MATOMI NOMAD TRIP, PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND

Matomi Oasis, over the years...

Aug., 1979 (yah, that's me!)



Feb., 2001



Feb., 2004



Our amigo Mike Humfreville during the 2004 event.



June, 2006

There are 3 ways to or from Matomi:

1) Down Valle Chico from San Felipe/ El Dorado Ranch: The fastest route from San Felipe. 4WD and rough the final 14 miles only.

2) Arroyo Matomi from Hwy. 5, 10 miles north of Puertecitos: Most direct route, but deep sand/ gravel and uphill make this a slow and heats up engines. 4WD only for the 32+ mile run.

3) Cañada el Parral (Azufre Wash) from the old Puertecitos road, just south of the sulfur mine across the Sierra San Felipe to Valle Chico, then 8 miles south to Arroyo Matomi and then 5 miles up the arroyo to the oasis/ rancho: An interesting pass straight through the mountain range, no grades... 4WD only for sand.




Photos of Arroyo Matomi route and Valle Chico road at http://vivabaja.com/618/page4.html

Photos of Sulfur Mine, Cañada el Parral, and Berrendo Canyon at: http://vivabaja.com/106/page2.html

Photos of 2004 trip from Nuevo Mazatlan to Matomi through Parral begins here: http://www.vivabaja.com/204/page6.html

[Edited on 12-18-2007 by David K]

MATOMI 2008

Haven't been able to log in for an eon 'cause my laptop and desktop both locked me out of this site. But down in Baja now using the wifey's laptop and borrowing the neighbor' s wifi and satellite connection (con permision), sitting in a wind-rocked camper and loving it!

I'd dig doing this trip again! Hope some more folks could make it. Looks like that weekend is a waxing 3/4 moon so a great phase for camping and exploring.

Who's in??

2001

Fuel... Mexican auto insurance (unless you have an annual policy)... camping food... beer... beer... beeer... beeeeeeeeeeeeer... Did I say beer?

Oh, and if at Nuevo Mazatlan the charge for camping... http://vivabaja.com/nm It was $20 last time we camped there: http://vivabaja.com/806

Perhaps BajaRob can check on it from Arvada George who is there right now?



The beach at Nuevo Mazatlan:




The shaded campground (with flush toilets and cold showers)



[Edited on 12-28-2007 by David K]

[Edited on 12-28-2007 by David K]

Out of my range than, all I can afford is $199.78.

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt Quote: Originally posted by BAJACAT I think for this trip I will not expend more than $201,but thats just me. Out of my range than, all I can afford is $199.78.

Im willing to lend you the other $1.22, and you can pay me back in two easy payments of $.61 no interest on aproved credit....

BajaCat, you will do fine if I am not there... no problema!

By-the-way, the leader must be the first one in for a swim! It ain't exactly warm water in February... I KNOW, look:



elgatoloco photo

In 2004, Geo Rock jumped in, and some of the other girls did too!:


Mexray photo

I like the idea of camping at the Matomi rancho. Is there anyone living there these days? Anyone who's self-contained is welcome to camp on our lot pero tenemos no casita ahora so no el bano for todos!

Not to worry if DK can't make it, BajaLou knows the back country like, well, the back of his hand. Would be cool if as much of the old crew as possible could make it.

One more thing everybody knows cats hate waTer...

Si David

This sounds like fun, we need to stretch out the tent and air it out some. I may be starting a new job in early January, so all depends on if they let me off on that Monday. Pending the new job we may be able to swing that extra $1.99

Quote:

Originally posted by MrsFDT This sounds like fun, we need to stretch out the tent and air it out some. I may be starting a new job in early January, so all depends on if they let me off on that Monday. Pending the new job we may be able to swing that extra $1.99

Dont worry Simone I got your back I allready toll Ferna that he can borrow the $1.99 from me, thats what Baja friends are for..

I'm actualy just short $1.22 so if you guys lend me an extra .77¢ I can buy some beer for the road.

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt I'm actualy just short $1.22 so if you guys lend me an extra .77¢ I can buy some beer for the road.

