While nearly all organized campgrounds have fire rings, if you are going off the grid, you are not likely to find any fire ring.  In some cases, the unknowing may build a fire right there on Mother Earth, scorching the earth and killing everything beneath the heat of the fire and blazing coals.  The end result is a black charred spot where a fire emblazoned its permanent print into earth.

There are two problems here, one is the death of the earth from the heat of flame and fire, the other problem is an ugly black charred spot where fire turned wood into sooty coal and ash.  Campfire remnants have a long life in the desert and are not easily absorbed into the earth.  The accumulation of countless ground campfires quickly adds up to a desert that is damaged, dirty, and ugly.

In fact in Anza Borrego, California's largest state park, ground campfires are not allowed.  In this case, the earth must be protected from fire and remnants that can seep into the earth.  Which means your fire can not touch the earth.

There is a simple solution to protecting the earth while still enjoying a campfire.  Use a steel trash can lid placed upside down on the ground.  Then use rocks to build a protective wall around your fire, which help keep wood and debris falling down onto your trash can lid.  This is a low cost and very convenient method that allows for an enjoyable campfire that leaves no trace.

Clean up is easy, which starts with ensuring your fire is completely out before going to bed at night.  On the day of departure, double check that your fire is completely out with not a trace of hot coals.  Disassemble the rocks surrounding your trash can lid and residual coals.  Tip your trash can lid and contents into a transportable bag for hauling to an acceptable trash disposal site.  For longer trips and longer distances of hauling fire pit debris, I use a five gallon bucket with sealing lid.

Please do your part to leave without a trace.

President's Day weekend 2014. We took the Jeep out to camp in Anza Borrego desert.  Avoiding the crowds that gather in some more common parts of the desert, we decided to head up Grapevine Trail off of Highway 78.  The trail is very easy and flat for the most part which allowed for traveling at faster speeds than usual.  There is a nice clearing at about 1.4 miles in, but we decided to go in a little further, finding another good clearing at about 2.5 miles.

There are some information signs just off the highway, this one for Angelina Spring.  Also to be seen in this part of the desert are remains from the Indians that used to inhabit these areas.  There are mortreros and other artifacts if you look closely.  But please don't touch.

Grapevine trail is relatively flat and within about one mile, cellular reception dissolves and desert solitude sets in.

At about 2.5 miles in, we found a clearing that provided a level location for our tent and also a enough space to park the Jeep and set up our camp kitchen and build a camp fire on our tin trash can lid.

The kids spent time playing with their trucks and shovels.  They also helped to dig out the remnants from a previous ground fire.  We built our fire pit on our upside down trash can lid and reused the rocks for walls.  Sometimes the cooking of s'mores can't happen soon enough, noted by the little guy with crossed arms and squinting eyes.

Daytime temperatures were pleasant, but as the sun headed further west, wind speeds increased and the temperature dropped.  I always stake down the tent and it was a good idea this night as it helped to keep the tent in a solid position and limit any flappinng of the fly panels.  The night time temperature eventually dropped down to 30 degrees.

As night time temperatures dropped, we stoked the fire, prepared dinner, and enjoyed s'mores.

The beauty of Anza Borrego is being able to camp anywhere, which allows for getting away from crowds of people and spending time with the family.

Cold temperatures gave reason for making hot chocolate before bedtime.  We found delicious organic cocoa powder hot chocolate. Yum!  And it was delicious!

Breakfast of Champions!  Organic whole wheat bagel with organic peanut butter. "I'm lovin' it!"

I took the kids on a short hike up the mountain side to get a view of camp and to embrace the solitude we were able to enjoy on this beautiful weekend.

Backtracking the Grapevine trail back out to highway 78.  There is also the option of continuing up Grapevine Trail and exiting out onto Montezuma Valley Road.

Are you tired of bending your tent stakes as you pound them into the terra firma below your feet?  After bending and wrecking a countless number of tent stakes over the years, we have looked for something better.
Snow Peak offers four different sizes of their solid steel indestructible tent stakes that are impossible to bend. 
The silver tent stake on the left in the below image is an aftermarket option.  Upon meeting up some below ground rock, this silver tent stake gave in and easily lost its form with a few hits from the hammer.
The black Snow Peak tent stake here is designed to go head to head with below ground rock and win the battle or at a minimum retain a linear shape.
Snow Peak offers these stakes in the following sizes:
3 oz. 20 cm
6 oz. 30 cm
12 oz. 40 cm
19 0z. 50 cm

The 30 cm works well for all around camping.  While the longer versions could be more ideal in deep sand or deep snow.

While these Snow Peak tent stakes are an extra cost, they will be the last set of stakes you will ever buy and you will no longer be tossing anymore of those cheap silver tent stakes in the trash.

What better day than Super Bowl Sunday to do some four wheeling?  With no one else expected on the trails this day, it was a perfect opportunity to explore a local San Diego trail out of Corral Canyon off of Highway 8 about 50 miles east of downtown San Diego.  The route is Los Pinos Mountain trail to Espinosa Trail and is about 20 miles with some fantastic views and a few moderate challenges.

After getting off the main road and entering Corral Canyon, the road winds back a few miles before reaching four corners.  At four corners, a right hand turn begins the trail, which starts as a narrow road that quickly gains altitude along an edge of the cliff drive.  Starting out there are clear views of Los Pinos and the Lookout Tower in the distance.

Unfortunately, this day the gate was locked and the Tower closed.  I guess the Tower guard is a bigger football fan than I.  Will have to come back another day for a panoramic view from the Lookout Tower.

After turning around at the locked gate, to head down the trail, there are beautiful panoramic vistas of the green landscape with pine trees poking out all over.

Heading down the easy trail from the locked gate.  There was a previous days rain that left some mud holes to splash in along the way.

Reaching the intersection.  Turning left here begins the more moderate Espinosa Trail.  The trail drops into a canyon and goes into the distance beyond the massive rock outcropping.

Only some moderate rock obstacles along the way.

However, the trees and bushes made for a few tight squeezes, which adding to the trail striping along the doors and windows of the Jeep.

The trail provided for a lot of fun twists and turns and rocks to navigate.  Here is the Jeep hiding down in the valley covered by tree canopies.  There was one technical off-camber step-down rock section that was a little tricky without a spotter.  I must have walked the line three times to memorize exactly where to put the wheels.  With the recent rain, the rocks were a little slippery, which added to the fun, but the Jeep held tight and rolled on through without a hitch.  Then, getting ready for a little climb out of the valley.

At about the half way point (10 miles approximately), there is a clearing that made for a nice open space to take a break and enjoy lunch.

Stretching out the front paws to see how far the articulation will really go.

The trail eventually becomes flat and easy, which provided for some faster paced trail blazing and drifting through corners.

At the Y intersection, Corral Canyon Road goes to the left and Skye Valley Road is on the right.  Keep right to Skye Valley Road for more vistas of the distant Lookout Tower.

Across the valley, the Lookout Tower is perched at the top of the green covered mountain top.

Along the way on Skye Valley Road, you will come to Bob Cat Meadow primitive campground.  Continuing on leads back out to four corners and down onto Corral Canyon Road.

Airing up before hitting pavement again.