| I'm sure you can guess what this is... it's the other end of the caved-in
tunnel that used to cross Goat Canyon. I am standing mid-span on the trestle to take
this picture. Apparently, the mountain subsided, crushing the tunnel from it's exit
(pictured here), extending several hundred feet into the mountain. If you study the
mountain contours, you can pick out a line along which the rock slide issued. The
wood-reinforced tunnel exit dropped about 30ft below level, severing the original shaft
completely. I'll bet the sound of cracking wood and falling rock alone would cause
even the strongest to soil their pants. Wish I had been there... at a safe distance,
of course. ...And with a change of underwear. Another interesting thing to note
for those who want to visit the site, 3.5mi's directly in line with this picture is
Mortero Palms trailhead. The vehicle approach is off of S2, down Mortero Wash.
The hike is interesting enough, even without getting as far as the trestle.
There are palm groves, water falls, rocks scrambles, vistas and canyons to keep the
entertainment factor high. You don't even see the trestle until you get to the notch
pictured at top left center. Then, BAM, you see it for the first time only about
300yds in front. Very cool. This is one of my all-time favorite Borrego day
hikes. |
