Has anybody here hiked to La Grulla recently?

I'm a new poster here, but have spent a lot of time in Baja. There is a thread here about Gordon Gastil; I was one of his many students and was involved in the geologic mapping of both the Sierria Juarez and Sierra San Pedro Martir (RIP Gordon). The last time I was in Vallecitos meadow was 1990, when I took my wife and two friends on a backpack down to La Grulla and beyond. Probably I've spent 3 months total on the plateaus of San Pedro Martir and have even seen 4 to 6 ft of snow on the ground there.

I have John Robinsons' book and my own trail map from the 1980's. Too be honest, my map is more complete than Jerry Schads, but it is also old. I just got my new Topo's and they are a large improvement over the old ones. But they also show a newer trail that incorporates some of the older system I knew. Things have changed and I am wondering if anyone here has been down to the pond and if the old trail through the canyon is still in use. Who has been down there in the last 10 years??? I promise to post up a TR. And I'm not going down for trout, just to check the place out again before it gets too popular. Are there any issues with going to where the vaqueros run the cattle? Or is it like it used to be; no problem.

ps. I'm putting this topic here because the Backpacking thread looks dead for now.

Chris

Trout

How big were the trout legs???

Most of those streams would require serious walking ability in the dry season....
just saying

Welcome to Nomad Chris!

Graham Mackintosh is a member here and you are probably familiar with his excellent book on the San Pedro Martir, 'Nearer My Dog to Thee' (yes a bizarre title until you read the book) http://grahammackintosh.com

I have an interest in Baja or Antigua (Old) California history... and wondered if you saw the foundation stones at La Grulla for the very brief, first site for the San Pedro Martir mission there?

I have Schad's map, Robinson's book (several editions). the Meling Ranch book 'Where the Old West Never Died', etc. I would enjoy seeing your map!
Posting images here on Nomad is tricky, so I am happy to assist, if you care... otherwise, email me.

I was first at the Meling Ranch in 1972, as well as Mike's Sky Rancho and up to the new observatories just a couple years after they were built... I was 15 traveling with my parents then. That forest is very unique I think... Graham calls it a "sky island" in his book... very true.

I hope the other Nomads who have been to Mision San Pedro Martir (April 2004 expedition) or climbed Diablo Mountain will chime in... We used the photos taken during that expedition in our new book on the missions of California (Baja & Alta).

Again, welcome to Baja Nomad!

How The Trout Climbed The San Pedro Martir Mountain, C.E. Utt

Thanks for the welcome you all!

David K. I have been to the foundation ruins, but they are not in La Grulla. Rather they are about 12 miles due South of La Grulla as the crow flys. Check out Robinson's trail map of the area. This map is a good schematic guide to the trails, but not particularly accurate. I will try to post some photo's later, so I may need some help with that. I have been up Diablo twice, both times from the plateau. Did not bring a camera either time. It was in the 80's and I was a starving student .

Chris

Quote:

Originally posted by CandRnelsons Thanks for the welcome you all! David K. I have been to the foundation ruins, but they are not in La Grulla. Rather they are about 12 miles due South of La Grulla as the crow flys. Check out Robinson's trail map of the area. This map is a good schematic guide to the trails, but not particularly accurate. I will try to post some photo's later, so I may need some help with that. I have been up Diablo twice, both times from the plateau. Did not bring a camera either time. It was in the 80's and I was a starving student . Chris

Interesting....

David K, has anybody looked at Santa Rosa? The times I have been there were all prior to this "new" discovery. Of course I was not all that interested in the history of the Mission San Pedro Martir; I just assumed what I was told was correct. The time I spent 6 weeks there we were mapping geology. And I will also have to say 7 miles north of La Grulla is still a large area as it is an elongated valley. I will have to contact you about this and about posting pics.

I camped with Nomad Vince and Bud Bernhard back in '54 in La Grulla Meadow--------due to a lot of factors, I thought it one of the most impressive & beautiful places I ever camped. While there, one day hitched a ride on a Meling pony & rode bareback over to La Encantada Meadow, and then hiked up to Cerro La Botella Azul for a look at "the Mountain" (Picacho del Diablo). I still have those images seemingly clear in my mind---------.
(Vince looked younger then) ------and also my very painful arse for the next few days (the pony was a little skinny).

Hard to beat the Sierra San Pedro Martir for shear ruggedness, remoteness, and beauty in a most unlikely environment.

Barry