So whats sup with this trip? I start physical therapy on my knee and shoulder this afternoon for surgery I had on Tuesday. Think I may be loosened back up enough to pull this off over Pres weekend. Got all my fab and repair work done on GSB before my repair work, so its ready. Some good sand wash wheeling could be just what I need.

Is there still a crew

Haven't you heard? All roads lead to where you're going in Baja! "We donn neeed no stinking leederz" But heh, Bajalou, if you want to be the large and in charge dude, then, I salute you my fearless leaderz!!! All we really need is a bunch of folks who want to go somewhere.
Gosh with all the GPS data we can tap into from David K we could play pin the tail on the location and probably find it blindfolded.
I have Matomi on my GSP from both directions, just need the turn off bling for the oasis and it's a done dealyoh.

[Edited on 1-28-2008 by Gadget]

Aw come on Roy Stop bashing your Range Rover. They have lots of great history exploring all over the world. Most of us can't afford to drive em cause we're not bucks up like you. Winston may decide to turn on you one day.

Come on Nomads jump in.

Me too, Neal. The current wife just informed us that me and Camote jr. need to be "not home" that weekend so she can work on her feces...
oh I'm sorry, that's her thesis. Academic schmackademic!



y tu, Zac?

[Edited on 1-30-2008 by El Camote]

Hook, elgatoloco got his big Ford with Callen camper in there, in 2001.

However, it is VERY rough... slow, rocks, overgrown trees to scratch your paint... Have you seen all the photos?



2001 Matomi Trip: Tacoma, Subaru Brat, VW Bug, Tacoma, Tacoma, Ford



In 2004, GeoRock's H-2 and Mike Humfreville's Suburban both drove in without a problem:




I just want you to be aware that it is a 4WD trail the last 5 miles up to the ranch/ oasis... and there is about 8 miles on the south end of the Valle Chico road that have lots of whoops from the cross-grain and off road racers... Otherwise, the rest of the Valle Chico road from San Felipe is fast stuff. If you go out via Arroyo Matomi, the sand/ gravel is deep... 4WD and deflated tires... Very beautiful, however!

[Edited on 1-30-2008 by David K]

Here's my take on the trip. Why don't we just get an early start on Sunday morning, make it to the rancho by midday for lunch and leave ourselves enough time to get out before dark. Those that want to camp can stay and the rest of us can camp nearer the beach where it'll be considerably warmer overnight.

Guess which camp I'm in? Have camped in the back country in the fall when I wasn't expecting it to drop down to the low 40's and froze my tookus off. Never again. Besides, I'd rather not have the hassle and carry the extra weight of camping gear on the drive in.

Hook, you know you want to break-in that jeep and you won't be disappointed in this trip!

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote Here's my take on the trip. Why don't we just get an early start on Sunday morning, make it to the rancho by midday for lunch and leave ourselves enough time to get out before dark. Those that want to camp can stay and the rest of us can camp nearer the beach where it'll be considerably warmer overnight. Guess which camp I'm in? Have camped in the back country in the fall when I wasn't expecting it to drop down to the low 40's and froze my tookus off. Never again. Besides, I'd rather not have the hassle and carry the extra weight of camping gear on the drive in. Hook, you know you want to break-in that jeep and you won't be disappointed in this trip!

North. 'bout 8 miles north of town via Saltito rd. or the shortcut past the dump. I think there's a new road as well that parallels Saltito but a few clicks south.

I'd say at least 15 degree difference overnight. Which to me is the difference between getting up in the middle of the night to shed some beer or remaining in a fetal position in your sleeping bag with a screaming bladder, waiting for the morning sun.

So what you guys want to do. Meet somewhere in San Felipe early saturday,quick trips around the area,lets see, the sulfur mine,valle de Gigantes,shell island ect ect,and then camp on beach.On Sunday a early start,drive to Matomi, expend the day there.come back to town,camp on the beach again, or if nomads want to leave on SUNDAY,it's an option too.

Any more

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote North. 'bout 8 miles north of town via Saltito rd. or the shortcut past the dump. I think there's a new road as well that parallels Saltito but a few clicks south. I'd say at least 15 degree difference overnight. Which to me is the difference between getting up in the middle of the night to shed some beer or remaining in a fetal position in your sleeping bag with a screaming bladder, waiting for the morning sun.

