Honoring Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

The Trip

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) takes its name from the early Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza (whose 1775-76 overland route from Mexico to San Francisco Bay passed through what is now the park) and from the Spanish word for sheep (specifically the endangered peninsular bighorn whose habitat includes Anza-Borrego Desert State Park).

This spectacular desert park is the largest state park in California and the largest desert state park in the nation. The park is more than 1,000 square miles and includes about 456,000 acres of designated wilderness and 110 miles of trails.

Seen by biologists as one of "the planet’s biodiversity hotspots," the park supports a remarkable array of plant and animal life that is as varied as the physical terrain. We could see coyote, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert iguana, road runner, rock wren, and phainopepla -- and if we are extra lucky, the bighorn sheep. Along with the desert wildflowers and a variety of cacti, there will be towering ocotillo, smoke tree, and the endangered California fan palm. The park’s stunning annual wildflower display blooms its highest brilliance every ten years, but each year still offers amazing variety and color. Be ready to be surprised.

The Project

We will be manually removing invasive, non-native plant species to protect rare plant habitat, annual wildflower fields, and sensitive riparian areas. Previous efforts have reduced the abundance of the annual weed, Sahara Mustard so we may concentrate on controlling the perennial African Fountain Grass within Borrego Palm Canyon, a critical habitat for Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. Other invasive species include Hare’s Ear Cabbage, London Rocket, and a variety of grasses found within the canyon and along the watershed areas of the park. The specific targets of our efforts will largely depend on the weather in the winter months leading up to our trip and will be at the discretion of the park staff. 

We will work with small hand tools designed to remove weeds without disturbing native vegetation. We may also use stirrup hoes (a long-handled tool with an oval cutting edge). Detailed instruction in plant recognition and proper removal techniques will be provided by the park staff.

We will assemble at Borrego Palm Canyon Group Campsite in the late afternoon on Saturday, February 18. After orientation and introductions, we'll set up our base camp for the week. We will work four days in all, taking two days off to explore and/or relax. Hiking, birding, botanizing, photographing, and stargazing are all free-time possibilities. The trip will conclude the morning of Saturday, February 25.

The typical workday will start with a nutritious and satisfying breakfast followed by brief morning stretches. We will then pack our lunches and head out to the work project. Most work days will include walking two to three miles along a watershed or hiking and scrambling up rocky terrain into a slot canyon, sometimes working as we walk or hike. After finishing work for the day, you will have time to freshen up, relax, or take a short hike before dinner. If park regulations (and weather) allow, we will enjoy a campfire and warm companionship once kitchen duties are finished each evening.

Getting There

San Diego International airport is a two-hour drive from the park via interstate and state highways. An alternate airport is Palm Springs International, which is also two hours from the campground. Detailed directions to our meeting place will be provided by the trip leader, as well as roster information to facilitate ride sharing.

Accommodations and Food

Our group's tent camp will be located in the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, which has bathrooms, running water, and showers. Please come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure. Though our food supplies will be chilled only by ice coolers, we still will have hearty meals with satisfying variety. Nutritious, vegetarian-friendly meals, with occasional meat on the side are the mainstays. Everyone will take turns working in our group commissary assisting the cook with preparing food, cleaning up, and safely storing supplies from animals. Before applying for the trip, people with food allergies or strong food preferences must contact the cook to see if accommodations are possible. Our first meal will be dinner on day one and our last meal will be lunch on the final day.

Trip Difficulty

This trip will be moderately strenuous. Though average daytime temperatures are in the mid to high 70s, you will be working in full sun exposure. This could add to the trip difficulty for those not accustomed to working in warmer weather. One of our worksites is accessed by a rocky, uneven trail that includes a bit of boulder scrambling. Our off-day activities will involve hiking and you will want to be in good shape for maximum enjoyment. You will need boots while we are working on the project -- they are recommended for hiking, as well.

Equipment and Clothing

The State Park will provide the tools for the work project. In addition to your regular camping gear, come prepared to work with sturdy boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and leather work gloves. A sturdy tent with appropriate tent stakes and guy lines is highly recommended, as this area is known for high winds.

Because of the warm weather, you will want lightweight and light-colored clothing layers, but will also need appropriate rain gear in the event of a sudden rain shower. You will need a backpack-style day pack to carry your lunch, water, raingear, sunscreen, etc.

We will provide food and the necessary equipment for cooking it, however you will need personal eating utensils, such as bowl, cup, and spoon. A plastic food container with a tight-fitting lid is necessary for carrying your lunch to the work site each day.

We will also provide a first-aid kit for emergencies, but you should bring any personal medications you require. All participants are required to have an up-to-date tetanus vaccine.

A full list of needed equipment will be sent to you after you've been accepted onto the trip. If you have questions, please contact the trip leader.

References

• Hogue, Lawrence, All the Wild and Lonely Places: Journeys In A Desert Landscape. Island Press.
• Lindsay, Lowell & Diana, The Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to the State Park and Adjacent Areas of the Western Colorado Desert. Wilderness Press (includes separate map).
• Munz, Philip A., Introduction to California Desert Wildflowers. University of California Press.
• Lindsay, Diana, Anza-Borrego A to Z: People, Places, and Things. Sunbelt Publications.
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

Conservation

While there is concern that the spread of non-native, invasive plant species will greatly reduce the wildflower displays in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, what is at stake is of much greater significance. The health and diversity of an entire ecosystem can be threatened. We will be working on this very important restoration project while learning about other conservation issues being addressed in the park.