BajaNomad

Is anyone interested in attending Baja Grande II in Nov. ??

Ken Cooke - 7-27-2007 at 02:01 PM

Last year, we had a whopping 25 participants, 10 Jeeps, and 1 Ford Explorer. This year, we hope to surpass that with plenty more fun in the sun for everyone.

At the moment, I am planning on the different activities and locales we plan to visit. Stop #1 will take our group to San Felipe during Thanksgiving week. We plan to shop, eat, drink, and go hiking during this 1st leg of our travels.

Hiking: We plan to hike the Canyon Diablo on this first leg of our adventure. The last time I went here was with the Square Circle, and it will be a blast to travel here again. Because the Baja Grande participants love traveling into the backcountry and hiking, this will be a great logical choice for our group.


bajalou - 7-27-2007 at 04:13 PM

I'll probably be around San Felipe at least for that part of it.

Ken Cooke - 7-27-2007 at 07:30 PM

Great, Lou! San Felipe is such a fun town, it will be great to visit with you again. Gretchen will be riding along with me, and there will be several other vehicles full of people just like last year. It should be a lot of fun.

bajalou - 7-27-2007 at 07:49 PM

Hope I have my rail back in operation by then. Was checking it out and I had bent the rear trailing arms, so started to replace them but the CV joints were about worn out from the angle, I've decided to replace the trailing arms and go to 930 Porsche CV.s. Have to have the shocks re-charged. Then I found I had spun a main bearing in the motor so have to get a new block and rebuild the motor. Hope to have that done by the time you get here, or might be able to run a different on of my rails.

BajaWarrior - 7-27-2007 at 08:29 PM

Ken, we may be interested in your trip to Diablo Canyon during Thanksgiving week as we are always there at that time. We have a house two miles south of Shell Beach in Santa Maria.

We have an very reliable and able Toyota 4x4 that is a full timer there as well as a Bronco ll 4x4, both have been out that way many times.

Last excursion was Rancho Matomi to swim the pools in April.

How long is the hike up the Canyon and what is at the end of the trail?
Pools, palms?

Hook - 7-27-2007 at 08:30 PM

I might be interested if the route isnt too nasty for a long wheel base.

Ken Cooke - 7-27-2007 at 09:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
How long is the hike up the Canyon and what is at the end of the trail?
Pools, palms?


We will just hike up the canyon to one specific point where it becomes a technical climb, and we will just stop there and watch to see if anyone with technical climbing abilities will want to scale the smooth rock wall. It is a real committment, and I'm not going to encourage anyone to try it unless they know what they are doing. The hike lasts just an hour or two - nothing real serious, but the beauty back in that canyon is amazing. The road leading to the canyon can be completed by most any vehicle - if driven carefully and slowly up and down the whoops on the Zoo Road.

Here is the scene from last year's Baja Grande:

Ken Cooke - 7-27-2007 at 09:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
I might be interested if the route isnt too nasty for a long wheel base.


The dirt road up to Canyon del Diablo is just a simple dirt road. Nothing any stock, regular 2WD pickup truck can't negotiate. But, please don't tell the Baja Grande participants this! :P

bajalou - 7-28-2007 at 01:33 PM

Ken Cooke - 7-30-2007 at 02:03 PM

I just posted my preliminary itinerary for Baja Grande II on the Yahoo Groups page listed below near my signature.

Please let me know what you think???

Debra - 7-30-2007 at 10:02 PM

Hey Ken, do you allow elderly ladies with broken backs to participate? Can't hike, but, I cook pretty good!

Do you have a place to list emails to keep informed? Or just keep checking in here?

Ken Cooke - 7-30-2007 at 10:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
Hey Ken, do you allow elderly ladies with broken backs to participate? Can't hike, but, I cook pretty good!

Do you have a place to list emails to keep informed? Or just keep checking in here?


Check in here from time to time:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/BajaJeepin/

Broken back? Hmmm. Not sure what I could do, but between everyone on the Baja Jeepin' listserve and here at Baja Nomad, we could probably figure somethin' out... :light:

Debra - 7-30-2007 at 11:08 PM

No, no...........Don't need help, just asking if hiking is needed to get from point A to B to keep up.........I have no problem staying with my truck and 'keeping the home fires burnin' with maybe some home-cooked food waiting and to go on the the next destination.

You might not remember (long time ago, November 2001, I met you at Guadalupe Canyon, BBBB2?) "HotShoot" (sp?) whom I think you we camped with further down? Kept scholding me because I was wearing no shoes...........He didn't think I knew any better than to be out there barefoot........truth was, my accident was just a few months before and the ground was so scary, I was more afraid of taking a fall on my back than my feet! Mary Ann Humfreville DID take a nasty 'header' We both lived!

