BajaNomad - San Quintin to bola to 7 sisters then north

San Quintin to bola to 7 sisters then north

LukeJobbins - 1-11-2017 at 05:37 PM

Spent 3 days getting to BOLA including a day in Sierra Pedro de Martir to see the snow in baja. Then 8 or 9 days in BOLA camping a little north of la gringa. The weather was insane for January until the last day. Can't speak of south of la gringa but where I camped it was essentially windless for a week. No wind and cold water made for the clearest water I've seen in the bay. About 40' of visibility for snorkeling but it killed the shore fishing bite. I barely scraped enough fish for dinners.

Then drove over to Santa rosaliita to drive north through the seven sisters. I had no knowledge of the area or gps. Just a couple pictures of maps on my iPad. I just kept hearing it's super easy to follow the main road to the points. Wrong! For anyone that says it's easy they either have a gps or previous knowledge of the area. Everywhere I hit was completely by mistake and pure luck. I hit Marrion where campers showed me how to get to the main road. That was easy straight through cardon. After that I somehow took a wrong turn after checking a point for surf. Couldn't find the main road and stumbled on a few campers just south of punta Blanca who were super amazed I took the road I did all the way to them. They said that no one finds where they were camped. I then hit punta Blanca and surfed micro perfect waves then moved on. I found the main road for a few minutes until I found out the giant dry lake bed is not dry. 4 hours of digging and using wood and towels left from the last people to get stuck it was now dark and I found a fish camp just north of the lake bed. The fishermen laughed at me for 10 minutes straight when they saw my car and me completely covered in mud. I was going to camp there with them but they convinced me it was super easy to find San Jose de la piedra then the road to catavina. Well with no knowledge of the area and in the dark I took the road they told me to take from their camp and they said 30 minutes to San Jose de la piedra. At 1am I stumbled across a major looking fork in the road I was on with a building so I stopped in the middle of the road thinking I could block whatever cars drive through and I could ask for directions. By 11am no cars had come through so I flipped a coin to decide which direction to take the road and started driving. After 10 minutes I stumbled upon a ranch where the guy told me I was 100 yards off the main road to catavina and 20 min to catavina. If I took the road the other way when I started I would have ran out of gas somewhere around the beach. I bought enough gas at catavina to hit el Rosario and then camped punta baja and spent 2 days there catching surf perch and croaker hoping waves would show up.

Now I'm north bound in San Quintin hoping the rest of the trip is exciting but not stuck in the mud exciting.

LukeJobbins - 1-11-2017 at 05:39 PM

I forgot to mention that with all the rain the hills east of San Jose de la piedra and west of catavina are beautiful. It is super green and full of life all over.

And I would attach pictures but it says they exceed the size limit.

woody with a view - 1-11-2017 at 08:51 PM

Someday I can show you the ropes. Sounds like your adventure was funner tho.

woody with a view - 1-11-2017 at 08:54 PM

Luke on the left. My son behind the lens last June in BdeLA.

TMW - 1-11-2017 at 09:09 PM

First rule when traveling in the desert or Baja and you are not sure where to go is to always take the most traveled road.

Second rule is to take a map, almanac or similar docs.

Third rule is take extra gas, water, ice, and beer, not necessarily in that order.

mtgoat666 - 1-11-2017 at 09:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

First rule when traveling in the desert or Baja and you are not sure where to go is to always take the most traveled road.

Second rule is to take a map, almanac or similar docs.

Third rule is take extra gas, water, ice, and beer, not necessarily in that order.

What's the 5th rule?

Hook - 1-11-2017 at 10:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

What's the 5th rule?

The 5th rule?

Dont follow any chivos.

BigBearRider - 1-12-2017 at 10:49 AM

Great story! Not surprised the lake bed was not dry, given all the rain. Interesting that BOLA was calm, with no wind.

Don Jorge - 1-12-2017 at 11:33 AM

To the OP of this thread: Welcome and thanks for posting. Brought back some memories. You have had a Baja Baptism. No exploration of that area is fully experienced, enjoyed, earned and rewarded without the intro to salitre, the salt slicked mud flats.

Is not the 5th rule to post no pictures showing identifiable land mass, including but perhaps not limited to surfing and fishing pictures?

sandpoint - 1-12-2017 at 11:53 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm headed to those areas the last week of February, but starting from North of El Faro San Jose and out via the paved road from PSR. I'll be detouring around the "dry" lake beds for sure.

LukeJobbins - 1-12-2017 at 02:16 PM

I feel like I know most of northern baja but I always avoided that area for fear of driving hours and still surfing with crowds.

DanO - 1-12-2017 at 02:23 PM

The fifth rule is never put your hand where you can't see it.

woody with a view - 1-12-2017 at 04:16 PM

With all this rain I bet the silt beds will be memorable!

mickeykreg - 1-12-2017 at 06:12 PM

Rad!!! Thanks for the read.

bajaandy - 1-12-2017 at 06:35 PM

Well done. There is nothing better than to GO and explore!

