BajaNomad

Stranded!!!

astrobaja - 1-21-2010 at 05:30 PM

OK it can stop raining now!!! On top of the 7-8 inches we had this morning we got another STAGGERING 15 inches on top of that!!!
Our normally placid arroyo where out road crosses is now 40 feet across, 6-7 feet deep and ROARS from 200 feet away even with the wind and rain hitting my slicker!
In the pic you can see our laneway but what you don't see is that it drops off 40 feet! There is another approach from the other side which I MAY be able to fix with the tractor and the frontloader, but I won't know until this subsides...
Anyone know a road contractor? Not sure if we will be able to get out even if I can fox the arroyo chasm.... Have lots of food, not much gasoline but hopefully it will get sunny in a couple days again. Crap this is not a good situation.
Apparently this happened before in 83. I think we need a steel girder bridge in the future!

[Edited on 1-22-2010 by astrobaja]

stormwashout2.jpg - 32kB

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-21-2010 at 05:46 PM

Wow! You guys be safe way up there. Hopefully this weekend it will subside. Take care Astrobaja!

BajaGeoff - 1-21-2010 at 05:50 PM

That is really intense. Good luck digging everything out.

On the bright side, it is going to be absolutely beautiful down there this Spring!

noproblemo2 - 1-21-2010 at 05:59 PM

Yikes at least we aren't stranded, we just lost about 10' of our yard when the retaining wall gave way, not sure how long it had been there, but guess we're building a new ASAP.Stay safe astrobaja!!!

Sharksbaja - 1-21-2010 at 06:09 PM

Try a Rapala;) and GOOD LUCK!

bajabass - 1-21-2010 at 06:34 PM

How is the rest of the ejido holding up noproblemo? Is the road in still passable? Hope all is well. Astro, take care please. Hope the rain lets up soon for you!!

noproblemo2 - 1-21-2010 at 06:51 PM

Ejido is holding up well so far, few minor rock slide, no major reported damages yet, lots of leaks of course and with the winds some roof damage on a few places. Oh, the road is as it was before the "repairs".

[Edited on 1-22-2010 by noproblemo2]

toneart - 1-21-2010 at 08:20 PM

Astrobaja-
Do you have alternative communications in place in case of a power failure. Cell phone charged up? Do you get cell service where you are?

Do you have a plan with friends nearby in case you have no way out? Horseback? Mule? Helicopter? Rowboat?...for supplies.

astrobaja - 1-22-2010 at 08:07 AM

Hi all,

Thankfully the rains were only spotty last night with rain turning to snow. Have about a cm of snow.
We have satellite internet and solar power but only enough gas for a few days gen use, hopefully it will be sunny by then. Only marginal cell coverage on a nearby hill. Our road is 6 km to the main observatorio rd. We could walk out if need be. We have VHF radios with the observatory/condor station frequencies depending on how they survived we could always bum a bit of gas...
The raging river has slowed to a medium stream. Our principle driveway is gone, In a couple days I'll start tractor road work.....

TMW - 1-22-2010 at 08:35 AM

Wow, be safe and don't mess with mother nature. I wonder what the water crossing at Mikes Sky Ranch is like.

shari - 1-22-2010 at 08:38 AM

mornin astro....wow, that is really beautiful....I miss the raging rivers of B.C. canada...I'm sure the sun will be out soon amigos...enjoy the solitude.

astrobaja - 1-22-2010 at 08:40 AM

TW: I would be very surprised if the if we get any traffic of any kind from Mikes anymore period! That is unless Mikes wants to repair the damage with their dozer!

astrobaja - 1-22-2010 at 08:47 AM

Shari: Morning, just another fun activity we can offer here at the rancho, white water rafting ;>;)

David K - 1-22-2010 at 09:13 AM

Great Baja attitude, Astro! Hang in there!!

bajabound2005 - 1-22-2010 at 11:33 AM

No power from Maneadero to La Bufadora for the past 2 days. Word from friends returning from a caravan they just took south is that the Catavina arroyos are not passable and there are 3 bridges out between Maneadero and Guerrero Negro (where, I don't know).

BAJACAT - 1-22-2010 at 01:28 PM

Canal 12 local news said San Vicente bridge is out, Santo Domingo bridge is ready to go to, the water already undermined the sides of the bridge.
If we have any nomads that live close by and can take some pix for us, shloud be alot help for people travelling south.


