OUTDOORS: ERNIE COWAN
You won’t be taking home a pumpkin from this patch


October is a traditional time to go on the Great Pumpkin search, but if you find this hidden pumpkin patch it’s not likely you will take one home.
First, it would be highly illegal and more importantly, the “pumpkin” would weigh a ton or more.
This unique pumpkin patch is actually a collection of geological oddities in the barren desert sands of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area located along the eastern fringe of San Diego County.
As cooler temperatures return to our county desert areas, it’s now a good time to discover some of these fascinating features.
The pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch are not growing plants at all. They are actually sandstone formations known as concretions.
Geologists say these stone objects are the product of wind and water over millions of years eroding softer soil to reveal these globular sandstone formations.
There are different theories on how concretions were formed, but it’s generally thought that a natural cementing of sand particles to a small object such as a grain of sand, piece of shell or even a dead insect created these objects, much in the same way that pearls are created.
The concretions remained hidden underground until eons of weathering exposed them. This is a process that continues today as new patches of concretions slowly expose along the barren desert ridges.
While the Pumpkin Patch is the most elegant example of these formations, concretions can be found in many areas of Ocotillo Wells and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Unlike the formation at the Pumpkin Patch, these concretions come in various sizes and shapes. In some places there are wide fields of softball-sized concretions littering the ground, and in others, the formations are in random and often whimsical shapes.
These are not only protected by State Park rules, but people should remember that these are unique formations that took millions of years to create and expose. Photograph them and enjoy them but leave them in place for others to enjoy.
Getting to the great Pumpkin Patch is the biggest challenge. The area is about dead center in the 85,000-acre Ocotillo Wells off-road vehicle park. There are no paved roads leading there, so access is by off-road vehicle or on foot.
Trails with names like Lost Lizard, Textbook Trail and Tule Wash will all get you there, and for the more rugged, an overland hike to the patch would be a moderate trek over some fascinating terrain.
More detailed information about the location and access can be obtained at the Ocotillo Wells Discovery Center on Ranger Station Road, just north of state Route 78 in Ocotillo Wells.
A visit to the Pumpkin Patch can be a great day trip if you have an off-road vehicle. Pack a lunch, get an early start and explore some of the beauties of the surrounding area.
Leaving the area to the north can take you to another interesting location known as 17-palms oasis, but we will save that for another story.
Park app
To help park lovers discover more about California State Parks, a new mobile application has been launched as a pilot program for several parks in the state.
The program includes maps of campgrounds, entrances, trailheads, visitor centers in both map and satellite views.
Called Outer Spatial, the app is available at online app stores.
History program
The rich history of early immigration and travel to California will be brought to life through a special Anza-Borrego: In Focus program on the Southern Emigrant trail during a two-day seminar beginning Nov. 23.
Hosted by the Anza-Borrego Foundation, the program will include lectures and field trips to explore the history of the route that was used my Native Americans, Mexican soldiers, California Gold Rush travelers, The Mormon Battalion, and the Butterfield Overland Stage.
Author and historian Phil Brigandi will bring history to life through his lectures and field trips to historic locations.
The program begins at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. Events on Nov. 24 will include a car tour and short hikes to key locations.
Cost of the program is $50 for ABF members and $60 for nonmembers. Visit theabf.org for additional information or to register.

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