Padre Juan de Ugarte could not find trees large enough to build a cargo sailing vessel until finding Gueribos trees up high in the Sierra. Up to 60
ft tall and 6 ft in diameter they were used for planking, keel, etc. Gueribos are Populus brandegeei and obviously related to cottonwoods. They are
the largest trees growing in Central and So. Baja. Yesterday I got to them and thought some might be interested in these trees and their role in the
history of Baja. The vessel was to be used for carrying supplies as few were coming from the mainland. Named " El Triunfo de la Cruz" it was used
for many years. No info on what came of the ship.
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[Edited on 28-12-2007 by Jack Swords]David K - 12-28-2007 at 08:02 AM
Oh goodie!!! Baja (California) history is awesome!
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Looks like the same place I took a photo of them in Dec., 2001...?:
Arroyo El Aguajo/ Giant gueribo trees: 23-39.01'/ 109-55.38'
If you do a search on Nomad, you will find this posted on Dec. 14, 2003:
The road signed 'Ramal a San Antonio de la Sierra' goes right to the guerivo trees which were in a wide arroyo called El Aguajo in the Almanac (map
52, L-5) before reaching Rancho La Concepcion. Do you have a GPS?
The hike to the oldest mine & ore mill in Baja (Real de Santa Ana) starts much closer to Hwy. 1 off that graded road, on a short side road. Jimmy
Smith requested the exact location and GPS not be published. Send me an email from my web site if you want.
Santa Ana was briefly the second location of a Jesuit mission (Ensenada de las Palmas) that started near Los Barriles. Eventually, that mission was
re-established and renamed, at Santiago.
[Edited on 12-28-2007 by David K]Mexitron - 12-28-2007 at 08:06 AM
Another interesting piece of Baja history. Guess the pines were too small in the Sierras down there (Pinions as I recall--no Ponderosas?).
More on guerivo trees from 2003
David K - 12-28-2007 at 08:19 AM
posted on 10-17-2003 at 10:55 AM
Some Notes on Mision Guadalupe...
GUADALUPE (Del Sur)
The next mission established in (Baja) California was Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, in 1720. Located high in the sierra west of Mulege, in a densely
populated native area.
The previous year Father Juan de Ugarte harvested timber near here to build the first ship in California used to explore the gulf ('El Triunfo de la
Cruz'). Built from the giant guerivo trees, such as those still growing west of Los Barriles shown to me by Jimmy Smith http://davidksbaja.com/baja15/page5.html . The local natives requested to have their own mission be established here.
A hurricane collapsed the church and took 100 lives, in 1744. The mission was abandoned in 1795 and the few remaining Indians were moved to La
Purisima. Many walls remain at the site of Guadalupe. Ruins of a Guadalupe's visitas can be seen as well (San Miguel, El Valle, and a third that was
destroyed by road building, called El Patricio). http://davidksbaja.com/bajamissions/page4.htmlgringorio - 12-28-2007 at 08:55 AM
Thanks for posting this Jack! Very interesting...
gregDavid K - 12-31-2007 at 03:07 PM
This arrived in today's mail... ordered online.
$12.95, no maps or illustrations... republished from Jan., 1880 article in The Californian (San Francisco).
It is pretty small...
Von - 1-1-2008 at 10:20 AM
Its more like the "Triumph of the church" to motivate his people right I would say so. I never knew there was a ship built here that is so
cool...David K - 1-1-2008 at 02:36 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Von
Its more like the "Triumph of the church" to motivate his people right I would say so. I never knew there was a ship built here that is so
cool...
Here is a post found using Nomad Search:
posted on 5-10-2004 at 06:55 PM
Juan de Ugarte sailed north from Loreto in 1721 to explore the upper gulf (and to prove California was not an island), in two ships. The Triunfo de la
Cruz (the first ship built in California, using the Guerivo trees from west of Mulege) and the open sailboat Santa Barbara were his ships. The
Triunfo's crew had 13 Filipinos and the Santa Barbara had 2. (from Antigua California by Harry Crosby, pp. 100-101).
The majority of sailors willing to live and work in Loreto were Filipinos (during the Jesuit era). Padre Bravo valued the Filipinos so much tha he
petitioned the powers that be to excuse them from a special 'tribute' tax! (pg. 175 Antigua California).
'Chinos' (Filipinos) usually stayed and lived in Loreto rather than risk another Pacific crossing! (pg. 279).
Gueribo trees
larixmtn - 12-4-2008 at 07:29 PM
Would anyone be able to provide some more photos of Gueribo trees (Populus brandegeei)? I study trees and am interested in this species. I would like
any photos of leaves, stems, closeups etc. Really, any photos would be appreciated.
I am also interested in getting some small cuttings for propagating too. I am in Florida and growing the species from cuttings from Sonora, but it
would be good to get another source from Baja. I can make it easy by sending a pre-paid FedEx envelope.
Thanks,
Jason
I can be reached at jasons@ufl.eduakbear - 12-4-2008 at 10:33 PM
I have a bar made out of a 6' long pice of Gueribo. The tree that had been milled on 2 sides. My neighbor found it on the beach 20 years ago. He gave
it to me 4 years ago. Dark red with gold swirls.
akbearbajalera - 12-6-2008 at 01:47 PM
I have that First Ship book too, but wouldn't recommend that anyone buy it.David K - 12-6-2008 at 05:00 PM
So my review was fair?Jack Swords - 12-7-2008 at 08:10 AM
Jason,
I'll be back up there hiking soon and I'll take the close ups you want. If I am there just before we leave for California, I'll get the cuttings and
mail them from Ca, I could start them for you also. We will be leaving in April.larixmtn - 12-7-2008 at 09:06 PM
Jack,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. Seeds might be an option too if you catch them when they are fresh..When the time comes, I will give you my
FedEx number to use. I look forward to the pics!
Jasonbajalera - 12-8-2008 at 05:13 PM
Intended as fair, DK, but needing some qualifiers because this certainly wasn't obvious.
The price is right for people who buy virtually every book about Baja they lay eyes on (you and me and our ilk) but not a good deal for someone
looking for specific info about that ship.
To me, it's a lot like the little book on the name "California," which some guy reprinted--under his own name--Edward Everett Hale's article on his
discovery of the origin, with no mention of Hale's name, And he even had the balls to copyright it!
And in case this guy's a Nomad: Shame on you!larixmtn - 4-9-2009 at 05:50 PM
Jack,
Any chance you can still help me get some cuttings or seeds of gueribo trees? Also, if anyone has more photos that would be great. Thanks.
JasonJack Swords - 4-9-2009 at 07:55 PM
Jason...sent photos via Picasa and responded to jasons@ufl.edu
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