PS. KATHELEN NICE TO SEE YOU POSTING AGAIN SAY HI TO BAJAAMIGO


SORRY ASTRO..DIDN'T WANT TO HIHJACK YOUR POST HANG IN THERE..

astrobaja - 1-22-2010 at 01:51 PM

OK I think I just lost my good atitude, my Wife and I just walked out 2 km on our "road" theres 2 more 6 foot wide gorges across our road one of them 12 feet deep! Nothing short of a bulldozer is going to get us outta here! We have hay for the horses enough for 2 weeks Trying to reach a road contractor via Magic Jack

noproblemo2 - 1-22-2010 at 02:44 PM

Helicopter drop for supplies???????

rts551 - 1-22-2010 at 03:07 PM

Astro,

It will all be well. How did people make it 50 yers ago.


Ralph

TMW - 1-22-2010 at 06:58 PM

Astrobaja we (some Nomads) may need to come down and rescue you and your family. I've got a trailer and we could carry hay bails in for the horses.

Debra - 1-22-2010 at 08:10 PM

OH MAN, you guys hang in there.......

TW, you are one of what Nomads are all about, I was also "rescued" a few years ago with my young son and grand-daughter. Thanks!

BAJACAT - 1-22-2010 at 08:25 PM

The only way to your place is via Mike's skyranch, due to the San Vicente bridge is out. Im willing to help but it has to be on a weekend.. I have a full size truck,and I know how to operate equipment I don't know if that helps...

astrobaja - 1-23-2010 at 10:32 AM

TW, and Bajacat

Thanks VERY much for your offers of help!! We should be fine hay wise for 2 1/2 weeks, and we have enough food on hand for over a month. If after 2 weeks there is not much progress on fixing the road we may need some help. I'm going to try e-mailing Mikes to check how their road is, and also if the "shortcut" between them and us is even passable (it would be a miracle imho).
As stranded as we are at least we have lots of drinking water and food and we have a roof over our head, some I'm sure had their houses washed away!! I will post some pics today of what our damage looks like.
Its a godsend that we have solar power, AND we actually have sun today... plus 2 inches of snow!

Binger - 1-23-2010 at 10:57 AM

Ok guys, the way I see it, any chance of traveling for several weeks from Tecate to Cabo is doomed, right. I mean bridges out, roads washed out, just seems it might be a bad idea to try it in a week. Any thoughts?

motoged - 1-23-2010 at 11:21 AM

I will be riding from San Felipe through Coco's Corner to Catavina between Jan 31 and Feb 1....sure hope there is gas in Catavina then.... it will also be interesting to see how the backcountry double tracks and "roads" will be after this rain in the Catavina-Chapala-Guerrero area...

P.S. David, I will wave at the satellite as you are peering down at the CR routes;D

shari - 1-23-2010 at 11:25 AM

binger...I bet the highway will be open by sunday...they just make detours through the arroyos where the bridges wash out and they get those trucks and busses running asap after a storm. It WILL be slow going though so you wont be able to just scream along the highway but you could make it.

TMW - 1-23-2010 at 12:03 PM

As we have seen before the Mexicans are very good at finding a way around road problems like this. It may be an adventure but it will happen.

No joke

Sharksbaja - 1-23-2010 at 02:32 PM

Oh man you guys are up to your neck. Are you actually w/o any means of escape? Do you have a quad or bike? Hows' about those horses as resources?

astrobaja - 1-23-2010 at 04:41 PM

Sharksbaja: nope its no joke for sure! The more I read how much damage there is along the coast the more I realize that we may actually be stranded here for months before someone gets a bulldozer floated up to the entrance of our ranch. Its a 6km hike out to the observatory road. Our horses are show horses not trail horses, I would'nt trust em to ride out our road, plus where would we go? Nope no trail bikes or quads yet, just our FJ Cruiser.
We talked to the observatory via VHF radio, its on a skeleton crew and is actually closed. They have over one meter of snow and have not yet ventured down the road to see how damaged it is. I actually think we may need to get supplies/hay airlifted to us in a few weeks. Our only hope as I see it is getting a bulldozer locally somehow.... We just came back from a several km hike towards Mikes and it may be permanently impassable even for bikes!
Does anyone see the Mexican military helping out with any of this? Would this not be seen as a state emergency??

