A time and place for a resort

[jaybirdsen]

I agree with you completely about De Anza as I often go alone and am always welcome.  I've met a few friends there as well.  I always pay full price just to use the pool and sauna after hiking though the main reason to go is the unlimited net free hiking available.

Is the stream in Carrizo Gorge?  I've never been able to find it.  Do you have directions?

Thanks.
Jim

[eyesup]

Another picture near De Anza. Year round stream north of De Anza.

Here another photo out side De Anza.  Area of picture is north and east.

De Anza sure looks inviting. But with Jbee, freehiker, and jaybirdsen’s posts, between those three, it’s getting tougher to continue to dawdle on planning a 1st trip down there!
Great landscape with all that free hiking.!

Duane

[jaybirdsen]

Around mid-October would be a good time.  It is not terribly hot now yet by then the temps should be nice and the days still long enough.  I'd be happy to meet you out there and show you some of the trails.  It is not listed on the website trail guide yet a great hike is to the Carrizo Gorge overlook.  It is about 5 miles round trip so not a long one 2-3 hours.  About 600 feet elevation at the end.  Great view of the gorge and surrounding area and a couple of the train trestles from the impossible railroad project.  The nice benefit to hiking there is the pool and sauna treatment after a hike.
Jim

[freehiker]

The stream you asked directions to is in the gorge. To get to it walk toward Dave's house (owner of resort) a little beyond his place there is a road that leads to the train tracks. Walk north a long the tracks. Cross a bridge keep going until you come to the first tunnel. Before the tunnel is a trail. that leads down into the start of the gorge. Note the trails is not easy to see. You can hear the water but not see it. Follow along the wall of the gorge. Keep in mind the area has cats claw and salt cedar growing. Vegetation will open up to smooth  rock floor and deep pools of water. You can walk as far as you wish in the bottom of the gorge. Palms grow farther down stream.

This photo was taken years ago. My step son used to hike with me at De Anza. This picture gives you an idea the what part of the gorge looks like down stream.  I have more pictures of the area.   

[jbeegoode]

Do you hike downstream or upstream once in the gorge?
Jbee

[jaybirdsen]

Thanks for the tips.  I know exactly where you are talking about.  I usually hike the upper side on the trail just before the one by Dave's and then take it past the ruins of the old RR workers cabin and then down into the canyon past the first tunnel.  The walk back on the bridge takes a leap of faith sometimes.  Lots of questionable ties and such when crossing.  I'm glad to get to the other side. I know a couple who live out there and walk it barefoot

[freehiker]

You head down stream Or you go north. Upper part of stream is chocked with salt cedar. You see that when driving into De Anza.

Yes that bridge is a ruin.

I used to share the tracks with bikers.

Here is a map.

Cheers
Freehiker (David)

[jaybirdsen]

Thanks FH I know exactly where that is now.  When I've tried to find it I was always south and mired in the salt cedar.  I think I've heard there is supposed to be some artifacts around there too.  Nice that none of the residents screw with the relics and leave them for others to find, enjoy and leave alone.
Jim.

I'm behind on trip reports from there and also have to get out there soon.  Maybe next month.

Jim

[freehiker]

No Jim you do not want to head south. That salt cedar marsh would be hell to walk.  I know a place where there are pottery shard and so on. Most of the naturist leave it all alone because very few venture off campus. Even fewer walk any real distance into the highland desert.

You and I were suppose to meet back in may of 2013 at De Anza for hiking. Things fell apart on my end. I am sorry for that.

Cheers
Freehiker
(David)

[jaybirdsen]

No worries David.  Maybe we can get together at some time in the future for a hike.  I do like hiking behind the hills north of the resort and encounters with other nude hikers there on those trails are more rare yet occasionally I've met another intrepid soul.  Most off campus hikers tend to choose the gorge.  I do see foot prints on the northern trail so I know it must get some use and I am assuming that is on weekends
Jim

[freehiker]

Jay when I hike there, I rarely saw anyone north and east the camp. I hiked there for about six years. Usually two to three times a week. I would spend the day roaming the back country looking for interesting places to draw and paint. A few times I did see textiles. Once I was shot at by some fools target practicing up slope. They got the pleasure of meeting one very angry naked man. That was on an Easter Sunday. The Grandpa was covering the eyes of a little boy. I guess he did want the kid to see what angry really looks like.

My life has change form going down once a month. to never in the last three years. Each year I tell myself I will go down. Work takes most of my time.

Cheers
David

[jaybirdsen]

North and east there is an old mine I explored around a few times.  I found out there is still an active claim a bit further north.  I think I've seen it in the distance when hiking around out there.  I 'm going to hike out to it next time I hike that way which will probably be in a few weeks at the earliest.
Jim

[freehiker]

There are two place where tunneling was started. The mine you may be referring to  is near the remains of a foundation that once was a house. To the west a little is excavation in a hill. The road swings to the west of the hill. The mining was for feldspar. My maps showed the whole area as part of a wild life preserve. If you go to the flat topped butte just south and west of the towers you can find small pieces of white agate and quartz. The butte is basalt on top of sandstone. It is quite a view form the top. I saw a big horned sheep there once. You can see the sand dune from the road that goes past the radio tower. I always wanted to climb the taller mountains just north of the tower.

Have fun hiking out there bring plenty of water.

Cheers
David

[eyesup]

Ok, Jim & David. Enough jawboning!
Someone needs to go do the hike, take some pictures and report back!

‘Course I could go there and do the same. It’s only about a 6 hr. trip for me.
Hmmmm!

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Go fer it, Eyesup.
Jbee