The San Diego Carleton Club invites you to experience the spectacular geology of Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego Desert

This year we will explore a small portion of world-class Anza Borrego State Park geology, as exposed in the near-vertical walls of Split Mountain Gorge. Please join us for an easy walk through the Gorge, along Fish Creek Wash.

Bill Elliott, Engineering Geologist, will challenge us to look beyond the colorful "eye candy," displayed as faulted and folded layers of sedimentary rock. Together, we will challenge our minds to look beyond the obvious, to unlock some of the secrets scribed on these "pages" of geologic history.

Our event will end at the Wind Caves, a short hike up out of Fish Creek Wash. Sculpted by wind and rain, these natural sandstone caves and arches provide wonderful photo-ops for parents of curious children.

At about mid-day, we will break for lunch and a rest in the shade of the Gorge. Please bring a rucksack with your own: food, lots of water, sun-screen, hat, sunglasses, and sturdy shoes. And, don't forget the sketch-pad, camera, and binoculars.

When: Sunday March 5, 2006

Where: Meet at 10:00 AM at the south end of Split Mountain Road, where the pavement ends.

Departure: At 10:30AM we will begin driving in a southwesterly direction, from the end of the pavement, up Fish Creek Wash, toward Split Mountain. (If you arrive late, drive on up Fish Creek Wash to Split Mountain Gorge; if we are not milling around our parked cars, continue on and you will find us on foot. One of us will be carrying a "Family Service Radio" tuned to Channel 11.)

Directions from San Diego: Travel I-8 east, to Highway 79 (Exit No. 40, Japatul Road). Go north (left) 23 miles on Highway 79 to Julian. At Julian, turn east (right) on Highway 78 for about 34 miles to Ocotillo Wells. At Ocotillo Wells (off road "capital" of Borrego), turn south (right) on Split Mountain Road, and go approximately 8 miles to Fish Creek Wash, the end of the pavement. We will meet on the west (right) side of the road, in the wash. (If you miss the end of the paved road, and go straight across the unpaved wash, you will end up at the gate to the Gypsum Mine. Return to the unpaved wash.)

Directions from North San Diego County: Take Highway 78 east to Julian, and follow the directions from Julian, as noted above.

Driving Time: Other things being equal, allow a minimum of at least 3 hours driving time from either San Diego or North San Diego County.

Gas: Gas is available in some of the Mountain and Desert communities -- but expensive. Traveling east form Alpine or Ramona with a full gas tank will make for a safer and more pleasurable drive -- with ones eyes on the road instead of on a sinking gas gage.

Public Services: There are no public services south of Ocotillo Wells.

RSVP: Please RSVP by February 28th to Heidi Yuen ’89 or Chris Larson ’89 at 858-505-8809.

Cell Phone: (858) 353-4395 or (619) 559-3148 (Chris) only on the morning of the event. Cell phone coverage is good in the community of Borrego Springs, marginal at Ocotillo Wells, and absent in Split Mountain Gorge.

The San Diego Carleton Club

Split Mountain Geology

Sunday March 5, 2006

Name(s): _________________________ Class: ______

Parent(s) of: ____________________ Class: ______

Address: _________________________________________

Phone Number: ____________________________________

E-mail: __________________________________________

Number People Attending: _________________________