Mission Santa Maria 1999 (never before posted photos)

My first trip to this remote site was on May 1, 1999 with Baja fishing and off road enthusiast 'Baja Mur'... It is known in one book as 'Mission Impossible' because it is near the end of a very tough, but beautiful 15 mile road which is a challenge to drive in the best prepared four wheel drive rigs.

Murray had a motorcycle to ride and a quad for me to use for the road... which begins at Rancho Santa Ynez (Ines), a mile past Cataviña.

We both took photos, but Murray had the better camera so I have used five of his (and two of Neal Johns') to make my first web page: http://vivabaja.com/missionsm there are only a few pictures on my site, since Mur also has a web site and posted ALL of his pictures including a great 360 degree panorama at the mission: http://bajamur.homestead.com/index.html

Anyway, the purpose of this new post on Nomad is to display the photos I took on May 1, 1999 on our trip to the 'impossible' mission... Santa Maria de los Angeles. With the exception of the photo of me in the mission doorway and the aerial photos taken a few days later, these were just scanned to show for the first time, here on Baja Nomad.

Next week, I hope to be taking lots more photos at the mission and I promiss not to wait 8 years to show you guys!

The first photo is taken 10 miles from Santa Ynez, on the peninsular divide (the high point of the road). In the distance is the Sea of Cortez and Gonzaga Bay's Punta Final is seen.

The mission is almost 5 miles distant, way down in a narrow valley, just above the desert west of Gonzaga Bay.

Just over a mile from the mission is this very steep and very rock downgrade... It gained the name 'Widowmaker' after nearly killing Mur and I as we climbed back up it on the way out! We were both thrown from our rides and left blood behind on the rocks... making Murray and I 'Baja Blood Brothers'!

The mission was founded by the Jesuits in 1767 after the first site for the new mission, at Calamajue, proved unfit due to bad water.

The next year the Jesuits were expelled from New Spain and the mission system was turned over to the Franciscans, led by Junipero Serra who came here in May of 1768 on his walk to Alta California. Serra founded his first mission at San Fernando Velicata some 50 miles northwest. Santa Maria was reduced in status to that of a visita in 1769 and abandoned in 1818... As the Camino Real passed this way, its buildings continued to offer some shelter to travelers for years to come.

To the north of the west end of the main building is the remains of the padre's quarters and storeroom.

A closer look at the side building ruined wall...

This appears to be a corral... it is just west of the mission.

The east end of the mission which is the doorway location...

The back side of the mission from the arroyo, camera looking northeast.

Curious were the burned palm trunks...

In the doorway is a very happy David K... I have wanted to come here since I was a child... I returned with my daughter and other Baja friends in 2003 http://vivabaja.com/403 and hope to again, next Saturday!

Thanks for the pictures.

Murray and I rode out, and after our falls on the Widowmaker and Mur running out of gas requiring me to pull him most of the way back to Santa Ynez, we got back to his truck at dark.

We drove to Alfonsina's and stayed with Doug Bowles, who took us flying over the mission a couple days later...

The mission is just left of center in the photo looking down, northward.

Widowmaker from above... follow the road going from left (Santa Ynez) to right (Santa Maria) and the Widowmaker is where the road makes a turn 'down' closer to the arroyo...

The canyon between Santa Maria and Gonzaga Bay Desert is deep and filled with water... The original Jesuit Camino Real used it to get to the mission. However, it was most difficult and dangerous for pack animals. Father Serra had a new route constructed that stays out of the canyon and in the hills to the north (left) side. It can be seen on the left side of this photo. My son and I hiked much of it from the Gonzaga side in November, 2003... see http://vivabaja.com/1103/page2.html

Here's the last photo... taken on our ride out from the mission between the Widowmaker and the peninsular divide.

This road was constructed in the 1960's by Rancho Santa Ynez in an attempt to not only reach the mission, but also to make a short cut to Punta Final which was owned by Santa Ynez, as well.

The road was constructed 2 miles past the mission and ends on a ridge, high above the deep Santa Maria Canyon... where an Indian trail (& the Jesuit Camino Real) continues down into the canyon.

The Transpeninsular Highway was completed in late 1973, which made travel to Punta Final easier, and the road project past the mission ended. The government decided to access the gulf route from Laguna Chapala as the Santa Maria route was far too difficult a project.

10-4, and you do know how to get to places in Baja... like when you and your friends climbed Matomi Mountain! http://vivabaja.com/mexitron




[Edited on 5-21-2007 by David K]

Nice pics David.... your sure looking good with that nice flat tummy!

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Angel Nice pics David.... your sure looking good with that nice flat tummy!

Yah, amazing how little I have changed in 8 years, huh???

Absolutely....
Thats ok, your still my hero....

Great pictures David. I hope you have a great-- and safe-- adventure next Saturday!

Maybe you can post your new pictures on this thread so we can compare with the ones above, and see what 8 years has done to this amazing site

You know the photos will be coming... heck, I just enjoy taking Baja Angel to new places and also showing the beauty of Baja to you guys!

I was there in April 2003... the last time: http://vivabaja.com/403

Here's the INAH plot plan of the mission site...


[Edited on 5-22-2007 by David K]