It's desert season: time to explore all the fascinating places that lose their appeal as the mercury jets higher during the summer months.
Some enjoy exploring the trails with a small group. Others look forward to events like TDS.
Every year, the Tierra Del Sol (TDS) four-wheel drive club holds its desert safari in the Anza-Borrego area. Like last year, they're basing it in the Truckhaven Hills area of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Over $100K (yes, you read that right) of prizes will find new owners during the famous TDS raffle this year, and the proceeds from the raffle tickets will go toward fighting land closures and keeping the trails open. There's not a worthier cause for the off-road community.
Trail runs aside, the drive to and from the Ocotillo Wells area is one of my favorites, especially coming down Montezuma Grade on highway S-22 into Borrego Springs. It's a treacherous ribbon of sinewy curves that offers epic views of the valley below. It's a good thing there are several pullouts along the way to enable safe staring.
The dark side of TDS is that some participants feel it's an excuse to consume large quantities of alcohol and then try to incur as much vehicular carnage as possible in a short time. We won't be covering that aspect.
The Blazer in the above photo belongs to my friend Dan Barcroft, who makes a habit of attending TDS.