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Author: Subject: 2015 Nomad 'Hike for Walter Henderson's Rock-Pile' (Lost Diaz Grave Mystery)
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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 04:39 PM


DK and I have already been talking about putting another search mission together. We have some additional resources to bring to the table that will help...updates to follow as we make some progress on the planning!



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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 04:42 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy  
DK....What was your criteria for the current search site? How did you narrow it to the current area?


Did you read the letter earlier in this thread? The following map points out places in the letter...

Based on the rock pile's discoverer, Walter Henderson... as told to Choral Pepper in 1967 (and she turned into a mystery story in her book and magazine articles):



As you can read Walters letter, I shared publically here on Baja Nomad for all to enjoy and help figure out where the rock pile was...

Mentioned and pointed out, on the 1962 Lower Ca Guidebook Map 3: Remember, there was no Hwy. 5 back then, the old road to San Felipe may have been close, however.
*La Ventana
*Road running west from just north of El Chinero, about 20 miles south of La Ventana.
* Take off about 5 miles below road north of El Chinero
* RED ARROW: Parked at Base of hills
* Arroyo Grande
* Base of Cerro Borrego

[Edited on 7-15-2015 by David K]




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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 05:00 PM


Do I have your general search area marked correctly?


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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 05:02 PM


Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
David can you resurrect an overview showing the A, B, C locations in the AG wash?
I know we saw it back when with coordinates at one time.
Thanks


Hi Paul, Arroyo C was dismissed before this year's discussion, but it is at or close to where you parked your truck and hiked into Arroyo B's middle valley from (ie. the top right of this map that shows Arroyos B, A, and D from top to bottom):





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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 05:05 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy  
Do I have your general search area marked correctly?




Your pin 'current search area' is approx. where Arroyo B meets Arroyo Grande.

I appreciate your interest in helping us find the rock pile!

Did you read the Baja Bound article last month?: http://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/searching...




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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 05:34 PM


Same story...reading it now...but am unsure where the comments such as these ....

They reached the top of the Sierra Pinta range and then went steeply down the west side, into Arroyo Grande. Around noon, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the distance down from the divide

and this.....

They made camp that night in Arroyo Grande, and returned the next day to the Model A by traveling up Arroyo Grande to the base of Borrego Mountain and then back east to the car

The camping part - no problem - but the rest?

Are these based on other letters or notes or by a careful reading of the letters you posted?
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[*] posted on 7-15-2015 at 10:09 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy  
Same story...reading it now...but am unsure where the comments such as these ....

They reached the top of the Sierra Pinta range and then went steeply down the west side, into Arroyo Grande. Around noon, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the distance down from the divide

and this.....

They made camp that night in Arroyo Grande, and returned the next day to the Model A by traveling up Arroyo Grande to the base of Borrego Mountain and then back east to the car

The camping part - no problem - but the rest?

Are these based on other letters or notes or by a careful reading of the letters you posted?


The entire letter and the additional direction page is posted in this thread. I did so in hopes others will find clues I may have missed.

I posted my best guess after reading the letter for the past 12 years multiple times. I would like (as would have Choral) to find the rock pile in my lifetime. I think it would be more successful to involve my Nomad friends. It was with thier (your) help I could visit the rock walls that Choral saw in 1966, and she later believed was a Jesuit proposed mission site... but could not find it again.

Thank you for your interest!




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[*] posted on 8-19-2015 at 02:36 PM
Beginning at the Model A


We now know Henderson parked his Model A near 4 corners then walked west. Then my hypothesis is the easy walking would be one of the two drainages looking west. The one leading NW ends quickly after heading N. Lots of choices for sure.
The other one is Arroyo Arrajal which leads pretty much the same way but then turns SW. But there is another drainage that heads NW then W toward the heart of Arroyo Grande.
So my next project will be two fold.
1) Climb to the top of Arrajal and have a look. Who knows if I will make any conclusions from the top? I will tell you all about the results later. For now the preliminary plan is to start at the Slate Mine and take the NE leading ridge. My link about Slate is http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=72246#pid8855...
Note the error in the label of the arroyo

2) Drive as far as I can up the fork off the race track that leads NW Junction is at ~31 26.7, 115 15.9. Then walk around toward AG to have a look see.
So I will tell you the dates later and invite your participation.



