russchung - 10-7-2012 at 10:13 AM
After reading David K's July trip report http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=61576
I didn't expect any problem negotiating Calamajue Canyon. I had not figured on the damage caused by the recent summer rain. Of course, we stopped to
say hello to Coco before heading to the canyon. He posed for this picture below the banner celebrating his 75th birthday. BTW, Coco reported that
the trip from Coco's Corner to Highway 1 usually takes about 20-30 minutes, but the last time he made the trip, it took him an hour and a half:
We negotiated the canyon on Wednesday, September 26 (the day before Hurricane Miriam's rain reached the mid-peninsula and three days before Tropical
Depression Norman dumped more rain on the peninsula). The water in the stream was a trickle, but the stream washed deep channels across the trail.
Often, we would follow the tire tracks on one bank of the stream, see the tire tracks head toward the stream and resume on the opposite bank, and just
a jumble of rocks and deep, water filled channels in between. This picture doesn't adequately show the 2' deep drop off just before the trail reaches
the opposite bank.
My Jeep has 33" tires and I had to carefully pick my way up the canyon. I wonder how next month's Baja 1000 racers will deal with the washouts??
After Calamajue Canyon, we passed through a forest of Cirio trees and Cardon cactus. That portion of the trail was in good shape:
[Edited on 10-7-2012 by russchung]
David K - 10-7-2012 at 10:21 AM
NICE! Thanks for your post... Happy Birthday to Coco, too!
Last July, the lowest water level I have seen in the canyon since my first trip in 1967...
[Edited on 10-7-2012 by David K]
TMW - 10-7-2012 at 11:59 AM
Thanks for the report and pixs. I would think the water will be down by the time the 1000 comes along. They've been running thru there for many years
and anyone who might have a problem will most likely have a 4x4 and some long straps standing by to help.