BornFisher - 1-12-2017 at 06:50 PM

Dang, I loved your report! Glad you got out of the tar pits OK.
Sometimes my GPS wants to get me in trouble, but this time it would have helped. Great report!!!

Bola 7 sisters

pappy - 1-22-2017 at 03:26 PM

What kind of vehicle? You said car..... pretty rad if you did that in a little Kia or something although one year out there minor rain year- a guy came in driving an import of some sort that was a lowered street racer couldn't believe he made it as far Ashe did without losing the oil pan, or worse....

BooJumMan - 1-22-2017 at 04:06 PM

Pappy, funny you say that... Right about 2km from where I ran into you a guy in a Volvo station wagon was stranded after punching a hole through his oil pan. That was about 2 years ago.

BajaNaranja - 1-23-2017 at 11:42 AM

Maybe 8-10 years ago, we came across five proto-hipsters who had been posted up in the area for a week or so, and were attempting to head home. One of them had borrowed his overly-trusting sister's new VW Beetle for their trip. Somehow, the driver managed to punch a hole in the oil pan on a rock. What was incredible was that they'd managed to do this on the GRADED road, at a slightly uneven section, which was so obvious to see in full daylight. Definitely the fact that there was five of them in the little car, plus their gear, meant that the car was riding very low to the ground.

Felt bad for them on one hand, but on the other they were shockingly ill-prepared for Baja.

Luckily for us, they had already found and hired a local to bring a trailer to them, and to tow them to GN for repairs. As we tried to help push the Beetle onto the trailer, the front of the car was scraping on the trailer ramp, which led to some verbal drama.

Still, as we drove on, we tried not to chuckle too much for fear of attracting comeuppance from Murphy's Law / Karma.

[Edited on 1-23-2017 by BajaNaranja]

mtgoat666 - 1-23-2017 at 01:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaNaranja

Maybe 8-10 years ago, we came across five proto-hipsters who had been posted up in the area for a week or so, and were attempting to head home. One of them had borrowed his overly-trusting sister's new VW Beetle for their trip. Somehow, the driver managed to punch a hole in the oil pan on a rock. What was incredible was that they'd managed to do this on the GRADED road, at a slightly uneven section, which was so obvious to see in full daylight. Definitely the fact that there was five of them in the little car, plus their gear, meant that the car was riding very low to the ground.

Felt bad for them on one hand, but on the other they were shockingly ill-prepared for Baja.

Luckily for us, they had already found and hired a local to bring a trailer to them, and to tow them to GN for repairs. As we tried to help push the Beetle onto the trailer, the front of the car was scraping on the trailer ramp, which led to some verbal drama.

Still, as we drove on, we tried not to chuckle too much for fear of attracting comeuppance from Murphy's Law / Karma.

[Edited on 1-23-2017 by BajaNaranja]

I am much fonder of the adventurous spirit that takes an econo car offroad than the bragadocious additude of people driving poser lifted trucks.

I applaud all youth that have the adventurous spirit to do the things that old people say they shouldnt do!

I hope i die before i get old!

[Edited on 1-23-2017 by mtgoat666]

woody with a view - 1-23-2017 at 01:36 PM

Hopefully, Goats brother never returned to Baja in that Bug.

Edit: spell check

[Edited on 1-23-2017 by woody with a view]

ELvIGIANTE - 1-23-2017 at 04:04 PM

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

chippy - 1-23-2017 at 04:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ELvIGIANTE

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

SSSSHHHHH!! We are talking about some of the most well known secret spots on the planet. :lol:

David K - 1-23-2017 at 04:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Quote: Originally posted by ELvIGIANTE

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

SSSSHHHHH!! We are talking about some of the most well known secret spots on the planet. :lol:

They don't exist... lol... oh wait...

ELvIGIANTE - 1-23-2017 at 06:20 PM

woody and goat are 2 peas in a pod.

LukeJobbins - 1-23-2017 at 06:21 PM

At first I thought of not sharing my story because I wanted to keep baja my little secret but then I came back to reality and remembered that google maps and books(surfing baja) and the internet(this forum, wanna surf, google, etc..) exist and the point of this site is to share experiences and possibly enlighten others to cool places or activities around baja.

And I currently drive a mostly stock(tiny lift and slightly larger tires) 1988 4x4 jeep xj(cherokee). It will be lifted and locked as soon as funds become available. Right now it is one of the ugliest, beat cherokees around complete with flat black spray paint with soaked in mud splatter and wrinkled mirror tint.

ELvIGIANTE - 1-23-2017 at 06:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins

At first I thought of not sharing my story because I wanted to keep baja my little secret but then I came back to reality and remembered that google maps and books(surfing baja) and the internet(this forum, wanna surf, google, etc..) exist and the point of this site is to share experiences and possibly enlighten others to cool places or activities around

Woody disagrees with everyone but you on this.