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[*] posted on 8-19-2015 at 03:00 PM


Wonderful!

Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez.

That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande?

Obviously we will not know any of this for sure until the rock pile is discovered! I wish you luck! I do have a planned return expedition, perhaps after the heat of September?




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[*] posted on 8-20-2015 at 10:54 AM


Excellent Paul!

Keep us posted. I would love to be a part of the next trip out there and I know David would too.





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[*] posted on 8-20-2015 at 12:39 PM


Do you think from 4 corners the arroyo north of Arrajal should be the first choice?
========

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Wonderful!

Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez.

That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande?

Obviously we will not know any of this for sure until the rock pile is discovered! I wish you luck! I do have a planned return expedition, perhaps after the heat of September?
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[*] posted on 8-20-2015 at 01:06 PM


Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Do you think from 4 corners the arroyo north of Arrajal should be the first choice?
========

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Wonderful!

Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez.

That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande?

Obviously we will not know any of this for sure until the rock pile is discovered! I wish you luck! I do have a planned return expedition, perhaps after the heat of September?


Yes.




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[*] posted on 8-20-2015 at 04:09 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  

Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez.
That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande?
========
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Do you think from 4 corners the arroyo north of Arrajal should be the first choice?
========
Quote: Originally posted by David K  

Yes.

========
I understand your suggestion and will do both. That northerly one quickly merges with the off shoot NW from Race but does not look as drive-able. I want to drive for a quick look before the hiking begins.
So the dilemma is when ‘does one head west’? My guess would be 31 28-29’?
PS, Other readers need to remember Henderson’s C. Borrego is the present day C. Arrajal? On the new maps C Borrego is closer to Hwy 3. Another easy hike to get the views south to see Diablo and Lugana Diablo
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[*] posted on 8-20-2015 at 04:56 PM


Yes, Henderson's Cerro Borrego is the topo map's Cerro Arrajal. On other old maps it was called 'Sharp Peak', as well.



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[*] posted on 3-21-2017 at 04:07 PM


I googled Walter Henderson and trying to figure out who he was, etc. I see by one of your posts you are looking for a grave site?

This is pretty cool to see how your thought process is going! It'd be cool to find it.

[Edited on 3-21-2017 by kevin_in_idaho]
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[*] posted on 3-21-2017 at 05:02 PM


Quote: Originally posted by kevin_in_idaho  
I googled Walter Henderson and trying to figure out who he was, etc. I see by one of your posts you are looking for a grave site?

This is pretty cool to see how your thought process is going! It'd be cool to find it.

[Edited on 3-21-2017 by kevin_in_idaho]


Read this: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/searchin...




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[*] posted on 3-21-2017 at 08:21 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by kevin_in_idaho  
I googled Walter Henderson and trying to figure out who he was, etc. I see by one of your posts you are looking for a grave site?

This is pretty cool to see how your thought process is going! It'd be cool to find it.

[Edited on 3-21-2017 by kevin_in_idaho]


Read this: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/searchin...


I wish I lived closer as I'd love to help out; can you imagine when you find it how cool that will be!?
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[*] posted on 5-12-2017 at 01:41 AM


That is truely amazing.



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[*] posted on 5-12-2017 at 09:37 PM


I mean the logistics of this is mind boggling. The resupply effort that Diaz was assigned to. Who planned this all out? Someone in Spain?

[Edited on 5-13-2017 by fishbuck]




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[*] posted on 5-13-2017 at 05:01 PM


Read about the Coronado expedition (1540-41) seeking the golden cities of Cibola. Alarcon and Melchior Diaz were part of that expedition... only the Colorado River did not get them close enough to the main party to resupply them.

Read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_V%C3%A1zquez_de_Coro...




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