Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To Alcoholic Pass Trail

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk! In particular, note that this trail guide is very incomplete for annuals and perennials, since the trail has not yet been surveyed after rainfall.

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

The Alcoholic Pass Trail traverses Coyote Mountain in a cross-section from its south side to its north side, from Coyote Creek to Clark Valley. Coyote Mountain has a very odd profile here, with a steep southern slope, an almost flat top, and a long very gentle northern slope. In contrast, in the area of the peak of Coyote Mountain, the profile is nearly symmetric. The complex profiles are undoubtedly due to Coyote Mountain itself being an uplifted block between two strands of the San Jacinto Fault, and therefore subjected to considerable stress and strain.
The trailhead is on the main Coyote Canyon dirt road, 2.5 miles north of the end of the pavement on DiGiorgio Road in Borrego Springs. Except after heavy rains, or when Coyote Creek has a lot of water, the dirt road is usually passable with careful driving by passenger cars.
The hike begins on the north edge of Coyote Creek Wash at a signed trailhead. At mile 0.16, you begin ascending a steep slope and gain 500 feet of elevation in the next 0.48 miles, a punishing rate of 1000 feet per mile. The trail then is essentially level for the next 0.27 miles before descending at the very gentle rate of 220 feet per mile for the 2.7 miles down to Rockhouse Canyon Road.
Highlights of This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. We had 118 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 7 of those trails, including this one, are in Anza-Borrego State Park. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all the trails in our database; numbers of "7" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area. Some of the other Anza-Borrego Trails are very incomplete.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
3 2 6%
4 1 3%
5 1 3%

1-5 4 11%
6-10 16 46%
11-15 11 31%
16-20 1 3%
21-25 1 3%
26-30 1 3%
60-65 1 3%
Total Taxa 35 100%

We found 8 additional taxa not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ?, sp or ssp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
12/22/2007 1 40 2 5 10 0
12/27/2007 2 43 2 4 9 0

The trail was only covered to mile 2.55 on 12/22/07. Just the lower two miles were covered on 12/27/07.
Botanical Trip Reports

22 December 2007
The Plant Guide

The mileages have been obtained by a GPS recording for most of the species, with the route then drawn using Topo!. The relative mileages are probably accurate to ~0.02 miles, with the absolute accuracy somewhat worse.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (2 pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides for an explanation of the column headers.

