BajaNomad

Sierra de San Pedro Martir questions

Ron_Perry - 2-27-2015 at 11:54 PM

Hola everyone, checking in to ask a few questions about the trip to the top, to the Observatirio, 9200'. Planning on a bicycle ride from Highway 1...about 65 miles total, around mid May.

Wondering how the present road condition is?
And is there tent camping not at the top, but lower down?

Trying to get a few of my friends to ride and support the trip up to the top. Nights look to be cold, around 40 degrees at the top in May. Maybe around 5000-6000' camping would be much warmer.

Thanks for any help, Ron

David K - 2-28-2015 at 12:30 AM

ENJOY!



Posted by BajaGeoff March 2013: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=66284

The 13,000' elevation is the total of all uphill segments, not the above sea level height (which is indeed 9,280'). Tent camping at Vallecitos, about 8,000 feet, the big meadow below/ before the observatory. Road is all paved, 62 miles from Hwy. 1, but may have washouts and land slides to dodge.

Mexitron - 2-28-2015 at 07:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ron_Perry  
Hola everyone, checking in to ask a few questions about the trip to the top, to the Observatirio, 9200'. Planning on a bicycle ride from Highway 1...about 65 miles total, around mid May.

Wondering how the present road condition is?
And is there tent camping not at the top, but lower down?

Trying to get a few of my friends to ride and support the trip up to the top. Nights look to be cold, around 40 degrees at the top in May. Maybe around 5000-6000' camping would be much warmer.

Thanks for any help, Ron



We've had 18 degrees and snow flurries up there in June, dress warm if you camp up high!

mtgoat666 - 2-28-2015 at 07:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ron_Perry  
Hola everyone, checking in to ask a few questions about the trip to the top, to the Observatirio, 9200'. Planning on a bicycle ride from Highway 1...about 65 miles total, around mid May.

Wondering how the present road condition is?
And is there tent camping not at the top, but lower down?

Trying to get a few of my friends to ride and support the trip up to the top. Nights look to be cold, around 40 degrees at the top in May. Maybe around 5000-6000' camping would be much warmer.

Thanks for any help, Ron



Road is in good shape. Campground is not where davidk said. Campground is at park entrance gate. Take mtn bikes too, for the unpaved roads. May is good time.

Mexitron - 2-28-2015 at 07:55 AM

goat---is that a new campground by the entrance? Camping's always been where David K said---at the meadow before the last hill to the observatory. Haven't been there in a few years though...

mtgoat666 - 2-28-2015 at 08:51 AM

Many years (9?) ago they eliminated car camping at vallecitos and now only permit car camping at the campgrounds near entrance. They are pretty nice campgrounds, much space between camp areas, so lots of privacy,... Except holiday weekends where it gets a bit crowded and noisy. Why do people bring boom boxes to campgrounds?

David K - 2-28-2015 at 09:23 AM

There is more than one tent camping area (he didn't ask for a 'campground', and I didn't call Vallecitos a campground). You should read Graham's third book...


http://www.grahammackintosh.com/Pages/NearerMyDogtoThee.aspx

mtgoat666 - 2-28-2015 at 09:31 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
There is more than one tent camping area (he didn't ask for a 'campground', and I didn't call Vallecitos a campground). You should read Graham's third book...


I have read it. I liked it.

Re car camping, why don't you visit the park before opening your yap? Based on your posts it Doesn't seem like you have been there in the past decade... If you had been there in this century, you would have posted a pic of your Toyota in the pines, eh?

bajaguy - 2-28-2015 at 09:51 AM

Looks like he got your goat!!!
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
There is more than one tent camping area (he didn't ask for a 'campground', and I didn't call Vallecitos a campground). You should read Graham's third book...


I have read it. I liked it.

Re car camping, why don't you visit the park before opening your yap? Based on your posts it Doesn't seem like you have been there in the past decade... If you had been there in this century, you would have posted a pic of your Toyota in the pines, eh?


How about you posting some photos to prove you where ANYWHERE in Baja? :lol:

How about sharing some?



TedZark - 2-28-2015 at 10:46 AM

Thanks! Great video.

Mexitron - 2-28-2015 at 12:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Many years (9?) ago they eliminated car camping at vallecitos and now only permit car camping at the campgrounds near entrance. They are pretty nice campgrounds, much space between camp areas, so lots of privacy,... Except holiday weekends where it gets a bit crowded and noisy. Why do people bring boom boxes to campgrounds?


I know, the silence is too deafening for some.
So now you park and walk in to Vallecitos---that's a pretty long walk to the south end, as I recall. It has been too long since I've been up there for sure---the last time was when Vallecitos was a new campground. LOL. Actually that's why we stopped going---we'd had the run of the whole mountain for years on the old roads and camped anywhere we wanted. Was awesome, but glad much of the park is preserved now---it can't handle the increased travel on those old roads....in fact the 1993/97 el ninos turned the road ruts into arroyos in some of the meadows.

mtgoat666 - 2-28-2015 at 01:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Many years (9?) ago they eliminated car camping at vallecitos and now only permit car camping at the campgrounds near entrance. They are pretty nice campgrounds, much space between camp areas, so lots of privacy,... Except holiday weekends where it gets a bit crowded and noisy. Why do people bring boom boxes to campgrounds?


I know, the silence is too deafening for some.
So now you park and walk in to Vallecitos---that's a pretty long walk to the south end, as I recall. It has been too long since I've been up there for sure---the last time was when Vallecitos was a new campground. LOL. Actually that's why we stopped going---we'd had the run of the whole mountain for years on the old roads and camped anywhere we wanted. Was awesome, but glad much of the park is preserved now---it can't handle the increased travel on those old roads....in fact the 1993/97 el ninos turned the road ruts into arroyos in some of the meadows.


You can still drive the dirt roads thru vallecitos meadow. They prohibit camping, but area still open for day use. Off the main road, you can travel across most meadows in vehicles, and generally only encounter gates as you get further into the woods. Take a mountain bike, throw it over the gates and you can travel many of the old road with little effort. Pretty gentle topography on the plateau, so bike travel easy.

mtgoat666 - 2-28-2015 at 03:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Sad is when the public cannot enjoy a public park. Parks were created so people can enjoy the outdoors and Nature. Now parks are created or changed to keep people out... and without a 'relief valve' the pressures of city life can explode!

People are a natural part of this planet, stop treating us like we are alien invaders... it's our planet, too!



dk:
re SPM, plenty of park is accessible by car, way more than enough for people that cant walk or bike. the park is being managed to keep much of it in natural state. i dont know why they closed roads, but i suspect the reasons were to make policing easier, keep offroad vehicles from tearing up the roads and meadows, keep people from venturing far down unmaintained roads and getting stuck and requiring tow/rescue, etc.
anyhow, the park is very welcoming, you can go plenty of places by car, and people that want to experience wilderness will find solitude. the park satisfies needs of all users. quit whining!


[Edited on 2-28-2015 by mtgoat666]

Bajaboy - 2-28-2015 at 04:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Sad is when the public cannot enjoy a public park. Parks were created so people can enjoy the outdoors and Nature. Now parks are created or changed to keep people out... and without a 'relief valve' the pressures of city life can explode!

People are a natural part of this planet, stop treating us like we are alien invaders... it's our planet, too!

:light::biggrin::cool:


Maybe you should try walking once in awhile:light: Or riding a bike:lol: