We're back from Guadalupe Canyon (Mar., 2004)
We're back from Guadalupe Canyon
Baja Ken and his Jeep Rubicon Owners club had a camping and four wheeling party at Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs this weekend and invited Chris and I
to join them (even though I drive a Toyota!).
We left Oceanside about 3 pm Friday, headed for Tecate... Joining my son Chris and I, was my friend Jimmy.
The dry lake access off Hwy. 2 is now well signed as 'Laguna Salada', 2.6 miles east of the Guadalupe Canyon signed exit (which is the graded, wet
weather road).
We arrived at Arturo's Campo #1 at 8 pm. Baja Ken had both El Dorado and El Castillo reserved for the group. We camped at El Castillo with Ken &
Suzanne, David & Susan, and Russ. The hot tub felt wonderful after the drive and camp set up!
Saturday morning, Ken had planned a hike up to the pool of the virgen with its tall waterfall filled pool and giant granite walls and even further to
the next pool which was all sand with palms... very inviting!
We returned to prepare for the Jeep run... Ken had hoped to do a big loop trip to the top of the Sierra Juarez going up El Mano Canyon and down the
Jamau 'summit', which was the WWII telegraph line road from Ensenada to San Felipe...
Time was not available for such a grand run, but the Jeepers wanted some rock crawling and the road up to Mano Canyon provided a rough ride.
The first road fork in the canyon I hoped would go to Rancho El Mano, but it dead ended. However, a large boulder on that fork provided great
entertainment as the Jeep boys who took turns driving their Wranglers' front left tires as high as possible for a photo opp.! Chris had a lot of fun
driving my truck most of the day, as well.
We got back to Guadalupe Canyon just as darkness fell. Steaks and corn for dinner! After purchasing a caguama of Tecate and some sodas from Arturo,
Chris, Jimmy and I were set for the evening in the hot tub and visiting with the other nice people of Ken's group!
This morning I made chorizo and egg burritos for all the meat eaters in our camp and then we all loaded up for an exit about 9 am.
Pemex was 5.83/litre (I think)...
El Hongo Toll was US$4.50 and La Rumerosa was US$1.15
Arrived at the Tecate border line at 12 noon Sunday (today) and was across about 12:25... no problemas.
Of interest to some, I went by David Eidell's, but didn't see his truck there.
Arturo's camp looked okay (I didn't inspect all of it), trash bags were in each of the (empty) cans, hot water flowed 24/7, but the larger of the two
tubs at El Castillo was not kept clean for hot tubbing and is full of algae... like a natural pool would be in the mountains! The place is still worth
it, IMHO...
I have the GPS of the Pool of the Virgen and the next pool up, if anyone wants them.
Hasta la vista!
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