mile s # id FAM Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin guide at sign "Alcoholic Pass"; elevation 930 feet (283 m)
0.00 r 1 FOU ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens 99 / 9 11
0.00 l 2 AST burroweed Ambrosia dumosa 99 / 9 13
0.00 r 3 CAC Gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 99 / 9 10
0.00 r 4 FAB indigo bush Psorothamnus schottii 40 / 9 12
0.00 r 5 sp CUS dodder Cuscuta sp. 1 / 1
0.01 r 6 ZYG creosote bush Larrea tridentata 99 / 9 11
0.01 l 7 AST cheesebush Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola 50 / 9 10
0.02 r 8 CAC teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 99 / 9 8
0.02 l 9 AST brittlebush Encelia farinosa 30 / 9 14
0.04 10 POA big galleta Pleuraphis rigida 50 / 9 9
0.05 r 11 LAM desert lavender Hyptis emoryi 50 / 9 9
0.06 l 12 ~ ONA California suncup Camissonia californica 99 / 9 24
0.08 l 13 CAC beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 4 / 4 15
0.09 l 14 ? unk shrub with little spines like prunus ? 1 / 1
0.09 r 15 ZYG California fagonia Fagonia laevis 20 / 9 7
0.09 l 16 sp POA unk per grass Aristida purpurea? 20 / 9
0.12 r 17 sp EUP per spurge Chamaesyce sp. 99 / 9
0.14 r 18 ~ MAL apricot mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua 1 / 1
0.16 Leave wash and go onto steep slope
0.17 l 19 LAM chia Salvia columbariae 5 / 2 28
0.17 l 20 sp AST pincushion? Chaenactis sp.? 30 / 5
0.17 r 21 sp POL annual Eriogonum Eriogonum sp. 1 / 1
0.17 Switchback left
0.17 r 22 ~ ONA Booth's desert primrose Camissonia boothii ssp. condensata 3 / 2 3
0.17 r 23 ~ POL devil's spineflower Chorizanthe rigida 1 / 1 4
0.19 b 24 ? sprawling annual ? 20 / 9
0.23 l 25 BOR Palmer's coldenia Tiquilia palmeri 2 / 1 3
0.24 r 26 ~ PLA desert plantain Plantago ovata 50 / 9 9
0.24 r 27 ~ FAB bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 5 / 2 14
0.29 r 28 KRA white rhatany Krameria grayi⁺ 40 / 9 5
0.64 End steep climb at minor local high point; elevation 1500 feet (457 m)
0.70 r 29 ~ GER *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 63
l CAC (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.76 b 30 AST sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 9 16
0.80 Sign in sheet "Summit Register"; elevation 1560 feet (475 m); trail is flat now
0.91 Start downhill; view of Clark Valley; elevation 1560 feet (475 m)
0.93 l 31 CAC California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺ 1 / 1 9
0.98 r 32 PTE woolly lipfern Cheilanthes parryi 10 / 3 6
0.98 r 33 ~ HYD common phacelia Phacelia distans 30 / 5 13
1.00 r 34 SIM jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 20 / 9 8
1.01 l ~ EPH (Nevada ephedra, Ephedra nevadensis)
1.02 r 35 AST arrow-weed Pluchea sericea 3 / 1 6
1.03 b 36 LAM Vasey's sage Salvia vaseyi 10 / 3 6
1.07 r 37 AST wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 2 / 1 14
1.09 l 38 FAB catclaw Acacia greggii 10 / 9 11
1.26 l Some 7' tall Vasey's sage, S. vaseyi
1.41 r 39 FAB smoke tree Psorothamnus spinosus 5 / 2 7
1.60 r CAC (Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii)
1.60 r CAC (fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica)
1.62 Elevation 1400 feet (427 m)
1.90 l Positive identification of Krameria grayi from fruit
2.14 l 40 AST California trixis Trixis californica var. californica 1 / 1 9
2.18 r 41 CAC pencil cholla Opuntia ramosissima 3 / 1 7
2.42 Elevation 1200 feet (366 m)
2.93 r 42 VIS desert mistletoe Phoradendron californicum 1 / 1 7
3.24 r 43 CAC Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 1 / 1 11
3.30 Elevation 1000 feet (305 m)
3.59 End trail at Rockhouse Canyon Dirt Road; elevation 960 feet (293 m)

Comments On Specific Species

Krameria grayi. There were no fruit or flowers on the first plants on the trail, so their determination is not 100% positive; the plant at mile 1.90 had fruit for the determination, and is noted in the guide.
Ferocactus cylindraceus. The varieties are not recognized in the Flora of North America treatment.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
3	2	6%
4	1	3%
5	1	3%

1-5	4	11%
6-10	16	46%
11-15	11	31%
16-20	1	3%
21-25	1	3%
26-30	1	3%
60-65	1	3%
Total Taxa	35	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
12/22/2007	1	40	2	5	10	0
12/27/2007	2	43	2	4	9	0

