to prevent deaths in the hot desert.
A Coyote head shaped hole in a rock. Clever graffiti or smugglers symbol?
The last hour of the day we were being watched by this plane. It circled us until we got off the trail.