Anonymous - 3-3-2005 at 09:04 AM
The first week in April three of us are renting an SUV in Mexicali and heading for the mountain. The first question is; are there motel rooms on MEX 3
(maybe at Valle de Trinidad) or is it wiser to shoot for San Felipe and back track the next day. It will likely be near dark when we turn off from MEX
5. Our plan is to then spend a night at Mike's Sky and another at Meling's after the drive up the mountain. I assume the "roads" up there are in
pretty tough shape after the rains? Any help and advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
bajaandy - 3-3-2005 at 12:46 PM
I expect the river crossings on the road up to the park will be interesting, although perhaps not too bad as the rain has at least stopped (for now).
I would bet there are some good wash-outs as well. Give us a post after your trip and let us know the conditions and if you made the summit.
lizard lips - 3-4-2005 at 08:33 AM
I dont think there are any Motel/Hotels from Ensenada to San Felipe....
David K - 3-4-2005 at 08:37 AM
I would suggest you leave Mexicali early the next morning and drive right to Mike's Sky Ranch or the Meling Ranch.
Elena La Loca - 3-4-2005 at 08:43 AM
Duane Meling was stateside yesterday (and made her contribution to my retirement fund at my Costco) and said that the road from Meling over to Mike's
is impassable even by motorcycle at the present time. Pedro tried it recently and couldn't make it.
Best suggestion would be to access Meling Ranch and the Parque Nacional from Hwy 1.
White Angel - 3-4-2005 at 09:29 AM
Thanks for the input so far-your responce has encouraged me to register and now I'm a novice nomad. We will have to rethink our overall trip. In past
years we've spent a night a Estero Beach then on to San Quintin. Last time we drove up the mountain Meling's was closed. We left from Santo Tomas
drove up the snowy mountain (some ride) and then pushed onto San Quintin. Too much for one day!
elgatoloco - 3-5-2005 at 12:49 PM
Get FULL coverage on the rental.
Anonymous - 3-5-2005 at 02:20 PM
Hi! I'm anonymous again because I left my password at work! We will get full coverage. The plan now is to leave the first night open and head from
Mexicali to Tecate and on to Ensenada. Spend the night wherever darkness catches up with us. We've made contact with Meling's for a couple nights and
then will work south to BOLA then up to Gonzaga and finally San Felipe befor turning the car in. Haven't had much luck contacting Alfonsina's and
we'll have to forego Mike's Sky this time around. Thanks again for the info!
expeditionswest - 3-7-2005 at 03:05 PM
First time post... 
I am curious of your feedback on access to the mountain, as I have a trip planned there in April to climb the mountain. My approach plans are from
Mexicali to Mike's Sky and then on to the park road. I do enjoy a rugged trek, but may have a few vehicles along that are less equiped.
Though it is possible that the roads will be repaired or passible by then too.
[Edited on 3-7-2005 by expeditionswest]
White Angel - 3-7-2005 at 08:11 PM
We are taking the report that the road from Mike's to Meling (and the park entrance) is washed out seriously. Planning to approach from Rte1 and spend
time at Meling's then try the road up the mountain. If the road has been washed out and is boulder strewn; I doubt there will be any serious repair
effort in the next month. I'll be glad to report on what we find; but that likely won't be until April 10th or so.
Mexitron - 3-7-2005 at 08:44 PM
And be careful of the main road up to the park--this Rio San Telmo crossing is before Melings...its almost always dry, but not in March 1993. 60
straight days of rain up in the park that winter....we got stuck good! I hiked back 6 miles to a ranch to get help but they couldn't come until the
next day, so the truck was in the river overnight:
Mexitron - 3-7-2005 at 08:48 PM
After one long rainy night when we could hear the waves in the river getting bigger our liberators came with a tractor--but to no avail, the truck
wouldn't budge. It finally took a Toyota hooked to the tractor to pull us free:
expeditionswest - 3-7-2005 at 09:00 PM
Mexitron,
Great pictures 
It will be interesting to see the condition of things. We are leaving on our trip the 22nd of April, which should allow time for your feedback.
There are rumors of a route south out of Mike's Sky to the park road that parallel the Corona range.
Does this route exist? Thanks in advance for any feedback
Got to love a good water crossing. This is me crossing the Rio Urique in the Sierra Madre last fall. 
JESSE - 3-7-2005 at 09:01 PM
I am not sure if its snowing up there with all the rain, but if it snowy, the roads are a mess, saw it a few weeks ago on Mexican TV, many drivers
stranded.
Mexitron - 3-7-2005 at 09:06 PM
Looks like you had a nice rocky bottom to drive on there! The road south out of Mike's Sky Ranch has been reported impassable--and believe me--I've
been on that beast at its worst--if they say its impassable it is!! Better bet to take the Meling Ranch road(which I think is now paved up to the
crossing in my previous post......and it looked like they were planning to put a bridge in there at some point too).
expeditionswest - 3-25-2005 at 11:58 PM
any updates on the road conditions to the mountain via Mike's Sky?
bajalou - 3-26-2005 at 07:40 AM
The mountain has lots of snow as do the surrounding mountains. The canyons on the east side are flowing a lot of water (compared to most times). Was
at Diablo Canyon yesterday.
yankeeirishman - 3-26-2005 at 08:33 AM
Hey Bajalou.....how many minutes does it take to get there from SF?
bajalou - 3-26-2005 at 08:35 AM
Just depends on how may wrong turns you want to make to find new areas and stuff. Without that fun stuff, maybe a hour.
David K - 3-26-2005 at 12:43 PM
Yankee, when you start hanging around down there, you will find so many great places... Get Bruce Barber's book, I think I posted a photo of it on
Nomad with ordering information. Our on BajaLou is even mentioned in the book!