In one sentence, you have captured the difference between 15 degrees better than anything I have ever read.

There are many options on a trip like this... The area south and south-west of San Felipe is a Mecca for us off roaders and four wheelers!

There are 3 primary ways to get to Matomi from San Felipe (or Nuevo Mazatlan):

1) From El Dorado Ranch, north of town the Saltito/ Morelia or 'Zoo' road... now starts at the large storage facility south of the new gas station and the original road at the big Rockadile billboard... goes into Valle Chico and a left fork takes you southbound to Matomi. FAST and easy until about 8 miles from Arroyo Matomi. In 2001 we drove to Matomi this way from our camp at El Camote's place and exited via Arroyo Matomi and then back north on Hwy. 5.

2) Going up Arroyo Matomi from Hwy. 5 (about 10 miles north of Puertecitos)... almost 30 miles of deep arroyo sand and uphill with the final additional 5 miles to the ranch being very rocky. A full road log with photos of this route is at: http://vivabaja.com/618/page4.html

It's a great drive... but I think it is best if driven downhill (when leaving Matomi). Here's a photo as it enters the Matomi Narrows:



3) Cañada el Parral ('Azufre Wash' or 'Crazy Horse Canyon') which is a really great canyon and pass through the coastal mountains from just south of the sulfur mine to Valle Chico. It intesects the San Felipe/ Valle Chico road about 8 miles north of Matomi Canyon.

This is the way we went in from Nuevo Mazatlan in 2004, and exited down Arroyo Matomi to return to Nuevo Mazatlan.

When you enter Valle Chico coming from the Sulfur Mine, this is the view as the road follows the fence put across the valley in the early 80's by the ejido:



Here is a GPS road log of the 2004 Matomi Gang trip:

GPS DATA (with elevation) @ map datum NAD27

Nuevo Mazatlan: 30°43.31'/ 114°42.32' (22 ft.)

Tour route west at Hwy. 5: 30°43.44'/ 114°42.82' (44 ft.)

Old main road south, near sulfur mine: 30°42.76'/ 114°46.73' (347 ft.)

El Parral Canyon road: 30°41.51'/ 114°46.42' (397 ft.)

Fork: left to lower Matomi (17.7 mi.), go right (for Parral): 30°41.30'/ 114°47.22' (482 ft.) Pass through mountain to Valle Chico.

Valle Chico and Parral road junction: 30°35.21'/ 115°03.99' (1,780 ft.)

Arroyo Matomi, end of Valle Chico road: 30°29.63'/ 115°01.52' (1,937 ft.)

Rancho El Matomi: 30°27.40'/ 115°04.82' (2,466 ft.)

Jcn. road north 17.7 mi. to Parral road: 30°29.78'/ 114°50.12' (736 ft.)

Hwy. 5 (10 mi. north of Puertecitos): 30°29.42'/ 114°39.99' (112 ft.)

Map of the area covered by the GPS log:



Map from 2004 of Valle Chico roads I traveled:


Whichever way you guys go or whatever you guys decide to to, don't worry... You will have a great time!! Do plan on COLD nights, even on the beach... so be prepared!

Once again, look at our photos from the 2004 Matomi Gang Campout and day trips... It was great fun: http://vivabaja.com/204





[Edited on 1-31-2008 by David K]

WE STILL DON;T HAVE A MEETING PLACE?

Interesting that you found the Cerro Matomi poster on eBay...?!

They are made in San Diego by a Baja Nomad 'Satellite Man'... His web site is http://www.SatPrints.com and the page with the Matomi poster is: http://www.satprints.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&C...






Here's 'Satellite Man' (Arman) and Kelly at the Pyramid Resort's Book signing #3...




[Edited on 1-31-2008 by David K]

Close Up

Here is a close up so you can see the detail of these posters when they are in your home or office:

Valle Chico is in the top left and Arroyo Matomi Narrows can be seen just downstream from where the Valle Chico road drops into Matomi canyon...