BajaNaranja - 1-23-2017 at 06:43 PM

Tricky topic -

If we post up GPS coordinates to all cave paintings, archaeological sites, etc., is that a good thing or a bad thing? What about our favorite little destinations in Baja, Shell Island, etc.? If hoardes of folks descend, does that spoil it? Or are you already in an Orange County / LA mindset where dozens of people in close proximity doesn't even phase you?

It is no fun when large groups of donkeys pile into pristine surf destinations because they read about it from the Surf Report, or AAA Baja Map, Wannasurf, this site, Facebook, or Instagram. Versus the nearly sacred experience of sharing a few waves with a few people.

If you have enjoyed a special surf trip somewhere, you have to ask yourself, does the kick I get out of sharing the info outweigh the damage to future experiences that overexposure brings?

David K - 1-23-2017 at 06:53 PM

People who read Baja Nomad, have expensive 4WD vehicles, and GPS devices, are NOT the ones painting graffiti or leaving trash on the beach... in my experience and opinion.

I have shared the location of Shell Island since before there was a Baja Nomad forum, and it is still as beautiful and uncrowded as ever. The same goes for many petroglyph sites.

When there is any graffiti, it is Spanish family names and words (if you can make out words from it) and typically along the highways. Trash is dumped willingly from local vehicles who come out to watch off-road races or party on the beach... and dirty diapers and beer bottles are tossed. Now, it seems to have been getting better as far as the beaches go, and I haven't been to any race recently.

Sharing cool locations on Nomad is the same as telling your friends, for the most part. As with anything, there are exceptions, but there really is no secret beach or point, somebody else has been there and if you see another person the one week a year you go there, will it kill you?

If you don't want to see cool places published, then don't go on the Internet, don't buy guidebooks, and don't look at maps.

woody with a view - 1-23-2017 at 07:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ELvIGIANTE

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

Actually, they've only met once. I don't really care anymore. Naranja gets it.

chippy - 1-23-2017 at 07:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote: Originally posted by ELvIGIANTE

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

Actually, they've only met once. I don't really care anymore. Naranja gets it.

Naranja gets what? That he and you where the donkeys that showed up decades late to these completely overrated less than secret spots. Its to late for you now but you really should have traveled a bit more. Its obvious that was not a priority.

tiotomasbcs - 1-23-2017 at 07:13 PM

Internet Idiots. Get out of your house more; just go! Social Media Sucks. Only sixty surfers out this week. Welcome; NOT!

LukeJobbins - 1-23-2017 at 07:30 PM

Well I don't have Facebook or instagram or even a smart phone for that matter. I have no problem sharing stories or info about popular places. No, the seven sisters is not a secret area. I do however have quite a few secret rock climbing and surf spots that no one will ever learn the location of from me. As far as crowds go, I think until the San Diego and Orange County guys ditch the sprinter vans for a real 4x4 and the US media stops highlighting Mexican violence baja crowds won't change too much.

BajaNaranja - 1-23-2017 at 07:42 PM

Hey Luke - I'm not criticizing you, your report was great.

And my intention isn't to try to convince non-surfer Baja enthusiasts to shush.

Instead, just trying to suggest to anybody just discovering some of these areas to respect them, treat them like they are secret spots, so you and I both get more enjoyment out of future trips.

Otherwise, if we all agree that there are no secret spots, and we share everything, then hope is lost when it comes to having a peaceful, reflective Baja experience at one of those places. As it is, large groups often mob the area, and the mindful Baja expat vibe turns into an urban shi+ show.

So go explore, be considerate, take turns. Have a great time, just don't come home and post a digital smorgasbord of info that makes it too easy for that big group of thoughtless wave hogs to pull right up.

Naive missive complete - I'm out!

bajaguy - 1-23-2017 at 08:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

What's the 5th rule?

Take a SPOT so you don't end up like Gary Patton

BajaNomad - 1-23-2017 at 08:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Third rule is take extra gas, water, ice, and beer, not necessarily in that order.

BajaNomad - 1-23-2017 at 08:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

What's the 5th rule?

Take a SPOT so you don't end up like Gary Patton

woody with a view - 1-23-2017 at 08:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote: Originally posted by ELvIGIANTE

So it's ok to mention 7 sisters as long as your son is friends with the guy?

Actually, they've only met once. I don't really care anymore. Naranja gets it.

You're right. I've done nothing in my life and never ventured past the corner house. Maybe tomorrow?

[Edited on 1-24-2017 by woody with a view]

MMc - 1-23-2017 at 10:53 PM

Some of us have traveled a bit, because we go someplace, it doesn't compel us to spew all over the internet about it. I happen to love a couple of "Surf Ghettos" in the middle of baja, I go, and come home end of story.
If you read this thread there are plenty of folks that venture forth to these places ill prepared. Some one us would rather not spend our vacation saving their bacon, yet we do. Some of them have have used this site and others for planning their trip. NFC.