BajaNomad

Snow and Rain in Baja Norte

HotSchott - 11-22-2004 at 07:25 AM

Returning from Guadalupe Canyon yesterday, we started to make our way onto the Laguna Salada road. It was already wet enough to clump up on the tires and we were throwing dirt everywhere. I have cleaned a couple of hundred pounds of salty mud from the truck before, so we pulled a u-turn and hit the graded road back to Mex 2. Within ten minutes the magnitude of our decision became obvious as the skies opened up and puddles formed quickly on the graded road. The rain actually softened the washboard which made the trip a little better. I am sure we would have a very different story to tell if we had ventured out on the Laguna. It must have been at least two inches of rain between 8:00 and 11:00 - an entire year of rain in dryer years.

It was still raining hard going up La Rumorasa Grade until about half way it turned to snow! By the time we got to the top we were in 4-HI and there was four inches of snow. Tractor trailers and busses were clogging the road and sliding all over the place. Most of them just stopped where they were. The view was absolutely amazing with snow clinging to the red rock faces and pinion pines. I am sure the road was closed within minutes behind us. We saw several ambulances headed towards the down grade which had to be treacherous with snow on a frozen road. It snowed half way back to Tecate.

Time to dry out the camping gear and dream about the next trip. There will be some amazing flowers and bugs this spring if this weather keeps up.

Steve

4baja - 11-22-2004 at 07:29 AM

we were heading north from BOLA and the rain started comeing down around colonet hard and continued to santo tomas. BOLA weather was great!!:coolup:

Corky1 - 11-22-2004 at 07:31 AM

Any pictures of the snow??

Corky :?: :biggrin:

Taco de Baja - 11-22-2004 at 08:21 AM

Snow in Orange county down to 1,000 or so according to the local papar.....

I recall a Thanksgiving trip in the late 1970's where we too barely made it up the Rumarosa grade because of the snow. Trucks jacknifed all over the place. Pretty cool to have snow in places where it is not common.

[Edited on 11-22-2004 by Taco de Baja]

anyone interested in

jrbaja - 11-22-2004 at 09:27 AM

skiing Baja ?

Barry A. - 11-22-2004 at 10:08 AM

JR-----Is that Laguna Hansen in the picture?? Pretty cool.

Yep Barry

jrbaja - 11-22-2004 at 10:41 AM

But it was about 3 or 4 years ago. And of all things, I left my skis in San Bartolo or I'd be heading up there right now.

Here's the story. A neighbor and I had just returned from Puerto Pe?asco and hit snow coming over Rumorosa. It was a big storm so after being home a couple days, I couldn't stand it.
So, I packed up the dogs and the van and headed up to Laguna Hanson. Right around 5000' and hit snow around La Huertita.
It was most exciting as I hadn't skiied in quite a few years so I was really looking forward to it.
Got up to the lake which was frozen over and met a young ranger up there. Talked to him for a while and I was apparently the first loco to go skiing around those parts so it was kinda cool. He refused my offer of him trying it out but he did take a couple pictures for me.
So, I skiied and the dogs romped and then I went to set up a camp.
Now, I was born in the Berkshires and lived in Jackson Hole and Gillette, Wyoming and Lake Tahoe for 10 years so cold is nothing new to me. In fact, I still have all my mountain duds so I was prepared for the weather.
But, I have never seen a colder night than the night at Laguna Hanson. I started my Dinty Moore or whatever on the stove and by the time I sat down to eat, the dogs water was frozen solid. About a half an hour!
So, I build a fire and we are almost in it staying warm. A beautiful full moon rose over the frozen lake with Pink Floyds "Dark Side of the Moon" echoing through the trees. Quite spectacular after an afternoon of skiing Baja and Bigs first experience with snow.

I'm sure many of you have heard the term "3 dog night". This night was one of those but I only had the two. And they slept under the covers in my van with me. It was a 2 dog night and was I ever thankful!!

So, after an uneventful but chilly night, I wake up in the morning to see that a group from Ensenada had arrived during the night. And the 6 or 7 of them were camped in a tent, in the snow. The incredible powers of Tequila I suppose, as they were all still alive and waking up. What a kick!

So, I ski a little more and go to head out. After about a half mile, the engine starts overheating. And it's freezing out :?:

In spite of the fact that I had antifreeze, the radiator had frozen. And not only that, I had a gallon of antifreeze and it was frozen too. Damn. That's cold!
Get thawed out after heating some water and back to Rosarito. I was telling Carol about the lovely night she missed hahahaha and go to get the stuff out of the van. Dogs water still frozen solid after a 3 hour drive home. Unbelievable.
We may not have much in elevation, but we make for it with coldness.
Ski Baja, but dress warm!!


[Edited on 11/22/2004 by jrbaja]

FREAKY COLD

Barry A. - 11-22-2004 at 01:27 PM

Great story, JR. I have been really cold on the high desert of the Mojave, where my alum. canteens froze solid, and I barely survived the night in WW II 40% down mummy sleeping bag on the ground, but your story takes the cake. I have never heard of a car with antifreeze, or even only a 50% mixture, freezing up. That is wild! We all know that Baja is a land of extremes, and once again you proved it. Thanks for the story.

That entire country around, and in, Laguna Hansen is so fantastic------I love camping out by the escarpment to the east, and waking up to the sunrise amongst the huge boulders.

jrbaja - 11-22-2004 at 06:25 PM