Mike Humfreville - 5-6-2004 at 10:30 PM
I'm printin' and headed for the sack early to relax and read your story over the ceiling fans of rural Ventura county and wishing they were the
crackling snaps of a small campfire in Bahia de Los Angeles on a cool evening. Thanks amigo.
tunaeater - 5-7-2004 at 08:31 AM
DR thanks for the story. We were all rooting for you on the board. We had some updates on your hike. I'm glad you made it out ok. Sure sounds like you
had a great time and meet some nice new friends. If you try it again give us some dates maybe some of us could tag along if you didn't mind. Thanks
Paul
Been waiting
bajalou - 5-7-2004 at 09:35 AM
Hey DR
Been waiting for this story to be posted. I just missed you as you left town - saw Wornout's broncoII headed down the road. He had called me on the
radio that you were back and OK. Great story reminding all of us what Picacho del Diablo means.
Here's a pic of you and Wornout in his buggy just before you headed out to the desert.
jide - 5-7-2004 at 02:40 PM
Thanks for the great report, DesertRat, I was really looking forward to read it. David and I were thinking about you when we saw the dark clouds and
thunder rolling over the tall peaks, north of where we were exloring.
Any plans to go back?
jide - 5-7-2004 at 05:34 PM
Are you planning to go back from the canyon or from the observatory? I'd be willing to join the next attempt.
David K - 5-7-2004 at 06:02 PM
Yah D'Rat, you were in our thoughts as we were driving by on Diablo Dry Lake... I was hoping to find you walking towards San Felipe so I could have
the pleasure of giving you a ride!
As for jide joining you, that would be a great thing... he brings the finest French wines and cheeses!
FANTASTIC RON!
Debra - 5-8-2004 at 02:07 PM
Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure with us! You never cease to amaze me! 
elgatoloco - 5-8-2004 at 04:19 PM
Desert Rat
Thanks for the story!
Last Tuesday we meet four people who were heading up to the summit from the observatory side. They said that from the western base of the peak it was
four hours up and three hours down.
go for it! 
Ron.....
Debra - 5-8-2004 at 05:21 PM
Please tell your brother and sister thanks for "demanding" you write up your story.
When do you think you might try again?
Brendan and I will be heading down about the second week of June and staying south for about 6wks., no real plans, just roaming....We would be happy
to pick you up at the border, drive you into (and set up base-camp, AT THE BOTTOM, to wait for your return) providing of course you agree to take
along my camera (it has a timer on it) and share your adventure with us.
The next assault
bajalou - 5-8-2004 at 06:36 PM
Hey Ron
Be sure and let us know when you try it again. We'll give you all the support we can here in San Felipe. Again great write up.
Mexitron - 5-10-2004 at 04:48 PM
Great story! Hope you make it next time(heck--its a great excuse for another trip!).
Great Story!
Don Jorge - 5-11-2004 at 08:06 AM
Thanks for the report DR.
Full moon June 1. How about a canyon approach June 1-5 more or less?
I'm with you, the western approach is about bagging the peak but the eastern approach is about the desert blending into a peak, the jouney.
D'Rat
Mike Humfreville - 5-11-2004 at 07:30 PM
What an epic! I would have been afraid to do that trip alone, but you took care. Mary Ann and I have been out to Santa Clara and El Chinero and
explored much of the dry lake right up to the foothills, but we have never done any serious hiking in that area. If you'd have made it there would be
one less adventure waiting for you.
Thanks for the great story!
cristobal - 5-14-2004 at 01:13 PM
DR ...
what a great story ....
I did NOT realize that there was so much water on the EAST side. Glad you made it out OK ... You make me want to put on my pack and head for PICACHO
del DIABLO.
How is that WRIST doing ....???
David K - 5-14-2004 at 06:17 PM
Cristabol, almost all the eastside canyons have water flowing out to the desert... Perhaps why so many Indians survived in that part of Baja? Did you
see the photos of the canyons south of Diablo and north of Matomi?: http://vivabaja.com/404 Heck, there is even hot and cold running water in one canyon! Baja is awesome!
