Hiking - Part 47b

 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

This is the second in a series of three hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California.  Today we see the Goat Canyon-Trestle Bridge hike, which follows an abandoned railroad.

The railroad was built by John D. Spreckels (left, above) in 1919.  John and his brother Adolph (right) were the sons of the 19th century sugar baron Claus Spreckels, who made his fortune from California sugar beets and Hawaiian sugar cane plantations.  Adolph was the original "sugar daddy," a phrase coined by his wife, who was 20 year younger than him.

Today's hike was done by the late Kirill Tokarev, one of my favorite unashamed males, in 2014.  The hike starts from the DeAnza Springs resort next to the park.  The resort was clothing-optional, so lots of naked hikers have hiked this trail.

Shortly after starting the hike, Kirill came across this abandoned train on a siding (above).  The train is said to be haunted.

Kirill entered the train.

Is that a naked ghost floating there?

Kirill survived to lark around on the back of the train.

Trying to hitch a ride?  No luck.  The railroad is abandoned.

There are several tunnels along the route.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

Kirill investigating a structure by the side of the tracks.  It was a Southern Pacific railroad telephone booth, which once contained a phone directly connected to the railroad dispatcher.  Train conductors received orders telling them when and how far to move their train.

Kirill investigating another abandoned railroad car.

The goal of the hike is this trestle, said to be the largest wooden curved trestle in the world.  It's 600 feet long and 200 feet high.  The tiny figure atop the trestle is Kirill.

Tomorrow: Another naked hike along this railroad.