Back From Anza Barrango Desert

A couple of dozen years ago, my friend Pete and a few of his friends ‘discovered’ an old cave in the middle of the Anza Barrango desert. They camped there for a few days. Then they came back again the following year. And the year after. And somehow the tradition continues. Sadly Pete’s gone. Some of his ashes are buried near the cave. The rest were tossed into the ocean packed into a toaster. Pete collected toasters. And lots of other stuff. But that is another story. And once again this year I joined in the annual desert trek. Now, there are 2 rules: you must be invited by someone who has been there and no women are allowed. Al invited me. Him and me (and Pete) go back so far that it is scary to think about. Suffice it to say that when the legal age to buy beer was 18 in New York, I was the first of the three of us to be able to buy it legally.


Each gathering is a bit different. There was always music; some years the music was better than others. Food was always an important part. For a few years running, one guy brought a salad bar. Then he got married and hasn’t shown up since. One night we always have tacos with carne asada, and an assortment of other stuff. This year one master chef produced short ribs braised in a wine reduction with roasted asparagus and corn bread. All this cooked out there over a charcoal fire.

And this year we had to move a bit away from the cave on account of some Indians suddenly descided that they didn’t want us there and somehow got the Parks Service guys block part of the road in and………. Eh, so, we camped near by and I hiked up to the cave and it was still the same. And visited the spot where Pete’s ashes are and found that someone had swiped some of the stuff we had left there over the years. Bad karma on them. I left some Buddhist prayer flags and a guitar pick from Al. One time I left a Subway map and some Guatamalan money. He’d been to both places……..

Some of the guys have seriously hiked that area for years and know the great spots. Some, like me, just tag along and enjoy. This year I got to see the Badlands. I didn’t think they were so bad, just hot. And a rattlesnake wandered into camp. And one night the wind kicked up royally and a few tents got flattened. Mine stayed up on account of I got there early and got the best rocks. And Al pulled his car up next to it.

Probably the best part is that get to hang with Al, who I guess is my oldest friend, and we get to get caught up on whatever we feel like getting caught up on. It is always a great few days. That desert is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I am very fortunate………..

                                                             (maury of the desert)