Forum Index > Trip Reports > Gettin' Down 'n Dirty in the Mud Caves of ABDSP, 11.22.14
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Bloated Chipmunk
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Bloated Chipmunk
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PostMon Nov 24, 2014 3:25 pm 
The Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves in Anza-Borrego have been on my list for a long time, & last Saturday I finally decided to schedule a group hike to the area to see what the hype was about. The weather was perfect & a couple days earlier it had lightly rained, keeping dust down on the roads yet keeping the mush factor to a minimum. cool.gif up.gif We picked up Torey @ the P & R in La Mesa, then headed out to the desert to meet Von & company, and Roger who had camped near the start of the rd. the night before. From there we caravaned down Vallecito Wash, then turned up Arroyo Tapiado wash to the area of the mud caves. Several other peeps were already in the area either camped or out for the day, so we definitely wouldn't be alone... eek.gif MAP
"Mysterious and Dangerous"
"Mysterious and Dangerous"
We watched the map & GPS carefully, & parked where we thought the "Big Mud Cave" was. There were various openings in the mud walls of the canyon, & we scoped out a larger one 1st. It appeared to have an approximate 30' high entrance as the book described, but was more a slot canyon than a cave. A couple guys later told us they thought that was the 'big one', but that some of the ceiling had collapsed. Who knows. Our day became an exploration of caves & slots of varying sizes & lengths, & I'm sure we missed some here & there. Supposedly "ABDSP may contain the largest and longest mud caves in the world." @ least 22 caves are known, & the largest caves are over 1,000' long w/rooms up to 80' high & 30' wide...some containing dry waterfalls. The ones we went into were narrower...sometimes *much* narrower. paranoid.gif
Is this the 'Big Mud Cave'?
Is this the 'Big Mud Cave'?
Getting darker...
Getting darker...
...& tight in places
...& tight in places
We walked up the 1st canyon a little ways, climbed to an overlook, then turned back down to check out some other areas.
On top of a mud hill
On top of a mud hill
View of badlands
View of badlands
Heading back down the slot
Heading back down the slot
Heading back out
Heading back out
Next up, we checked out a narrow but short mud cave that was right next to the 1st one. It wound around a bit before opening up into a room w/a nice skylight.
11.22.14
11.22.14
Looking up to the skylight @ the end of the slot cave
Looking up to the skylight @ the end of the slot cave
We headed back out into the sun, then walked down the road a little ways, past a large group of not-so-well-behaved boy scouts. Anita spotted a hole in the wall & we checked it out. I wasn't expecting too much, but it turned out to be a long, very tight cave. After she scoped it out, I went in & squeezed around the walls that led in a serpentine fashion further & further into the hill. I pulled over in one of the few larger spaces & let MM & Anita pass, not sure if I wanted to go further. This slot cave was only about 3' wide & I didn't want to push the limits of my claustrophobia too much. embarassedlaugh.gif
Tight...
Tight...
OMG even tighter!
OMG even tighter!
I went a little further in, bonked my head a time or 2, then decided that I'd seen enough. On the way back I shut off my headlamp for a moment just see what it was like...yep, pitch black. paranoid.gif I turned it back on & continued back to the entrance, welcoming the sunshine. The others were waiting in the shade having a snack. Torey said she had gone in a little ways but then turned back, & I guess the others opted to skip it. I joined them in the shade & waited for Anita & MM. They were gone for awhile...
Waiting for MM & Anita to emerge...
Waiting for MM & Anita to emerge...
Eventually they emerged from the hole, looking dirtier than when they had gone in. Apparently another 50' or so beyond my turnaround spot was a 20' rope that they wound up climbing up, where they then went a little further & came upon a really high skylight that wasn't climbable. MM took a video but alas it was too dark to be worth much. hmmm.gif We all sat in the shade on the side of the rd. for a bit, watching hoards of people pour into the canyon w/their minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks, & even a Prius @ one point. confused.gif There appeared to be a large group of cub scouts joining the bears, er, I mean boys wink.gif ...& we felt like we were @ Disneyland or something. Kids were scrambling all over the mud walls of the canyon, shouting, breaking open bags of chips & who knows what else. We picked up & moved on to the next cave...
Goin' up a slot
Goin' up a slot
Entering another hole
Entering another hole
MM, Anita, & Roger in a cave
MM, Anita, & Roger in a cave
Anita, Von, & MM
Anita, Von, & MM
Anita & Carl
Anita & Carl
We eventually made it down to a slot I'd seen on the drive in that looked intriguing. It had some nice rocks & sandstone along the way...& apparently @ some point there was a penis rock that I totally missed. frown.gif
Entering the gateway arch
Entering the gateway arch
Hope this doesn't give way today...
Hope this doesn't give way today...
Narrow
Narrow
Nice walls
Nice walls
Topping out of the canyon
Topping out of the canyon
BALLS
BALLS
A phallic shape one can make...
A phallic shape one can make...
Back through the gateway
Back through the gateway
We headed back toward the cars, where Roger grabbed us some cold beers he'd been saving & then we continued on beyond the vehicles, just in case 'the big one' was in the opposite direction in the canyon. We walked & walked, found some false slots & one that was just way too tight to bother with, & eventually came across a bigger canyon. We walked up a bit, but by this time peeps were tired & not too confident that this slot would turn into a cave...thus the term "once a slot, always a slot" was put into use. lol.gif Time to head out...
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
We dined @ the Viejas Casino Cafe, where the food & drink weren't 1/2 bad & the service was supposedly better than it usually is there. Definitely better than the buffet, which had a huge line & is more $ than what I end up being able to eat anyway. embarassedlaugh.gif
Margarita time
Margarita time
Carl, Gary, Torey, MM, Anita, & Von @ dinner...Roger still on his way
Carl, Gary, Torey, MM, Anita, & Von @ dinner...Roger still on his way
It was a fun day w/adventurous peeps! smile.gif up.gif up.gif This area is definitely worth a 2nd trip as there is much more to explore! cool.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Chico
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PostMon Nov 24, 2014 4:32 pm 
Interesting place! Did a web search for more info and images. Sounds like it's in a constant state of change with any rains. Hadn't rained just before you got there did it? Not sure I can deal with going in very far. I'd get in and start thinking "earthquake". What'll happen if we have an earthquake? Don't want to go there.

