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BajaGeoff
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The Baja Observatory Challenge
For all of you cycling enthusiasts...
The Baja Observatory Challenge has been established and the Baja Bound crew will be tackling the mountain very soon. This is not an organized event on
any specific date as much as it is an open ended invitation for bike riders to attempt this intense ride and post up their results via GPS. Every
recorded finisher will get a snazzy Baja Observatory Challenge t-shirt! More information will be posted soon....
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Bajaboy
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Sweet!
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Ateo
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Sounds like fun. I'd love to do a downhill on a skateboard from the top.
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Bajaboy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
13,000 feet?
Observatory is at 9,200' and the tallest peak in Baja, a few miles to the southeast (Picacho del Diablo, and other names), is just over 10,100 feet.
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Net gain....yes, 13,000 ft.
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BajaGeoff
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Not so fast DK....the road to the top does not just go up, up, up all the way...you climb, drop down, climb again, drop down...repeat. The net result
via GPS readings makes the total climb well over 13,000 feet...
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
13,000 feet?
Observatory is at 9,200' and the tallest peak in Baja, a few miles to the southeast (Picacho del Diablo, and other names), is just over 10,100 feet.
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BajaGeoff
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Whatever you want to call it...it's going to be a lot of work!
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David K
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Yes indeed... it should be a great event... Maybe some business for Astro Baja, as well?
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Ron_Perry
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What about a date? Any guesses? If this info was given to cycling clubs up and down California, I believe hundreds would enter.
It is a GREAT challenge! More info ASAP. Thanks, Ron
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BajaGeoff
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Hello Ron,
We are not setting it up as a specific event....it's just a ride that people can do on their own time, track with GPS and then share their results
with other riders that have done it. We'll have the website and info posted soon.
We are going to start in the afternoon at the highway turnoff and ride to Meling Ranch on the first day, then Meling to the top on the second day.
I'll be shooting video by the way...only bike ride that I do is the Rosarito to Ensenada!
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mtgoat666
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a few years ago on a trip to SPM i passed 60 or 70 bicyclists riding from hwy 1 up to the plateau. it was a mexican club, with members ranging from
newbies to fit cyclists,... i guesstimated that about 50% got rides from sag wagon to make it up the last big elev gain ending at the forest station.
they must have had 1 sag wagon for every 4 cyclists, but were not camping in park, apparently went home after reaching park
that elev gain is for fit, experienced cyclists, the elev gain will kick most people before they even get close to the park entrance
it's a great area for riding, park is really pretty, roads are great, traffic is very light.
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Ateo
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Hey Geoff,
Great graphic BTW.
That is one hell of a bike ride.
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David K
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The condor is cool!
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Ron_Perry
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Baja Geoff, is it all asphalt? Looks like some loose, rocky asphalt. Has anyone done this yet? Camping up top? What are the temps at 9500 feet? Any
food up top? Good water? I think the challenge for many riders would be to summit it in one day.
Yep, the condor is...cool. I saw 6 condors at Pinnacles National Monument about 2 months ago....what a treat. Keep us posted, Ron
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David K
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Until Geoff gets back on for his take, here is some info:
All 100 kms. paved, except for patch work after washouts. The camping area is lower than the telescopes... closer to 8,000'... Good spring water tap
just off the highway at Los Manzanos RV park entrance, just outside park entrance station. No food service to tourists that I have heard of. ?
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nandopedal
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End of May, Memorial day weekend, I am willing to give it a try if I can find somebody to come along I will supply vehicle just need driver for the
day of the "assault".
@ Goat, Yes I have been invited in the past, once a year there is a ride up by a bunch of people from TJ.
@ Zac, maybe we can talk Tracy into driving?
\"There are many dangers in Baja. The most serious of which is not going.\" Christophe Noel (EXPO)
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BajaGeoff
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Hank from Baja Bound has already done the climb from Rancho Meling to the top. The road is in great shape as DK said...just some areas affected after
bad weather. Campgrounds are beautiful in the park, but it is going to be way too cold right now to stay up there. Our crew will return to Meling
after they finish the ride. Shirts are all done!
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Hank from Baja Bound has already done the climb from Rancho Meling to the top. The road is in great shape as DK said...just some areas affected after
bad weather. Campgrounds are beautiful in the park, but it is going to be way too cold right now to stay up there. Our crew will return to Meling
after they finish the ride. Shirts are all done!
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camped there several times in april, it's not bad temperature. the nights get quite cool, but firewood is abundant so easy to stay toasty warm. and
when sun comes up you build a fire for bfast, then days warm to 60s pretty quickly as soon as sun comes out.
good thing about camping in april is the weekend crowds usually are not there yet. in warmer weather the campground gets noisy on weekends. but
camping spots are far apart so noise is usually acceptable
for people that dont like camping, there are some cabins you can stay at inside the park. booking info (tele # in ensenada) is available thru the SPM
park facebook page
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BajaGeoff
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Excellent info mtgoat!
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bajaguy
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Geoff
See your u2u
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bajabound2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by nandopedal
End of May, Memorial day weekend, I am willing to give it a try if I can find somebody to come along I will supply vehicle just need driver for the
day of the "assault".
@ Goat, Yes I have been invited in the past, once a year there is a ride up by a bunch of people from TJ.
@ Zac, maybe we can talk Tracy into driving? |
I'm in!
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