BajaNomad

The road to Mision Santa Maria at mi. 13.3

David K - 6-23-2005 at 08:48 PM

Affectionately named 'The Widow Maker', this grade is only really tough when you are leaving, going up!

[Edited on 6-25-2005 by David K]

Chicagoross coming down (4-03)

David K - 6-23-2005 at 08:51 PM

David K - 6-23-2005 at 08:53 PM

Fishuntr coming down (Toyota truck)

David K - 6-23-2005 at 08:56 PM

Here I am 2 days later, climbing up The Widow Maker!

pokey - 6-23-2005 at 08:56 PM

David thats a wild looking path. Have you done that in your Toyota? chit... I been on some hair raising roads in the back country but none that hairy. The only thing it's missing is a 200 ft cliff. :D

Edit: oops! yeah I guess your truck has been through that

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by pokey]

David K - 6-23-2005 at 09:17 PM

Ha ha YES!:bounce:
See all the photos from that trip http://vivabaja.com/403
Baja Mur has some good ones of the road on his page from when we went in, in 1999: http://bajamur.homestead.com/index.html

Bob H - 6-24-2005 at 07:34 AM

I sure as "heck" would not take my cab-over on that road! Wow.:spingrin:

Bruce R Leech - 6-24-2005 at 07:41 AM

thanks David for the good off roding pictures. give us some moor details about that trip.

David K - 6-24-2005 at 08:23 AM

If you get a copy of the last Discover Baja newsletter, you can read my story about the trip, which featured finding 'Inky' the lost dog about 8 miles east of Santa Ynez.

It was Spring break (April), 2003... Fishuntr & Linda, Chicagoross & Rose, Sarah & I... were the three vehicle groups going in... See http://vivabaja.com/403

The 14.5 mile road took us 2 hours and 35 minutes to drive (with photo stops).

The first tough 4WD grade is only 1.8 mi. from Santa Ynez and is a great filter to prevent the unskilled or under equiped from traveling any further.

9.9 miles from Santa Ynez is the high point, or peninsular divide where you can see Punta Final and the Sea of Cortez (Gonzaga Bay).

Then it is all down hill to the mission valley and the road gets tough winding through the boulders.

13.3 mi. from Santa Ynez is the top of the Widow Maker grade, just 1.2 miles from the mission. Many park here and walk the rest of the way ('girlie men').

The road drops into the palm grove and stream at the bottom of the grade and you drive in the water a ways before climbing out to go over one last rock ridge to the next valley over that contains the mission... 14.5 miles from Santa Ynez.

So, who's up for this, next month?

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by David K]

bajaruby - 6-24-2005 at 08:38 AM

GREAT PICTURES!:wow::wow:
Can't wait to get down there, Looks beautiful. Is it all like that or just that one area?
bajaruby

David..........

yankeeirishman - 6-24-2005 at 05:47 PM

This place is above Gonzada Bay, I read. Can you post a map that you can pin point the entrance road to this place (Gonzada being the referance point .a.)? I dont remember seeing any road to this area..... I must have been too busy changing tires on the road to Coco's! Oh....Nicky loved the pictures, as I did too. Great post

David K - 6-24-2005 at 06:26 PM

The 'road' is from Hwy. 1 at Catavina and Rancho Santa Ynez (Ines)... Only way to get there (directly) from Gonzaga is by foot or mule, on EL CAMINO REAL See: http://www.southcoastfarms.com/gonzaga_to_mission_santa_mari...

I had fun with Chris hiking on it too: http://vivabaja.com/1103 but we got too late a start to make it all the way to the mission that day.

Here I am that day, between Gonzaga and Santa Maria...
(GONZAGA :) )

[Edited on 6-25-2005 by David K]

David K - 6-24-2005 at 06:31 PM

Pilots Map... note the mission symbol between 'Santa Ynez' and 'Molino de Lacy' on the map.

[Edited on 6-25-2005 by David K]

David K - 6-24-2005 at 06:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaruby
GREAT PICTURES!:wow::wow:
Can't wait to get down there, Looks beautiful. Is it all like that or just that one area?
bajaruby


Hi Ruby, look at this web page for photos along the road... the panorama at the mission is great, too. There are palms along the way in a couple places, but mostly boojums and boulders! >>> http://bajamur.homestead.com/index.html

David K - 6-24-2005 at 06:38 PM

Lower Ca Guidebook map (1962 by Howard Gulick)...



[Edited on 6-25-2005 by David K]

fishuntr - 6-24-2005 at 06:52 PM

I went on that trip and it was great. At the time I was running 30" tires and would have had a very hard time coming out if not for a front locker. I have 31" tires now, a little better.

Something David failed to mention, was when we were feeling like bad=a## 4 wheelers, about 30 more Toyotas from old FJ40's to brand new Tacos came in and camped nearby. It was a club from San Diego. They were well led and at least one or two elected to walk in from the top of "widow maker". When? David? I want to do it again.:yes:

David K - 6-24-2005 at 07:05 PM

Right after the Baja Rosario Cultural Festival! That is July 22-24... So, we go on to the mission on Monday, July 25. The goal is to install a drain line from inside, out through the doorway and make a berm to prevent water from eroding the doorway and force it into the drain. An INAH rep or two may be joining us. This was originally Jack Swords' idea, and he was confident that my connections (and yacking) could get something done.

David K - 6-24-2005 at 07:16 PM

My map that shows the roads to the Camino Real from Gonzaga Bay.

yankeeirishman - 6-24-2005 at 08:56 PM

Oh! I know now right where the road is! Thanks Guru

David K - 6-27-2005 at 11:52 PM

How would your Land Rover fair, on that road?

Debra - 6-28-2005 at 12:19 AM

Is there a safe place where my "4Runner from Hell" and I can watch you...... (how do I put this nicely?) BRAIN DEAD GUYS! Do this? Just kidding (well kind of....) :saint: :biggrin: or better yet, is there someone willing to drive my truck while I walk.....(don't want to miss anything) :biggrin:

"Have first aid kit, will travel"

Any doctors or EMS folks on this scary trek?

gringette - 6-28-2005 at 01:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Here I am 2 days later, climbing up The Widow Maker!



YEE-HAW!!!