David K
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How La Ventana got its name...
The La Ventana on Hwy. 5, midway between Mexicali and San Felipe...
The window rock location on Howard Gulick's 1962 map:
The one-time gas station and now rest stop/ store is at Km. 105...
Located at the far north-east end of the Sierra Pinta, Howard Gulick photographs the window rock in 1959... note the man standing next to it for
scale.
Looking through the window:
[Edited on 2-26-2022 by David K]
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David K
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On Google Earth: 31° 43.109'N, 115° 2.288'W
Access from the cell tower road, Km. 109, but don't drive onto the playa in case the tide has been high (and is hidden below the salt)!
[Edited on 7-29-2020 by David K]
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PaulW
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I tried to get there from the north starting from the new bridge (k107). I was alone and the mud was very soft. I did not have the coords at that time
an was driving from his description.
How did you get the coords?
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  | I tried to get there from the north starting from the new bridge (k107). I was alone and the mud was very soft. I did not have the coords at that time
an was driving from his description.
How did you get the coords? |
I flew over it on Google Earth.
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PaulW
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But how did you know which rock was the location.
Next year I will try to drive there. I just made two GE tracks to try. Starting just south of the tower road in a poorly defined gully. I wonder if
there will be access thru the fence.
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David K
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I knew where La Ventana was because Howard Gulick put it on his map. Then I simply flew over the area on Google Earth and matched the hill to the 1959
photo from Howard Gulick.
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David K
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La Ventana came up in a Facebook post... this fellow saw weird globes over the delta in 1982.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/historiadelapeninsuladebajac...
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by PaulW | But how did you know which rock was the location.
Next year I will try to drive there. I just made two GE tracks to try. Starting just south of the tower road in a poorly defined gully. I wonder if
there will be access thru the fence. |
It’s only 1+ mile off the paved road. Easy walk. Every long drive is healthier for the body if you stop midway for a bit of exercise, 1-hr per day
of exercise will improve health and lead to longer life.
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
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PaulW
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I made a GE track to the place. 1.26 miles when driven
Exit Hwy5 at KM109
Attachment: to Ventana-1.kml (6kB)
This file has been downloaded 185 times
[Edited on 12-20-2020 by PaulW]
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David K
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Nice job Paul.
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PaulW
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Before I got Davids correct instructions I spent several days looking for Bruce Barber's ventana west of highway 5 and I found many small caves and
one big window. Since we found this big one the Jeep club makes regular drive/hike to that place.
 
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David K
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Very cool... Yes, I was a fan of Bruce's writings/ book. Many 'ventanas' in that region!
I had hoped to get him and Choral Pepper connected because he was so fascinated with finding the Melchior Diaz Grave, after reading her Desert
Magazine story, but she died before we could make it happen. I met Bruce at the Pyramid Resort event and he signed my copy of his book.
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PaulW
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My mission with Bruce was a little confusing. Followed his directions and came up blank. Kept trying out west. Lots of hiking and driving so I was
happy. Never once did he suggest to look east of the highway.
Similar to the Diaz directions he gave me. More driving and hiking with no success
I do think Bruce and buddy did incomplete research and did a lot of guessing for his searches.
Anyway it is a lot of fun wandering around in the backcountry.
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by PaulW | My mission with Bruce was a little confusing. Followed his directions and came up blank. Kept trying out west. Lots of hiking and driving so I was
happy. Never once did he suggest to look east of the highway.
Similar to the Diaz directions he gave me. More driving and hiking with no success
I do think Bruce and buddy did incomplete research and did a lot of guessing for his searches.
Anyway it is a lot of fun wandering around in the backcountry. |
There is renewed interest in retracing Walter Henderson's search. Since his directions use La Ventana, it is important to know the La Ventana of the
1930s was this window rock along the old dirt road to San Felipe and not the closed gas station and store location on the paved road.
Bruce Barber and others following what Choral Pepper wrote all had an incorrect starting point for figuring where the hike began. La Ventana was a
waypoint and not the starting point, which was 20 more miles south and then west at the base of the mountains.
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David K
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Bump for Paul
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PaulW
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Thanks
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