Dorothy: “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.

Our neighbor is a 4-wheel, off road enthusiast. The entire time we’ve been here he’s encouraged us to go up the road behind the RV park to check out the Fish Creek area. We kept pushing that idea to the bottom of the list because frankly, it just didn’t look that interesting.

Remember when I said our main goal was to find soaring cliffs and slot canyons? 

Guess where they are?

Yep, right in our own backyard.

The picture above is the entrance to the Fish Creek area.

Past the mountains, you come to this…

Soaring cliffs.

I can’t even fathom how high these cliffs are, and they’re basically made of mud.

Giant boulders are stuck in above your head for good measure.

See the pile on the right?

Apparently the giant boulders fall down sometimes.

Probably a good idea to park under them!

Absolutely stunning!

This area is a geologic wonderland!

Look at this!

Look at the size of this fold!

Like  a frozen time portal!

Our pathetic little map shows that this wash branches out into other canyons. We decide to explore them one at a time. I must apologize. There’s so much area to explore that some of the pictures were taken from inside the Jeep while driving. Might be  a little blurry. 

Look at the layers and the odd shapes!

Walls of mud as smooth as cement.

It was along this canyon that we came upon a small white pickup truck in the middle of the wash. The front window was bashed from the inside and the airbags deployed. The bumper was smashed and there was a case of beer in the back and opened cans as well. We looked around the immediate area but didn’t see anyone. Later on we alerted a Border Patrol Agent but we never did find out what happened. Hopefully they made it out okay. It’s pretty far from civilization.

I believe this is called Sandstone Canyon. Makes sense.

I just love the variation in the layers.

Oh look! An obstacle.

Guess we go over it…

…And into the best slot canyon yet!

The end of this road.

Someone’s idea of art.

Look out below!

I think I can! I think I can!

Back out to the main road and the next side trip into Olla Wash.

This was a short road which ended at an almost perfectly designed, desert cactus landscape, surrounded by rock walls.

On to Hapha Flat Road and McCain Spring.

McCain spring looks like a little used trail which ended at this old metal tank. 

We return to Hapha Flat Road in the direction of Pinyon Drop Off.

Sounds interesting!

Which turns into this road. Fun!

Look what we found at the end!

Heart Attack Hill!

We’d heard of it but didn’t know where it was. Now we do!

Jeff decided to climb it under his own power.

There he is, WAY at the top.

Looking down.

Probably not a good idea for a couple of old folks to try to climb all alone, way out in the boonies!

This is the view looking back the way we came.

Worth coming out here for!

…and now the return trip

Into Oyster wash.

Looks like the rock is holding up the whole thing.

I just can’t get enough of these molded shapes!

Helloooo!

We briefly explored one more canyon whose name eludes me. It had a green rock face and beautiful flowers.

Sadly it’s getting dark again and time to leave.

This was what I came to Anza Borrego to see! What an incredible place!

Sorry to have to go.

See you later!