RocketJSquirrel
Nomad
Posts: 251
Registered: 8-3-2019
Member Is Offline
|
|
Observatory at San Pedro Martir
During normal times, when and how do you access the observatory? I know how to get there, but are there usual hours they have - in the past - been
open to the public? Was there a fee other than entering the park area? Planning a trip with people from the UK and just want some idea of what
things MIGHT be like by September.
The one time I was up there, they weren't open.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64493
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
I wrote about it after my visit in October 2017: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/san_pedr...
However, far more details and all that you asked for is in my Nomad Trip #7 report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87976
These hours are not exact and if they are doing any work on the scopes, you can't get in...
I arrived at the gate shortly after 10 am (when it was advertised to be open), and it was closed! There was another car parked over to the side in the
parking area with a few people and one soldier from the base below. I just stayed in the road at the gate waiting for someone to come down and
(hopefully) open it for all of us. Another family arrived while I waited.
Maybe 20 minutes passed and a vehicle came down from the telescopes (which are 3 kilometers away and 500 feet higher, on the ridge). After he chatted
with the others through the gate I walked to him and learned it wasn't open yesterday or this morning because of some maintenance going on with the
telescopes. Because I only wanted to take photos for all of you and the new guidebook and get a GPS reading, he said for me to wait 30 minutes. The
other two vehicles full of people left and 45 minutes later, he came down. I noted he was wearing a Superman shirt and he said that was because he was
the "supervisor"! 
He couldn't get the electric gate to open so he invited me to ride in his truck. How cool was that! He told me that normally the gate is closed but
during those three hours each day (10-1), you can use the call box to get the gate opened... only the call box was currently out-of-order.
I recall he said he has been working there for 9 years. 15 days a month up at the observatories and 15 days in Ensenada at sea level. Prevents
elevation sickness.
[Edited on 6-23-2020 by David K]
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17344
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by RocketJSquirrel  | During normal times, when and how do you access the observatory? I know how to get there, but are there usual hours they have - in the past - been
open to the public? Was there a fee other than entering the park area? Planning a trip with people from the UK and just want some idea of what
things MIGHT be like by September.
The one time I was up there, they weren't open. |
What is on the sign sometimes differs from reality.
I have noticed that weekends they generally follow posted hours. On slow days, or for no obvious reason, they dont follow posted hours.
Unpredictable, so stay flexible. Lots to explore in the park even if observstory is closed
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
|
|
|
bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2423
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
|
|
It was closed the weekend I drove up to second gate. We where walking around a service truck pulled up. To sadly tell us observatory is closed. I
explained my company from south America would love like see it. I have him 200 pesos he said get in my truck. He gave us the show inside told us the
history.
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
bajatrailrider - great thinking outside the box!
RocketSquirrel - how far south will you be coming? I have a box of brand new t-shirts sitting in my Mom's garage in San Diego that needs a ride
south! Maybe 12" by 12".
Les is British and it would be fun to meet your friends as well!
|
|
|
RocketJSquirrel
Nomad
Posts: 251
Registered: 8-3-2019
Member Is Offline
|
|
I'm in Ensenada - going only as far south as San Quintin.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
