BajaNomad

April baja weather

blackwolfmt - 4-4-2014 at 12:00 PM

So you nomads who are in baja for April, what kind of weather would you expect when you see this goes radar, rain, wind,muggy,ect...




http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/nepac/flash-wv.html

bajacalifornian - 4-4-2014 at 12:42 PM

February is the beginning of change from winter to spring. March is more but less.

April is on the end, leading to May, one most favored of the choices.


Expect April to trend nice indeed.

Day & night were nearly spit in camp, San Nicolas yesterday.

shari - 4-4-2014 at 01:00 PM

Bala is a big place with alot of different climate variations.

April in our area of the central pacific coast is "winter". The ocean temps just dropped into the 50's so fishing has dropped off as well. April/May are our most uncomfortable months due to winds to 20 knots nearly every afternoon. The mornings are lovely though with nice air temps..the cool water temps makes for cooler air temps than the gulf side which many people like...but the winds are relentless which is why everyone from this side goes over to the gulf side for the Easter Holidays which are by the way from April 12-20 this year...a good time to avoid the gulf side beaches.

Marc - 4-5-2014 at 10:03 AM

April is sunny and warm in Baja Sur but the water still very cold. October is my favorite.

Pompano - 4-5-2014 at 10:16 AM

April turning into May has always been my favorite time in the Bay of Conception area of Baja. Air temps are going up each week. No more jackets or sweaters needed. Nights are magnificent sleeping times without a heater or down blankets.

The ocean water is now warming ....enough towards the end of April to wade with the kiddies and swim or snorkel without wetsuits. The fishing generally improves (especially for those cabrilla dinners). Lots of springtime birds are arriving to build nests.

The season of change is in the air.

David K - 4-5-2014 at 10:31 AM

Nearly every April (Easter Vacation/ Spring Break) we have gone to Baja... The northern state. Often to Bahia de los Angeles, but also to Bahia San Luis Gonzaga and Laguna Percebu (Shell Island) and sometimes toured sites along the way.

Weather has always been near ideal with only wind sometimes cropping up.

Other April issues are rattlesnakes... It is universally the only month I see them in Baja, and nearly every trip in April I see one or more. They are beautiful and exciting. The red diamondback is the most common I have seen. Of course, that may be because I am out exploring, in 'their' country. Twice the posed a danger to children or dogs, and those were the only times someone in our group executed them. All the others they were left to live on: One time a big one came into our camp at Mission Santa Maria while we were socializing. Another time one was under the mobile home of Paulina at Bahia de los Angeles. The other places I have seen rattlers: Mission San Fernando, near the petroglyphs, Parral Canyon off Valle Chico, South of Las Flores on the San Francisquito road, near Montevideo crossing the road, Valle de las Palmas south of Tecate.

One other creature be concerned with in April are sting rays... in Bahia de los Angeles particularly. It is when they mate and their numbers in the shallow, sandy bottom water are huge.

Be aware and enjoy the weather!

danaeb - 4-5-2014 at 11:19 AM

Speaking of stingrays - now is a good time to remind everyone of the proper first aid treatment:

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/stingray-injury-treatment

It's also a good idea to carry hot patches with you when you go to the beach if there's no close source of hot water. Burying the foot in hot sand also works if the sand is hot enough.

I wish I had known all this BEFORE I had my encounter.

David K - 4-5-2014 at 11:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
Speaking of stingrays - now is a good time to remind everyone of the proper first aid treatment:

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/stingray-injury-treatment

It's also a good idea to carry hot patches with you when you go to the beach if there's no close source of hot water. Burying the foot in hot sand also works if the sand is hot enough.

I wish I had known all this BEFORE I had my encounter.


Applying as hot as possible soaked rags (not so hot as to damage skin) is what Doc at Camp Gecko would advise. See one person hit and going through this at Camp Gecko. The heat neutralizes the venom.

Now, what kind of sting is best treated by peeing on it (or use vinegar)? If you said jellyfish, winner! If the sting is near the mouth, then I hope you have vinegar! :lol:

[Edited on 4-5-2014 by David K]

blackwolfmt - 4-5-2014 at 12:14 PM

Yeah I have heard stories of them stingers, So do they only sting if stepped on or merely touched ?? also from what that webmd link says go to the Emergency room is this a must or will you Die ??.

Thanks for the replys on the weather question Nomads..

Pompano - 4-5-2014 at 12:24 PM

blackwolfmt, I've known dozens of folks who've been stung by the barb of a stingray, including myself. The injuries occur mostly from stepping on them while wading or clamming.

They do not hunt you and you will not die if stung...at least nobody I know of has died. (There was the tv fellow from Australia who died from a large stingray stabbing through his chest, but that has got to be very rare.) I do know of one gal who lost her foot due to a severe infection and refusal to get treatment.

Yes, if you are stung, get some expert treatment ASAP. You'll do fine.

Here's one I photographed near some weeds in Coyote Bay. Watch for them and if wading, do the Sting Ray Shuffle.
A few will be buried under the sand, just enough to cover themselves with only two bumps (the eyes) to alert you.