Thanks, I will keep an eye on your site. Sounds like lots of fun!

David K - 7-31-2007 at 12:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
No, no...........Don't need help, just asking if hiking is needed to get from point A to B to keep up.........I have no problem staying with my truck and 'keeping the home fires burnin' with maybe some home-cooked food waiting and to go on the the next destination.

You might not remember (long time ago, November 2001, I met you at Guadalupe Canyon, BBBB2?) "HotShoot" (sp?) whom I think you we camped with further down? Kept scholding me because I was wearing no shoes...........He didn't think I knew any better than to be out there barefoot........truth was, my accident was just a few months before and the ground was so scary, I was more afraid of taking a fall on my back than my feet! Mary Ann Humfreville DID take a nasty 'header' We both lived!

Thanks, I will keep an eye on your site. Sounds like lots of fun!


BBBB2, Nov., 2001, Guadalupe Canyon: http://vivabaja.com/bbbb2

Debra - 7-31-2007 at 12:38 AM

No matter what the 'nasayers' say............I enjoy it when the topic brings something up and you often have pics. More than not I cringe when I see photos of myself , but, Oh well......................

Ken Cooke - 7-31-2007 at 07:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
You might not remember (long time ago, November 2001, I met you at Guadalupe Canyon, BBBB2?) "HotShoot" (sp?) whom I think you we camped with further down?


Yes, I remember like it was last weekend. How could I forget with Desert Bull being there w/his broken rim off of his trailer he loaned me?? As long as you can drive, it will be no problem. The whole trip should be fine for you. The Mission Santa Maria road will be the most technical, but we will be able to get you in and out of there with minimal problems.

Debra - 8-1-2007 at 08:40 PM

Thanks Ken, I'll keep in touch.

Tentative Itinerary

Ken Cooke - 8-6-2007 at 04:18 PM

[Sat.] Day 1 - San Ysidro to San Felipe. [Lunch in Ensenada/Dinner in San Felipe/Drinks on the Malecon]

[Sun.] Day 2 - Hike up Canyon del Diablo/Drive on Shell Island/Dinner and drinks on the Malecon

[Mon.] Day 3 - Visit Hot Springs in Puertecitos/Camp out in Gonzaga Bay

[Tue.] Day 4 - Gas up in Gonzaga Bay/Visit Coco's Corner/travel to Mision San Borja (Camp on the trail).

[Wed.] Day 5 - Visit San Borja ruins. Hwy 1 to Mision Santa Maria. Tackle Mission Impossible. Camp out near ruins.

[Thurs.] Day 6 - Hike down to pools past Mision Santa Maria. Night run on Mission Impossible Trail/play in the swamp.

[Fri.] Day 7 - Drive to El Rosario/SHOWER!/early dinner/drinks

[Sat.] Day 8 - Drive north to Ensenada/Tecate - Say "Goodbyes"

David K - 8-7-2007 at 09:57 AM

You are wearing me out by that list alone Ken! How about some relax time?

BajaWarrior - 8-9-2007 at 05:04 AM

Ken,

wouldn't the start of your trip be the weekend of the Baja 1000?

Isn't it the third weekend now in November?

It's rare, but the race has come to our side, makes for some tough travel.

Ken Cooke - 8-9-2007 at 06:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
You are wearing me out by that list alone Ken! How about some relax time?


People on this sort of trip don't want to sit around too much. Last year when we all made it to L.A. Bay, after setting up camp in the dark, everyone set out for Animas Bay the next morning by 0800!! They drove all day, came back for dinner, and we set off for Mission Impossible! :lol:

David K - 8-9-2007 at 08:18 AM

Okay Ken... I guess it is for you younger guys who are anxious to take in as much Baja as possible! Maybe the relax time will come when one of the Jeeps breaks? Baja 1000 will be coming down Hwy. 1 to Laguna Chapala from Cataviņa, after coming in on the old road after looping through El Marmol... It's going to L.A. Bay and south as well... Check your dates.

Have a great time...:biggrin:

Ken Cooke - 8-9-2007 at 08:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Okay Ken... I guess it is for you younger guys who are anxious to take in as much Baja as possible! Check your dates.
Have a great time...:biggrin:


We won't be in San Felipe until November 17th - the day after the awards banquet in Cabo San Lucas, so we are clear for Baja Grande.

As far as these being "younger guys", you had better check out these photos...At least they're all "Young at heart." :lol:

Full Baja Photo Album


[Edited on 8-18-2007 by Ken Cooke]