Water
bajalou - 5-15-2004 at 08:10 AM
D'rat
All the canyons I have been in on the east side of the Sierra San Pedro Matir (about 10) have water flowing all year. Rarely does it flow into the
valley going underground near the mouth of the canyons in the spring and disapearing farther up in the canyons later in the year, but if you go up a
half mile or so you can find the streams. Several of the canyons have pipes coming down from where the ranchers have made a small dam or utilized a
natural one. They pipe it out to their stock tanks and for other ranch uses. A large pipe is being installed in Provedencia to water what I have
been told will be a avacado farm?
Mexitron - 5-15-2004 at 08:23 AM
Isn't it a little too hot for avocadoes out there? Which reminds me, can anyone update me on the status of the olive farm operation around the
Guadalupe Canyon area--haven't been there in a couple years to see if there actually making a go of it...?
bajalou - 5-15-2004 at 10:09 AM
It is pretty hot in the valley in the summer all right. The area they talk about is just north and west of Chinalito. I was told this by a Mexican
friend who is a contractor in town and again by a American friend who just bought 3000 acres in the south part of the valley and a small plot near
Canyon Tulare. They also are drilling wells near the mouth of Providencia and have a pipeline running north.?? We've seen these projects start
around here before but not last. About 6 years ago, they fenced the old alfalfa fields with rabbit wire, installed drip systems with fertilizer in
the water and grew watermellons and cantalope. One season then they just left it go.
Hope whatever they are doing works out for them.
burro bob - 5-15-2004 at 10:31 AM
Hey Lou
Who else is buying up valle chico? Do you know what groupo it is in or the parcel #?
I was told last year that there was a moratorium on wells in the north end of Valle Chico as CESPA wants another major pipeline from that area to
serve the north beach areas (this is of course just roumers). I wonder if the wells you are seeing are part of that project or just for the members of
Groupo Cajon.
Also many of the old wells in the area caved in because they were pumped dry.
burro bob
cristobal - 5-15-2004 at 02:39 PM
DK ...
I just did NOT realize that there was that much water on that side ....
WEST of SANTA AGUEDA there is a small creek that flows all year .... and especially heavy in the month of AUGUST .... I guess that I never see it
because that is NOT my favorite month of the year to be there .....
Several years ago I drove to the camp below the OBSERVATORY and walked up. After taking PIC'S ...and enjoying the view ... I went back down and
camped close to where I parked.
The next day I headed toward DIABLO thinking I could turn around if I got uncomfortable. Like DR ... I walked with my head down to watch my step and
soon couldn't tell where I came from .... I went a couple of hours towards the PEAK .... then turned around and went back .... I thought if I had some
kind of markers to tell where I had been ... it might be better.
I heard of a guy that started below the OBSERVATORY in JUNE ....went up the peak ... signed one register ... went over to the other ... signed it ....
and came down ... all in the same day ....
Water
bajalou - 5-15-2004 at 03:27 PM
Rob
A american named Larry S set up a Mex. corp. and bought the land just North of the fence/cattle guard near the rehab place. Don't know who else is in
with him, probable Chino T from the Ejido as they're friends. The parcle in the north that they bought was to have rights to water from one of the
wells.
The big development - wells - pipeline etc is at the new Rancho Provedencia. I got to it on the road to Diablito from the yellow schoolbus. Saw a
WELL traveled road so followed it. The workers said it was water for sprinklers? Larry & Chino are the ones that said a avacado ranch.
Stop by my place sometime when you're in the area. And what radio freq do you use Pete's camp? or??
olive farm
jide - 5-15-2004 at 04:29 PM
Hey Mexitron,
the olive farm seems to be doing pretty good, I think it takes a few years for the tree to grow to maturity. I was in that area in march, I am going
back this coming week wed nite-sat, going explore upcanyon guadalupe.
burobob
bajalou - 5-15-2004 at 07:59 PM
Email me at bajalou@telnor.net for more details.
Mexitron - 5-16-2004 at 02:31 PM
Thanks jide--have fun down there!!