mile	s	#	id	FAM	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin guide at sign "Alcoholic Pass"; elevation 930 feet (283 m)
0.00	r	1		FOU	ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	99 / 9	11
0.00	l	2		AST	burroweed	Ambrosia dumosa	99 / 9	13
0.00	r	3		CAC	Gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	99 / 9	10
0.00	r	4		FAB	indigo bush	Psorothamnus schottii	40 / 9	12
0.00	r	5	sp	CUS	dodder	Cuscuta sp.	1 / 1
0.01	r	6		ZYG	creosote bush	Larrea tridentata	99 / 9	11
0.01	l	7		AST	cheesebush	Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola	50 / 9	10
0.02	r	8		CAC	teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	99 / 9	8
0.02	l	9		AST	brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	30 / 9	14
0.04		10		POA	big galleta	Pleuraphis rigida	50 / 9	9
0.05	r	11		LAM	desert lavender	Hyptis emoryi	50 / 9	9
0.06	l	12	~	ONA	California suncup	Camissonia californica	99 / 9	24
0.08	l	13		CAC	beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	4 / 4	15
0.09	l	14	?		unk shrub with little spines like prunus	?	1 / 1
0.09	r	15		ZYG	California fagonia	Fagonia laevis	20 / 9	7
0.09	l	16	sp	POA	unk per grass	Aristida purpurea?	20 / 9
0.12	r	17	sp	EUP	per spurge	Chamaesyce sp.	99 / 9
0.14	r	18	~	MAL	apricot mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	1 / 1
0.16				Leave wash and go onto steep slope
0.17	l	19		LAM	chia	Salvia columbariae	5 / 2	28
0.17	l	20	sp	AST	pincushion?	Chaenactis sp.?	30 / 5
0.17	r	21	sp	POL	annual Eriogonum	Eriogonum sp.	1 / 1
0.17				Switchback left
0.17	r	22	~	ONA	Booth's desert primrose	Camissonia boothii ssp. condensata	3 / 2	3
0.17	r	23	~	POL	devil's spineflower	Chorizanthe rigida	1 / 1	4
0.19	b	24	?		sprawling annual	?	20 / 9
0.23	l	25		BOR	Palmer's coldenia	Tiquilia palmeri	2 / 1	3
0.24	r	26	~	PLA	desert plantain	Plantago ovata	50 / 9	9
0.24	r	27	~	FAB	bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	5 / 2	14
0.29	r	28		KRA	white rhatany	Krameria grayi⁺	40 / 9	5
0.64				End steep climb at minor local high point; elevation 1500 feet (457 m)
0.70	r	29	~	GER	*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	63
	l			CAC (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.76	b	30		AST	sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 9	16
0.80				Sign in sheet "Summit Register"; elevation 1560 feet (475 m); trail is flat now
0.91				Start downhill; view of Clark Valley; elevation 1560 feet (475 m)
0.93	l	31		CAC	California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺	1 / 1	9
0.98	r	32		PTE	woolly lipfern	Cheilanthes parryi	10 / 3	6
0.98	r	33	~	HYD	common phacelia	Phacelia distans	30 / 5	13
1.00	r	34		SIM	jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	20 / 9	8
1.01	l		~	EPH (Nevada ephedra, Ephedra nevadensis)
1.02	r	35		AST	arrow-weed	Pluchea sericea	3 / 1	6
1.03	b	36		LAM	Vasey's sage	Salvia vaseyi	10 / 3	6
1.07	r	37		AST	wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	2 / 1	14
1.09	l	38		FAB	catclaw	Acacia greggii	10 / 9	11
1.26	l			Some 7' tall Vasey's sage, S. vaseyi
1.41	r	39		FAB	smoke tree	Psorothamnus spinosus	5 / 2	7
1.60	r			CAC (Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii)
1.60	r			CAC (fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica)
1.62				Elevation 1400 feet (427 m)
1.90	l			Positive identification of Krameria grayi from fruit
2.14	l	40		AST	California trixis	Trixis californica var. californica	1 / 1	9
2.18	r	41		CAC	pencil cholla	Opuntia ramosissima	3 / 1	7
2.42				Elevation 1200 feet (366 m)
2.93	r	42		VIS	desert mistletoe	Phoradendron californicum	1 / 1	7
3.24	r	43		CAC	Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	1 / 1	11
3.30				Elevation 1000 feet (305 m)
3.59				End trail at Rockhouse Canyon Dirt Road; elevation 960 feet (293 m)

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Copyright © 2007 by Tom Chester and Wayne Armstrong
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/anza_borrego/alcoholic_pass.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Wayne Armstrong
Last update: 29 December 2007.