I have SatPrints' posters for San Felipe, Puertecitos, Matomi, San Luis Gonzaga, and Bahia de los Angeles on my walls... they're great! http://www.satprints.com

[Edited on 1-31-2008 by David K]

THANKS DAVID

OK, so I have at least one place to park my tow rig and trailer. Thanks BW, you da man! I just need to know where his place is in relation to our outing.

Also for DK, hey bro, hope you and Liz come, Les asked about that the other night. She, as usual, hopes she's not the only chick.

My question is from all these pics, is the pools and waterfall at Rancho Matomi?
I am also seeing on the map a side road to Agua Caliente? Whats up with that place?
Where is the proposed trip going to? DK or BC can answer.

We really don't care as most of these trails can be navigated round trip in less than a day and be back to town for hot grub.

We have also never stayed at Nuevo Mazatlan so we just need to know a general location on that if we stay there.

For us, we have always stayed at Petes camp cause TT is there and that has been the site of numerous fiestas prior to race day, TT being the off road guru he is. Laury his wife is a real sweety too which is why most of us go there. We also have a friend with a beach house right at the mouth of Matomi where we usally end up at after a day in the dirt. And DK is correct, Matomi is more fun to come down than to go up.

I have really asked more questions than given answers here.
What I do know is Petes camp has good security, is easy to find, food is pretty good, showers/restrooms usally in good working order, big beach to camp on, close to getting on the dirt and is north of town. I had originally posted that it would be fun to camp out in the boonies one night but didn't consider that Les would freeze her hinny off, she probably still will at the beach this time of year but a little less.

We will leave Point Loma in the AM on Friday and head over on I8 to Mexicali to cross. Will be to SF mid day. Plan is hardly none, just get GSB in the dirt and wait for all of you. We can meet where ever the group wants and go from there.

BC, I think since you opened this thread you should just make the call and everyone should agree. There is not any real difficult navigation required in this area so you wouldn't have to take on the trail boss position if you don't want. The crew can decide where or how we want to go somewhere and just point and shoot. Ya all aint gonna be seeing much of me sept for my dust anyhow. Corse I'll have to come back and unstick someone as per usual. You know she's my little mule

I probably did more planning right there than the whole group will the entire weekend. SF is easy and I aint scard!

[Edited on 1-31-2008 by Gadget]

You guys will have fun and do fine...

Wil, Elizabeth doesn't have President's Day off so that's why I said we likely wouldn't be there... Things may change... However, we really like HOT weather or a HOT spring in camp!

Nuevo Mazatlan is a quiet, tree filled campground on a sand beach just a km. south of the Bahia Santa Maria road at Km. 32... See the photos of our last Matomi Gang campout there: http://vivabaja.com/204 also a Nuevo Mazatlan web page I made with some nice photos sent to me by a family in Canada: http://vivabaja.com/nm







The Matomi Oasis/ pool/ waterfall is right behind and below the ranch house... Park between the house and the corral, walk around to the far side of the corral for the steep trail down to the pool (best way to reach it).




Just upstream from the rancho is a place to camp in the blue palms, if you guys want to camp there... Wild Bill and LN did back at our 2001 Matomi group trip.

Agua Caliente Canyon has a huge hot spring that flows so much hot water that it creates a steaming hot stream for several hundred feet to where it junctions with the cool mountain stream in the middle of the canyon. Details from my 4-04 trip there with jide: http://vivabaja.com/404 (also Parral the canyon just north of Matomi, Carrizo, El Cajon canyons are covered).



The spring is on the right side of the canyon, flows down a short distance into a large pool (too hot) and then that is the hot stream heading down the canyon, in the photo.

The road ended 1.1 miles from the hot spring then, however they are being developed with palapas a photo a word has it and the road was extended... I just can't get Baja Lou to get in there with a camera and confirm it... Or Arvada George, who was at Nuevo Mazatlan for New Years, but hasn't given us a trip report yet!!

[Edited on 2-1-2008 by David K]

[Edited on 2-1-2008 by David K]

Shoot, I went back into the thread to look at something Chuck posted and lost my whole post.

Thanks Chuck, we all appreciate your kind offer and it will make things simple and centrally located. The directions to his place are in a previous post.

Can you give us a description of some sort of marker you have or can put up at your driveway Chuck? That would be great.