astrobaja - 1-23-2010 at 04:59 PM

a pic of our main "driveway" up to the house as you can see theres not much left! Theres an alternate around to the right

driveway.jpg - 36kB

astrobaja - 1-23-2010 at 05:03 PM

Heres the 1st major "fix" after the arroyo going up the driveway, glad I have a full tank of diesal in the tractor!

erosion.jpg - 28kB

astrobaja - 1-23-2010 at 05:06 PM

Then 400 feet up a culvert got ripped out. Can't go around.
Its 15 feet wide and 10 feet deep! Theres another one bit bigger a km down the way!

gorgeone.jpg - 40kB

lkane - 1-23-2010 at 10:55 PM

Mike,
Racers and Ranchers is willing to rally some man power to assist. If we get some troops in there, can we get the road passable with a bike or quad? If its going to be a while until you get a bull dozer, then maybe we can find someone to loan you a quad temporarily. Enough men and shovels we can get er done.

I have also reached out to a Mexican truck driver friend to try to find you a dozer.

Let me know what you think. email me your phone number on the Magic Jack and I can call you to discuss.

Lance

surfer jim - 1-23-2010 at 11:37 PM

It's a small world isn't it.....I just went to look at the "off road" section here....I thought I remembered someone NOT wanting off road racers to travel on their private road as it "makes dust and noise"....

Yes...on 11/15/09....and guess who had the problem with them...ASTROBAJA.

So today I am reading this and see several of those same "racers" offering to help the very person who didn't want them around.


:spingrin:

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 12:03 AM

Surfer Jim: If you actually read my post properly you would see I said that we welcomed respectful off road tours. And the reality is we have had ONLY positve experiences with the tours that have passed throught our property!!! Our problem was with nightime traffic..... that ALL!

Might I mention that at this point we have genuinly more pressing concerns than justifying our position to a troll such as yours!

SunnyDay - 1-24-2010 at 12:40 AM

Exactly where is all the rain?

David K - 1-24-2010 at 08:53 AM

Over the Atlantic by now!

surfer jim - 1-24-2010 at 08:59 AM

Maybe it was more of a "thumbs up" for those offering to help as I am sure they would do what was needed.;)

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 09:04 AM

Lance your generous offer of help is hugely appreciated, but please be very careful, the road from Mikes to here could be very hazardous. I'd give it several more days to drain. I'm going to wait to to start my repairs, my fear is unstable soil giving way with the weight of the tractor (5 tons) nearby.
Has anyone heard from Mikes how they are doing?

lkane - 1-24-2010 at 09:35 AM

No intent on coming up until later in the week, we will see how things develop. I am sure the route from Mikes is not the best choice.
Talk to you later.

Take care!

BAJACAT - 1-24-2010 at 09:45 AM

AstroBaja, maybe for the future, you you think in buying a small dozzer for this kind of emergencies, plus you can use it to maintane your rds too, just and opinion. And Im still here if you need my help, I live in National City, just 3 hrs away, but I don't know exactly where you are located in SPM..

BAJACAT - 1-24-2010 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by surfer jim
It's a small world isn't it.....I just went to look at the "off road" section here....I thought I remembered someone NOT wanting off road racers to travel on their private road as it "makes dust and noise"....

Yes...on 11/15/09....and guess who had the problem with them...ASTROBAJA.

So today I am reading this and see several of those same "racers" offering to help the very person who didn't want them around.


:spingrin:
And JIm thi is not the time to bring this up, plus'" THE RACERS OFFER THEIR HELP( NICE OFF THEM), HE DIDN'T ASK THEM ". at this time we are suppose to help the guy up, not to put the guy down, very bad timing in your part.:no::no:

Rancho Concepcion

David K - 1-24-2010 at 09:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
AstroBaja, maybe for the future, you you think in buying a small dozzer for this kind of emergencies, plus you can use it to maintane your rds too, just and opinion. And Im still here if you need my help, I live in National City, just 3 hrs away, but I don't know exactly where you are located in SPM..




1978 AAA Map above shows Concepcion



Camping and Climbing Baja map shows Concepcion but misplaces Mike's Sky Rancho, too far east.



PPM Park map shows the area well, but doesn't show the ranch.

[Edited on 1-24-2010 by David K]

BAJACAT - 1-24-2010 at 09:56 AM

Thanks David Im still lost, I see a Rancho Concepcion, its that it?

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 10:01 AM

Bajacat, we're at km 67, theres a new sign we put up sys La Concepcion, and R La Joya. We are 6km up the so called road.

