Picacho and the Cargo Muchachos: Gold, Guns and Geology of Eastern Imperial County, California

The subtitle says it all about the harsh, raw beauty of a little-known but intriguing corner of the vast California desert. Its beckoning red and purple landscapes are bounded on the east by the Colorado River, and on the west by the Algodones sand dunes, one of the largest sand dune complexes in North America. A drive of less than three easy hours on I-8 from San Diego brings the explorer to the ancient portals of the southeastern Chocolate Mountains and the Cargo Muchacho Mountains, guarded by the Quechan People for thousands of years and now accessible via graded dirt roads, 4WD trails, and just enough asphalt to appeal to less adventurous souls.