Graham - 4-28-2010 at 10:00 PM
I'm heading to the San Pedro Martir with my dog. Any information about the condition of the road to the park and the observatory would be appreciated.
Thanks.
David K - 4-29-2010 at 09:04 AM
AstroBaja is just off the road, above Meling... Hope he sees this and gets back to you Graham...
Do you have any new book plans or ideas yet???
Barry A. - 4-29-2010 at 02:55 PM
Bump!!! AstroBaja???
Bajaboy - 4-29-2010 at 03:19 PM
I read a post a few weeks ago saying the road was closed. You might do a search.
Graham - 4-29-2010 at 03:39 PM
Yes, I read the posts from March suggesting road might be closed inside the park for repairs... but hoping it might be open now.
I was up there last summer with my dogs and got some great close up photos of the condors. Looking forward to returning and doing a little more hiking
and photography.
No new book plans this year David, but I'll sure be ready in 2011.
David K - 4-29-2010 at 05:56 PM
Super!!
astrobaja - 4-30-2010 at 10:10 AM
Sorry guys, did'nt notice the thread! Theres been a tug of war between road and nature the last month and a half with nature winning most of the
time!
The one long wash before heading up the grade is washed out but passable even in 2WD. The big wash after Meling has been fixed but the culvert was
washed out again! But now the melt waters of the sierra are greatly subsided so the shortcut around the washed out area is ok even in 2WD as long as
you don't stop, keep some momentum going and you will be fine.
Alfredo put up some signs that the park road was closed but its open now and tours are again going to see the telescopes.
The road between us at km 67 and the park entrance is pretty damaged so go slow!
Come and visit us if you get a chance Graham! Theres an amazing spring bloom going on here right now!
[Edited on 4-30-2010 by astrobaja]
David K - 4-30-2010 at 11:45 AM
GREAT REPORT ASTRO!
Graham - 4-30-2010 at 11:16 PM
Thanks Astrobaja. Sure appreciate the information. If I can get packed and ready I hope to head up to the park this Saturday.
If the timing works out it will be an honor to visit, after all you've been through this year, either on way up or when I leave in a week or so.
Looking forward to seeing all those flowers, and maybe a few fungi.
Expect it will be cold camping in Vallecitos/Tasajera area. Earliest I've been there before is late May, even then my water bottles froze at night. My
San Diego corgi is in for a shock!
[Edited on 5-1-2010 by Graham]
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:42 PM
Had a terrific week camped near the park entrance. Three or four inches of snow had fallen two days before we arrived and much of it was still on the
ground. The first night was brutally cold. As soon as the sun dipped below the horizon a bowl of water turned to ice. Had a roaring campfire but felt
I was sleeping in a freezer that night.
Warmed up after that. Clear blue sky. Day temps in 60s and 70s... down to mid-30s at night. Wonderful views of Picacho Diablo, Baja's high point at
over 10,000 feet. Pili the corgi loved it... after a long hot hike up and down ridges through the pine forest and chasing coyotes she liked to spread
herself out on the snow to chill while master enjoyed a cold one.
Paved road up was damaged in many places. Rockfalls, large boulders, washouts, some of it dropped into nothing... OK if you keep speed down and stay
away from edges.
Saw six condors on the drive down. Passing overhead sounding like gliders. Took several photos while Pili thought it wise to hide under the truck.
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:45 PM
Stay away from the edge of the road...
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:48 PM
Pili enjoying a little paw skiing
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:50 PM
Condor overhead
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:54 PM
And here's the road washout near the Meling Ranch.
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 12:57 PM
Rock falls approaching the park entrance.
Barry A. - 5-10-2010 at 02:45 PM
Great pics, Graham-----thank you.
How did you get around the washout near Meling's Ranch-----looks intimidating?
Barry
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 03:11 PM
Barry,
There is a ford across the river on the left as your heading up to the San Pedro Martir. That's the one that Astrobaja recommends you keep on driving
through without stopping - good advice. And I'm sure with no more rain the river is dropping a little bit every day.
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 03:17 PM
Going over on the downstream side might be a bit more challenging... even though that's where most of the nice new road ended up.
bacquito - 5-10-2010 at 03:31 PM
Thanks, good information. Graham, I enjoyed your bood "Nearer my dog to Thee" re. the area.
TMW - 5-10-2010 at 06:35 PM
Thanks for the pixs, wow that road is in need of some repairs. Looks like you had a good time. So that's how they tag a Condor. Never seen one before.
Graham - 5-10-2010 at 10:36 PM
It was wonderful spending 4 months up there in 2001 and writing about it and sharing it along with all those photographs in my book. Learned so much
about so many aspects of that place. Sadly both of my canine companions on that trip have now passed away.
Here' s a shot looking down on the same condor showing the GPS/radio transmitters and antennae attached to the upper ID tags.
David K - 5-11-2010 at 02:29 PM
Really great report and photos... Thank you Graham!
mtgoat666 - 5-11-2010 at 03:43 PM
Hey Graham,
Is the dirt road from vallecitos meadow to picacho/blue bottle trailhead drivable???
astrobaja - 5-11-2010 at 03:49 PM
Hi Graham,
It was very nice to get a chance to meet you and to show you around our house! Next time we can hike around the property a bit and later do some
viewing of celestial objects!
Great pics! Pretty funny that the main road up is in worse shape than our driveway though!
saludos
Mike & Pamela
Graham - 5-11-2010 at 05:15 PM
Alfredo the park ranger at the entrance gate warned me that the road to the Picacho trailhead might still be very bad, so I walked it with Pili and
although a few streams crossed it they were shallow and no problem.
Graham - 5-11-2010 at 05:19 PM
Mike and Pamela,
I'm so glad I detoured to your place (Rancho Concepcion) on the way home. What a spectacular location at the base of the mountains and what a great
home you have there. Looking forward to returning and doing a little star gazing. You guys are an inspiration.
[Edited on 5-12-2010 by Graham]
Graham - 5-11-2010 at 05:22 PM
That's a fun drive out there... seemed a lot easier going out than in.
Geo_Skip - 5-11-2010 at 05:29 PM
Fantastic photos Graham, Thanks! Loved the dog-Snow photo but it looks like a tricolor Corgi Crossed with a German Shepard! Or were you just close
to the corgi.
I grew up with corgis and snow...a wonderful, joyous combination!
Cheers,
Skip McIntosh
Graham - 5-11-2010 at 06:22 PM
Hi Skip,
No German shepherd I believe... Pembroke Welsh Corgi.... little legs and bob tail, but boy she loved that snow... felt like I was watching the Winter
Olympics with all her rolling, sliding antics. She was tireless and would follow me anywhere.