For sure in the future we will have to invest in a small used bulldozer. The Ford NH dealer in Ensenada said they had a few used ones at their main office in Mexicali.

BAJACAT - 1-24-2010 at 10:12 AM

astrobaja, that would be a good investment in your part, hang in there, u2u me if you need anythink from me. Jose

TMW - 1-24-2010 at 10:41 AM

On problem trying to get in from Mikes or El Coyote using the race course routes is that the turn off to Astrobaja's place is at 5000+ feet and who knows how deep the snow is in there.

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 10:54 AM

TW-- We walked up a nearby hill and it seems here at 4860 feet we are just above the snow line! At R. La Joya below us they are clear..

Mexitron - 1-24-2010 at 11:13 AM

astrobaja--those winter rains in the SPM are something else...lots of folks say they've never seen it rain harder anywhere else. Hope all goes well---I'd be happy to help if I lived closer. Maybe consider grading a new road cut with that heavy tractor since trying to fix the old road looks tenuous without a smaller one. Also, does anyone know the condition of the main observatory road? Now that its asphalt it shouldn't be so bad but the Rio San Jose/San Telmo can really run hard above and below Melings Ranch. Are you in touch with the Melings at all? They might be of some help as well.

chuckmccullough - 1-24-2010 at 11:21 AM

If any of you are going to help and need a guide to get in to Rancho Concepcion form the Observatory road, let me know. I’ve driven the road several times. Just give me a day or to notice. After these storms you’ll need a 4X4 or better.

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 11:54 AM

Thanks for the offer of help as a guide Chuck. As you know we are in contact with David, Christian, and Duane. Davids in Ensenada so won't be back at meling till the bridges are fixed. He mentioned that the camino observatorio was damaged between San Telmo and Meling so god knows how damaged it is between Meling and the observatory!
Be good if someone could scout out the damage there....

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 03:40 PM

An update:

The situation up here is worse than we thought, its beyond civilian help. We just talked to the condor station, they said the park entrance fellow Alfredo and a small crew did a scout mission to se how the road out of the park was. Completly impassable! Probably landslides. They have enough food for about a week. We are looking into getting helicopters to supply the people in the park/observatory. They have 1.3 metres of snow up top!

its getting to be a bit bigger adventure than we bargained for :>;)

BAJACAT - 1-24-2010 at 03:51 PM

wow thats pretty bad i wish I had a Helicopter, lol

desertcpl - 1-24-2010 at 03:58 PM

I agree you need to get your ducks in order fast,, they have been talking about more severe weather coming in for the next few weeks, (on other treads here on Nomads)

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=43798

if this does happen, resources to get supples in and or get people out might be streached thin

[Edited on 1-25-2010 by desertcpl]

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 06:17 PM

A good piece of news, just got an e-mail from the director of the observatory. Apparently they were able to evacuate before the storm hit.

woody with a view - 1-24-2010 at 06:22 PM

maybe horse stew?

sorry, but reality dictates survival of the fittest, no?

astrobaja - 1-24-2010 at 06:26 PM

no theres wild cattle here, i can just shot one of them!

chuckmccullough - 1-24-2010 at 08:48 PM

That's no bull!;D

mtgoat666 - 1-25-2010 at 09:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
An update:

The situation up here is worse than we thought, its beyond civilian help. We just talked to the condor station, they said the park entrance fellow Alfredo and a small crew did a scout mission to se how the road out of the park was. Completly impassable! Probably landslides. They have enough food for about a week. We are looking into getting helicopters to supply the people in the park/observatory. They have 1.3 metres of snow up top!

its getting to be a bit bigger adventure than we bargained for :>;)


I can imagine that the steep access road just before the park took quite a hit -- probably covered with debris flows in many places, perhaps washed out in places

Mexitron - 1-25-2010 at 06:18 PM

astrobaja---yah, I was wondering about that main road---we saw it after the 1992 El Nino, what a mess....you should be okay though as long as the observatory/condor folks know your whereabouts. Just a thought---with all the rain is there any new grass coming up that the horses can graze on? Or maybe its too cold yet.

TMW - 1-25-2010 at 06:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by backninedan
Hola all, I have been stuck in ensenada for several days now and just returned from the police barricade south of town. They are saying anything up to two weeks. I also talked to many of the truck drivers standing around and they say it may be as early as later today??? I am debating driving north and then down to Guaymas to take the ferry across. Just dont know what to do.

