Raptor Run 3 - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 2010-03-06 & 07

[MagicMtnDan]

Pictures from the trails (washes):











An FJ Cruiser passes by envious of the "Magnificent 7":





This is the intersection of Vista del Malpais and Short Wash where, on Raptor Run 2, Mark made the sharp left from VdM onto Short Wash and the sand was deeper and wetter, and it was here or a little bit up Short Wash where Mark heard "the noise" when his rear axle broke. The sand at this intersection isn't as deep - the conditions change all the time especially this year due to all the rain.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Break time after the wash was done



An Ocotillo cactus - quite fuzzy and green with red buds on top thanks to all the rain. The flowers are starting to bloom and will be blooming all over the desert in the next couple-three weeks.



The conditions were clear with dusty plumes stirred up by seven angry Raptors:



You can see Brian's Raptor's lights shining brightly:





Dave's Raptor buried (on purpose) up to its rear axle:





Amazing! Dave not only lifted his truck out of the depths of sand but he drove it out too



It was not stuck and Dave easily drove it up and out of the holes both rear tires dug.

Desert flora:

 

[MagicMtnDan]

It's hard to travel around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park without visiting Fonts Point scenic overlook:



The Raptor Run 3 crew enjoying the view:





The view of the Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point - you can see some of the washes that make the Badlands so much fun to drive in:





In the distance you can see the straight road and Borrego Springs. We stayed at Borrego Palm Canyon campground which is at the base of the mountains in the distance:





Brian takes it all in:

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Getting back on the trails after stopping at Fonts Point to take in the view and have lunch:



Tim and Sadie have a special moment together:

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Sadie dwarfing my Raptor looking "vicious":





The Raptors after running Thule Wash near the Salton Sea and Ocotillo Wells - it was a great run on that wash - wide open - the sand was a little soft but the drive was really fun!

A couple of good pics of two white Raptors (Brian's and Justin's):



















Driving on Crossover Trail towards Shell Reef in Ocotillo Wells. This trail provided us with yet another type of terrain with some interesting challenges that the Raptors all conquered:

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Continuing on Crossover Trail:













All kinds of vehicles are driven in Ocotillo Wells:





Shell Reef in Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA):





Hanging out in Ocotillo Wells after a long day of driving. As the storm clouds approached and the winds picked up we said our goodbyes and ended a great day in Anza-Borrego and Ocotillo Wells:





Some pics of the flowers that are starting to bloom:

 

[MagicMtnDan]

We had a great day. The weather was near perfect and it while it started to sprinkle late in the day we were already on our way back to the highway. Two of us (Tim and me) drove back to Borrego Palm Canyon to our campsite while everyone else hit the roads and headed for home.

We had a great time. We drove at least 80 miles from about 10AM to around 5PM covering more miles than any other single day I've been in Anza-Borrego. We had a great crew - driving our Raptors in that park wiht terrific people made for a perfect day.

To those of you who came, thanks! I'm glad you could make it and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

To those of you who couldn't come, I hope you'll join us for Raptor Run 4 the last weekend of this month. I'm expecting an even larger group and I hope we can have at least as good a time as we had this weekend.

See you then!

 

[Nacho]

Its great to see you guys having such a great time and putting the truck to great use. I would love to join you guys some day...maybe for Raptor Run 25 (if i'm ever on the west coast) haha. If we get enough European owners, i'm planning a trip similar to this in Europe sometime. In the deserts of Spain or Poland. Great pics Dan.

 

[bstoner59]

Dan the Man!! Thanks for getting all the peeps together and this great write-up!! I especially enjoyed the pics of the flowers at the end...everyone keeps asking me if I see all the flowers this time of year. Now I can say 'yes'

See you in a few weeks!!!

Brian

 

[KaiserM715]

Looks like a good time, but a *wee* bit of a drive for me.... Too bad I am not closer. We will need to look for a place to have a run in TX...