LOST MISSION EXPEDITION 2011 (PART 2 of 6, LOST MISSION PHOTOS)

Continued from Part 1: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52696

Thank you for your patience...

I was stalling on the next part of my trip report to give time for the other members of our odyssey to catch up...

Where I left off in Part 1 was near the end of the 4 mile hike down Arroyo El Volcan... As we looked high up the cliffs to the location of the corral in elbeau's satellite images we could not see directly the level or semi-level area. It was out-of-sight, and some of us wished to find a way up there for a closer look... Now, if we only had a helicopter, like Erle Stanley Gardner did 40 some years ago!

bajalou had all the sites GPSed on his hand-held and I had the primary Santa Isabel site on mine... That was my goal: to get right to the spot that elbeau saw 'man-made' structures like arches, stairways, fountains, etc. If that was there, then we would look for the others places later.

On the Google Earth image, the site is just off the main arroyo, along a side gully...







Both images are looking southwest, up the side gully...

GPS of the site marked by the white ballon: GPS is 30º01.42', -114º46.29' (WGS84). Elevation is 1,701'

Here are the views as we near the final big S bend in the arroyo, see the corral area, and see the entrance to the LOST MISSION side gully (maybe call it Arroyo Santa Isabel?):









Interesting trench erosion up and over the ridge... Santa Isabel is on the other side!














That is the 'corral' area up above the cliff.


Ahead, on the left... are the formations marking the entrance to Santa Isabel arroyo!


Close up view of the rock face on the north side of the Santa Isabel arroyo, where it meets Arroyo El Volcan.

Okay, the next set of my photos I will share will be of the Santa Isabel site, and all around...





[Edited on 5-12-2011 by David K]

Climbing into Arroyo Santa Isabel and arriving!

We turn towards Santa Isabel and begin the final few feet of the 4 mile hike!




(Vern Pic)




A dry waterfall is the only way into Arroyo Santa Isabel (Vern Pic)

Vern, José, DT, Phil and I make the climb.. and soon we see the site!




Vern photos me closing in on the site.


My GPS on 'ground zero' at the site!

To Be Continued... Photos of the site... lots! Plus much, much more of the surrounding country, La Olvidada and El Volcan Cold Water Geyser (including video)!

[Edited on 5-5-2011 by David K]

Okay. That's it! I cannot take it anymore. David, I'm driving down to San Diego tomorrow and I'm going to have to beat the story out of you. Sorry, you're the closest Nomad. See you after lunch.

The only thing worse than how obnoxiously skeptical Bryan is is how obnoxiously correct he is turning out to be

Actually, when it's all said and done, Bryans input has been very helpful and well thought out and ultimately even appreciated by me. Thx

DON'T KEEP US IN SUSPENSE!!!!

Inquiring minds want to know!!


Michael

you guys sound like a bunch of clucking hens at a bridge party trying to decide if you all can or should keep some secret.

well, women CAN'T keep secrets so whatever pact you thought you made at the sacred campfire will fall faster than the drunks from last nite's cinco mayo fun.

OKAY, OKAY...

I will show you the LOST MISSION OF SANTA ISABEL (according to elbeau)!

Close up from Google Earth, north at top:



Rotate and angle for 3-D effect, looking southeast:





This is what elbeau sees in the Google Earth image:



HERE is what we saw:


Close up

Now, from across the small arroyo and up the other slope:




Arroyo El Volcan is in the background



Zoom in:



THAT'S IT! (well, that's all we have agreed to show you... you should have joined us!)

Seriously, there is MUCH MUCH more to this trip...

El Vergel and BAJACAT continued up Arroyo Santa Isabel some distance, as did dtbushpilot and XRPhlang (while I was climbing the north slope for the above photos)... BAJACAT gave something to the mountain (I will let him share that with you). We all got bloodied on the brush or rocks.

BAJACAT and El Vergel continued further down Arroyo El Volcan and found bigger pools of water (photos coming).

The hike back to our camp seemed much longer, as the temperatures were higher and water was running out...

That afternoon, after a good rest, we drove up to La Olvidada mine and also the small onyx mine at El Volcan.

The next day (Sunday) we explored the El Volcan geyser and surroundings... so STAY TUNED, plenty more high adventure and photos coming!!!

great story. i was kinda hoping you guys would have found something.


new leaf, again!

Thank you DK. I have to admit, the site does look a little different in your photos than it does in my drawing

I'm working on the mother of all google earth files to document all this. In the very least you guys have documented this area better than anyone else ever has and I want to make that a resource for others.
TW, I'm going to make it out there, probably this fall. Jesuit gold or not, that's a beautiful arroyo!

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view great story. i was kinda hoping you guys would have found something. new leaf, again!

Quote:

Originally posted by elbeau Thank you DK. I have to admit, the site does look a little different in your photos than it does in my drawing I'm working on the mother of all google earth files to document all this. In the very least you guys have documented this area better than anyone else ever has and I want to make that a resource for others. TW, I'm going to make it out there, probably this fall. Jesuit gold or not, that's a beautiful arroyo!

I figured you did!

See Mexitron and his gang of treasure hunters on Matomi Mountain: http://vivabaja.com/mexitron

In case you go, and forget your GPS... X marks the spot!

Leaving the Lost Mission

Well, it was time to head back... so-I-thought!





Vern and I were the last out of Arroyo Santa Isabel, and climbed down the waterfall into Arroyo El Volcan.



Vern and José needed more adventure... so they headed further down the big arroyo (see El Vergel's thread with photos of what they saw!: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52725 )



A look towards the corral area, up there.

I head back towds camp with dtbushpilot and XRPhlang... we soon find the three others who scouted the corral area (bajalou, TW and Bill).





[Edited on 5-7-2011 by David K]

The final photos of the return to camp from Santa Isabel.

It was 4 miles from Santa Isabel back to our camp, I walked with David and Phil for about a half mile after we left the three Corral explorers (TW, Bill, Lou)... and decided to wait and see if any of the 5 were going to get a move on...

Tired of waiting, I decided to march on solo... About a kilometer from camp, I took a break in the shade of a cliff and after maybe 15 minutes, here comes El Vergel... We finish the trip back together.

Here are some photos of Arroyo El Volcan on the return:













This was mile 2 from camp marker (I did one at the other mile points, but this was the highest).











Stay Tuned for PART 3: La Olvidada Mine and a view of the Cortez, far below ... the the El Volcan Cold Water Geyser!

PART 3 is here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=52779

[Edited on 5-7-2011 by David K]

Really cool looking stuff back in there...must have really been amazing when it was filled with water!

Thanks for sharing the adventure with us!


Michael

Quote:

Originally posted by elbeau Quote: Originally posted by bryanmckenzie Do share CaboDreamer ... I'm the biggie skeptic. Right, Beau? And hate I could not attend. Quote: Originally posted by CaboDreamer Better yet... through clan-descent means I have come across a photo of the lost mission... The only thing worse than how obnoxiously skeptical Bryan is is how obnoxiously correct he is turning out to be Actually, when it's all said and done, Bryans input has been very helpful and well thought out and ultimately even appreciated by me. Thx