I will submit reports as I find out what is going on...... This Sux


If your vehicle is capable why not drive down thru San Felipe and Gonzaga to hwy 1 at Chapala. Then on to Loreto.

rts551 - 1-25-2010 at 06:53 PM

TW and Backnine pls do not hijack this post

astrobaja - 1-26-2010 at 10:32 AM

Mexitron: there is a tiny bit of grass for the horses, but its too cold yet for the grass to grow. By march though it will be VERY green I'm sure along with a spectacular wild flower display!

QUESTION: does anyone know if the military has the capacity(or are even willing to) to airlift supplies via helicopter?? We walked out our 6 km road yesterday and the worst of the road damage is close to our house. We can salvage a culvert in our arroyo, but we really need two to be able to cross with my tractor to repair the rest of the road.
The people from the San Diego zoo are airlifting supplies via a Hughes 500 chopper but its capacity is limited. Thet will be bringing us some propane for heat and food for the condor team.
Could somebody inquire or find out if military can airlift heavier items such as a 4-5 foot diameter culvert?
The water is receeding so I'm starting tractor work today.

BajaGringo - 1-26-2010 at 10:50 AM

A helicopter airlifted a group of guys who were riding dirt bikes and got caught by the snow. They had a sat phone and called out for help. Civil protection flew them out. Sounds like they might be your ticket...

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=43850

astrobaja - 1-27-2010 at 09:12 AM

We started work on fixing the damage in the main arroyo, took all day with the tractor but its done.
Next step, salvage culverts or pieces of culverts

ramp.jpg - 36kB

BAJACAT - 1-27-2010 at 08:33 PM

Thats good news Astro, it's a small machine but it could be done,but is going to take a little longer, I wish I could have my 938 G CATERPILLAR, I could fix those rds for you in one day...

lkane - 1-27-2010 at 10:35 PM

Mike,
Please update me on if you still need manpower up there on Saturday. Work to be done, Whats kind of supplies we can bring you, etc.

Have you walked out to the road yet? Can 4x4's get in?

Also, email me your frequency on the radio for Saturday.

Spoke to Larry in SV tonight, he said he can bring you some propane on Saturday.
Let us know whats up. Email me.

Thanks

astrobaja - 1-28-2010 at 08:35 AM

Lance: for sure we really need your guys help!! The fix I did on our main arroyo is just the 1st hurdle! There are 2 other washouts where water is still running a bit, so I can't just dump sand in or it will be washed away.
We did find one of the steel 3 foot culverts that got washed down the main arroyo, but it may be too far to salvage. I had an idea to use a bunch of 4" PVC pipe we have, if we use a few in each of the washouts they may flow enough to serve as a short term fix until we get a dozer in.
The big rocky damaged area cannot be fixed with the tractor thats going to be pure manpower...
Radio wise Duane down at rancho Huatalito near Meling has a radio she can reach us at using the condor frequency.

[Edited on 1-28-2010 by astrobaja]

astrobaja - 1-29-2010 at 03:03 PM

Hi all,

Some much appreciated supplies came today thanks to the San Diego Zoo and the head of the condor team. We were on the flightpath as they brought 500 lbs of food to our friends up top.
So now we have gas/deisel/propane for a while
Tommorrow a group of volunteers from Racers and Ranchers will arrive to help us make some of the road passable.

zoochopper.jpg - 21kB

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-29-2010 at 03:10 PM

Wooo Hooo Astrobaja, I'm so happy to hear the wonderful news!

Mexitron - 1-29-2010 at 03:20 PM

Great news astrobaja!

David K - 1-29-2010 at 05:45 PM

I am looking forward to a stay at your future Astronomy Bed & Breakfast... I love star-gazing!

BajaGringo - 1-29-2010 at 05:51 PM

Have you seen any road crews yet Mike? I passed the word through some friends at the government office here and they got back to me today that your road up is on the list of urgent projects...

BAJACAT - 1-29-2010 at 08:34 PM

good news ended.

BajaGringo - 1-29-2010 at 08:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
good news ended.


What ended???

astrobaja - 1-30-2010 at 10:25 AM

Ron, thanks so much for letting the powers that be know about the condition of the observatorio road!!
The observatory crew managed to get up to their big garage so they are working their way down the mountain with snowplows and bucket loaders.

Looks like we need a new road now before I get my observatory, gonna have to wait a bit David. Maybe by the end of summer we will be open,
quien sabe!