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Bloated Chipmunk
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Bloated Chipmunk
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PostTue Nov 25, 2014 7:45 pm 
Chico wrote:
Hadn't rained just before you got there did it?
It prolly had a day or 2 before. The sand was a little moist. Not enough for any flash floods though. up.gif Yeah, more than one of us had thoughts of earthquakes while we were there... paranoid.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Magellan
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Magellan
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PostTue Nov 25, 2014 9:46 pm 
Looks cool. up.gif Why is there always a penis rock for you?

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Ski
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PostWed Nov 26, 2014 11:38 am 
"Exploring Not Advised" ??? huh.gif

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Bloated Chipmunk
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Bloated Chipmunk
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PostThu Nov 27, 2014 9:55 am 
Yeah, the park doesn't advise exploring the caves, yet proceeds to show you some tempting pictures. hmmm.gif It's also written up in various guidebooks...all probably w/their own warnings. I'm sure they're just trying to avoid liability should something collapse or a flash flood come through. paranoid.gif From what I could tell that day, no one heeded these warnings though! embarassedlaugh.gif As for the penis rocks...I guess I find 'em b/c I'm usually looking for them. tongue.gif There are a lot of rocks out here. up.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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More Cowbell
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PostThu Nov 27, 2014 10:39 am 
Quote of the year.
Bloated Chipmunk wrote:
As for the penis rocks...I guess I find 'em b/c I'm usually looking for them. tongue.gif
lol.gif lol.gif lol.gif More Penis Rocks Please.

“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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Bloated Chipmunk
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Bloated Chipmunk
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PostThu Nov 27, 2014 2:58 pm 
Will do. wink.gif up.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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