We will be coming in sometime on Friday. Anyone want to hook up and carravan with us from San Diego, let me know.

May stay til Monday to head north, depends on the weather.

BajaCat, no worries, I'll take trail boss. I have all the gepis info in the nav system, so on point or 6 I can call the turns.

Goodies for the trip?:
Properly prepped vehicle
Radio for comm, VHF, CB, WT, not mandatory but makes it fun. Will sort out how to talk to each other when we are all together.
Good spare, jack, lug wrench
Vehicle tools and supplies
Human supplies
Foul weather gear
TP
Shovel
You all know the drill and if not ask

Looking forward to this weekend and meeting more Nomads.

For all you that have been lurking to see if this is going to come off, there ya go. Time to jump in now too

David, got it all. Thanks for all the info bro

ALSO FOLKS,
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE CONSIDER WHICH DAY OUR MAIN TRAIL RIDE WILL BE. IF EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED CAN BE DOWN FOR AN AM START ON SATURDAY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BEST. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND MAKE BOTH RANCHO MATOMI AND AGUA CALIENTE ON THE SAME TRIP OUT AS THEY ARE BOTH OUT AT THE END OF THE EL PARRAL TRAIL. JUST IN CASE SOMEONE BREAKS FAR OUT AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET EM EXTRACTED. THEN WE CAN FART AROUND DOING WHAT EVER ON SUNDAY AND FOLKS CAN HEAD NORTH AT THEIR LEASURE. FEEDBACK???

[Edited on 2-1-2008 by Gadget]

[Edited on 2-1-2008 by Gadget]

There you go everyone. Be there or be square. Excludes Square circle cause he's already squarecircle

Having the main day trip on Sunday worked best the previous two group trips because not everyone can or wants to drive down Friday or Friday night... Some who don't have to be at work Friday may, but most will only have the 3 day weekend off (Sat.-Mon.).

We did shorter day trip on Saturday (Sulfur Mine, Shell Island, etc.).

The Matomi run was on Sunday (try and get an early start to have more time there and maybe the hot springs too).

Monday was casual to pack up and head home. In 2004 we went to the sulfur mine Monday morning, it is only 5 miles from Nuevo Mazatlan or Bahia Santa Maria.

Just letting you guys know what worked well before... Also, Nomad vehicles never break down!

Mexray's little Subaru Brat with 13" tires did the whole trip in '01. He hit something and heard a noise for awhile then hit another rock and the noise went away! We called it the 'Self-repairing' Brat!!









[Edited on 2-1-2008 by David K]

Nuevo Mazatlan to Matomi via Azufre Pass, from space

To Agua Caliente Hot Springs as seen from space

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Having the main day trip on Sunday worked best the previous two group trips because not everyone can or wants to drive down Friday or Friday night... Some who don't have to be at work Friday may, but most will only have the 3 day weekend off (Sat.-Mon.). Quote: Feed back means you're going David, that's great! Seriously, was talking to Leslie over dinner and she has to work on Friday, so we will leave on Saturday also. Main trail ride will be Sunday. She also was just informed that I have taken on the trail boss duty, that is if yaallelhavemee. She wanted me to inform everyone, which I think I already have, that I will be a little over 3 weeks out from surgery on a knee and shoulder. Can't see it being an issue on my end other than doing my business or maybe digging the truck out of a stuck. It will for sure slow me down behind the wheel which is bad for me, not you guys. So there, I can show her it's official, you all know. If ya want to replace me, just try it See you Saturday driving down or at Chucks. Oh heh, I always wanted to know how to put my quote in a quote box, now I know. [Edited on 2-2-2008 by Gadget]

Gadget, you won't get stuck! However, you do need to deflate if you go on Shell Island, Saturday!

Chuck, you didn't mention the third and SHORTEST way to Matomi or Agua Caliente Canyon... Azufre Wash/ Pass or in the Almanac: Cañada el Parral which leaves the old Puertecitos road less than 2 miles south of the sulfur mine.

Neal Johns, great !!! You guys have nothing to fear now, Neal is going!




[Edited on 2-2-2008 by David K]

Found out that we have Bajababy on the way so we'll be visiting family that weekend. Have a great trip.

Zac