Antenna Ruins
Vicinity of Valley of The Moon

Abandoned Building Antenna Site

Inside The Building

Antenna Pad, with Valley of The Moon beyond

I usually take the road up to Valley of The moon from the trail head at Old Hwy 80 straight into the valley proper near the Elliot Mine. This time I decided to take an upward road branch just beyond where the trail to Smugglers Cave is found. This road leads up toward Blue Angels Peak, but not all the way to it. The final leg requires some bush  wacking and boulder hopping. This was not my destination this day, instead I was headed for an unnamed mine and abandoned antenna installation. I was rewarded with some great views of The Anza Borrego Desert, Mexico, Jacumba and The greater part of Valley of The Moon. The Antenna Site had seen better days and was basicly a small building and a couple of cement pads. The view however was well worth the trip. The mine was an open pit type, no shafts or tunnels and has large amounts of quartz scattered about. They range from gravel to boulders of many tons. This is a hike for the cooler parts of the year.

Quartz Mine, with The Anza Borrego Desert and Ocotillo Wind Farms beyond.

The road traveled, above and beyond this escarpment lies Blue Angels Peak. Saving this hike for a reason for a return trip.

Rock Formations overlooking Valley of The Moon. It is quite the difference walking in Valley of The Moon with it's tall rock features and having a birds eye perspective from above.