[Edited on 4-5-2014 by Pompano]

STING RAYS COYOTE BAY 2012 3-30 (1).jpg - 42kB

blackwolfmt - 4-5-2014 at 01:26 PM

Pompano, Thanks for the info and the pic must I always beware of them or is it just in the spring?? BTW what did you think of Durango? that's where I was born and lived for 35 yrs before moving North

Pompano - 4-5-2014 at 01:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by blackwolfmt
Pompano, Thanks for the info and the pic must I always beware of them or is it just in the spring?? BTW what did you think of Durango? that's where I was born and lived for 35 yrs before moving North


One should always be aware that they do frequent the shallows where most bathers have their fun, but indeed, the spring is when they are out in numbers...beginning now in April.

I love the mountain towns of Colorado, especially Durango & Silverton. I've made a few trips there over the years and will most likely compete in some 'senior' bike race against the Iron Horse in the future. Fun times!

chuckie - 4-5-2014 at 02:03 PM

Speaking of, It's lightly snowing here in Westcliffe, Colorado at the moment.

DENNIS - 4-5-2014 at 02:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by blackwolfmt
must I always beware of them or is it just in the spring??


Year around. They lay on the sand bottom and kind of sink in a bit making them hard to see until it's too late.
Learn to do the "Stingray Shuffle." It'll save you some grief:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/do-the-stingray-sh...

blackwolfmt - 4-5-2014 at 02:46 PM

Thanks for that great link Dennis, so ya pretty much don't have to get checked out unless the stinger is still in you that is comforting to know...

David K - 4-5-2014 at 09:25 PM

TV's Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter of Australia, is who Roger is thinking of.

Justbozo - 4-6-2014 at 08:09 AM

I recently used a snakebite venom extractor on a ray sting. This was followed with the hotwater treatment and benadryl tablet as well as topical antibiotic. The next morning the little boy was riding his bike like nothing happened.
I thought that to be rather amazing.

David K - 4-6-2014 at 11:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Justbozo
I recently used a snakebite venom extractor on a ray sting. This was followed with the hotwater treatment and benadryl tablet as well as topical antibiotic. The next morning the little boy was riding his bike like nothing happened.
I thought that to be rather amazing.


Awesome!:bounce::light:

Pacifico - 4-6-2014 at 09:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Justbozo
I recently used a snakebite venom extractor on a ray sting. This was followed with the hotwater treatment and benadryl tablet as well as topical antibiotic. The next morning the little boy was riding his bike like nothing happened.
I thought that to be rather amazing.


I would be interested to know if the snakebite venom extractor actually did anything. Maybe it did... From my experience of seeing people treated from stepping on stingrays, the hot water treatment took the pain down to practically zero! You want the water as hot as you can tolerate. I've also heard good reports of the topical Benadryl following the hot water treatment. Luckily, I haven't been hit yet.... But close! I once stepped on one and felt it flutter out from under my foot! :bounce:

danaeb - 4-6-2014 at 09:42 PM

Hot water definitely works, but any source of heat should be considered if you're not close to a hot water source. I when stepped on a ray, I was on a beach that was 30 minutes away from hot water. I have heard of people wrapping the foot in a t-shirt and placing it on the hot hood of a car. Hot pavement/cement/stone/sand also works. Heat is the key to neutralize the protein in the toxin, wherever you can find it. It doesn't have to be water.

willardguy - 4-6-2014 at 09:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
Hot water definitely works, but any source of heat should be considered if you're not close to a hot water source. I when stepped on a ray, I was on a beach that was 30 minutes away from hot water. I have heard of people wrapping the foot in a t-shirt and placing it on the hot hood of a car. Hot pavement/cement/stone/sand also works. Heat is the key to neutralize the protein in the toxin, wherever you can find it. It doesn't have to be water.
great tips!:yes:

Pompano - 4-7-2014 at 10:50 AM

From some old Baja remedies for sting ray wounds.....



first - shuffling those feet while wading will eliminate almost all chance of surprising a sting ray or skate.

If you do get barbed it hurts a lot, but not necessarily dangerous as long as it doesn't get any infection. Adolph's meat tenderizer and/or urine does help for an immediate pain reliever. Then you should soak the injured foot in hot water...as hot as you can stand...the pain will go away instantly as long as you can keep the foot in the water. Within an hour or two the pain will be gone.

Binding with lime juice and the squished lime has shown good results, too.

Farmacia solutions:
- antibiotic - Prispen 500mg (1 @ 8 hours to fight infection)
- anti inflammatory - Flamas(? - napracizon?) 500mg (1@8 hours to bring down swelling)

Pompano - 4-10-2014 at 05:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
From some old Baja remedies for sting ray wounds.....



first - shuffling those feet while wading will eliminate almost all chance of surprising a sting ray or skate.

If you do get barbed it hurts a lot, but not necessarily dangerous as long as it doesn't get any infection. Adolph's meat tenderizer and/or urine does help for an immediate pain reliever. Then you should soak the injured foot in hot water...as hot as you can stand...the pain will go away instantly as long as you can keep the foot in the water. Within an hour or two the pain will be gone.

Binding with lime juice and the squished lime has shown good results, too.

Farmacia solutions:
- antibiotic - Prispen 500mg (1 @ 8 hours to fight infection)
- anti inflammatory - Flamas(? - napracizon?) 500mg (1@8 hours to bring down swelling)


Which is what we did for my amigo, Mike, when he stepped on a skate while wading the South Beach and got stung in the ankle. Poor guy...wounded but well-cared for by our first aid team and recovered fast.



Watch out for these guys below...



[Edited on 4-11-2014 by Pompano]