BajaNomad - Anyplace in San Felipe?

Anyplace in San Felipe?

Arthur - 3-23-2005 at 01:53 PM

Is there anyplace in San Felipe that we should think about visiting at the end of Easter Week if we happen to be in town? We're going to check out that Saturday flea market, but other than that we're pretty self-contained and will touch down only to get ice -- and possibly rum.

A related question: We have a cell phone that is alleged to be capable of working in Baja del Norte, but who would we call anyway? I'm sure not going to plead for some local tow truck to come up into some canyon and maybe get stuck in the sand itself trying to extricate us, and same goes for the Green Angels. Maybe an "escort service." That way we wouldn't even want to be rescued. Anyway, any non-flamey ideas about that topic would be welcomed.

yankeeirishman - 3-23-2005 at 02:30 PM

Ever seen that big ol Gator sign on Mex 5? The El Dorado access road. Well.... if you follow that dirt road up...it's a nice road. There is rock climbing, cactus sighting (great cactuses up there, off the road walking distance), and a few waterfalls there. Ask David K or Bajalou for details. The harbor in SF is very interesting during ships in. The flea market?use your senses when going there. Not saying anything bad?.but use your senses. A walk in the old back harbor is interesting. A lot of history sits there.

Arthur - 3-23-2005 at 04:16 PM

Sounds good, Yanker. Appreciate the ideas. Neve been on 5 in my life, but will watch for th'e gator sign, which, I guess, will get us to the flea mkt as well.

Will use my senses, as you advise.

Viva la agua!

bajalou - 3-23-2005 at 05:35 PM

I'll probably be at that flea market just up the road from the Alagator sign around 8-830 most Sat mornings. Email or u2u me if you want to meet up. I can give you a few hints about the area.

:biggrin:

David K - 3-23-2005 at 05:53 PM

Bajalou should have caught this, unless you can still use the road at the Rockadile (crocadile, not gator) sign...

That is, the El Dorado people made a new road going west from Hwy. 5, and it is about a mile south of the Rockadile billboard... next to the storage units... It was, might be signed 'Saltito' and/ or 'Morelia'.

This is the road to Valle Chico, Diablo Dry Lake, the Exotic Canyons (El Cajon, Agua Caliente, Carrizo, Berrendo, Parral, and more), and on to Matomi Canyon.

The Exotic Canyons web site is http://vivabaja.com/404 taken last year. Photo of Bajalou is in there...

The Matomi Canyon trip web sites are: http://vivabaja.com/matomi (2001) and http://vivabaja.com/204/page5.html (2004)

Great places to drive, hike, explore... :yes:

Berrendo Canyon

David K - 3-23-2005 at 05:57 PM

Parral Canyon

David K - 3-23-2005 at 05:59 PM

Watch Your Step!

David K - 3-23-2005 at 06:00 PM

Jide's Exotic Cliff

David K - 3-23-2005 at 06:17 PM

Between Berrendo and Parral, off to the south of the road, Jide spotted the yellow cliff with waterfall stained streaks.

Agua Caliente Canyon Hot Springs

David K - 3-23-2005 at 06:19 PM

Here is one of the super hot water sources that create a hot, steaming stream on the canyon floor!

El Cajon Canyon

David K - 3-23-2005 at 06:21 PM

Just doesn't look like the San Felipe Desert, does it? Well, it is!

Map

David K - 3-23-2005 at 06:23 PM

At the top, where it says 'To San Felipe' is where you come in from Hwy. 5

bajalou - 3-23-2005 at 07:22 PM

The old Zoo road is still usable at this time - so far it's only totaly blocked to other than local traffic is when there is a race with all that traffic. It's also the access to the flea market.

The new road is singed "Morelia"

If Athur is going to the flea market maybe we can arange to meet up. Great photos of the canyons David. That Parral trip was great.

[Edited on 3-24-2005 by bajalou]

Arthur - 3-23-2005 at 08:00 PM

Why are you tormenting me with these pictures, David? We can't leave until Friday morning.

It just stopped raining up here, so everything looks a little better. Bajalou, we're going to try to make the flea market, and I will try to be wearing my Gila Monster Beer T-shirt, so sing out if you see me.

bajalou - 3-23-2005 at 08:05 PM

Ok - I'll try to remember - maybe check this thread again before I head down.

Gila Monster Beer - right!

:biggrin:

Just saw your location, San Ansilmo CA - have friends foming from there on Sat. The world she is tiny tiny.

:biggrin:

[Edited on 3-24-2005 by bajalou]

yankeeirishman - 3-23-2005 at 09:55 PM

It's the old Zoo road.....they tie in..........

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Bajalou should have caught this, unless you can still use the road at the Rockadile (crocadile, not gator) sign...

That is, the El Dorado people made a new road going west from Hwy. 5, and it is about a mile south of the Rockadile billboard... next to the storage units... It was, might be signed 'Saltito' and/ or 'Morelia'.

This is the road to Valle Chico, Diablo Dry Lake, the Exotic Canyons (El Cajon, Agua Caliente, Carrizo, Berrendo, Parral, and more), and on to Matomi Canyon.

The Exotic Canyons web site is http://vivabaja.com/404 taken last year. Photo of Bajalou is in there...

The Matomi Canyon trip web sites are: http://vivabaja.com/matomi (2001) and http://vivabaja.com/204/page5.html (2004)

Great places to drive, hike, explore... :yes:

[Edited on 3-24-2005 by yankeeirishman]

Matomi Canyon

David K - 3-23-2005 at 11:41 PM

The best for last... the waterfall fed (year-round) swimming hole of El Matomi.

Sorry Arthur, but I can't help myself! :rolleyes:

Have a great time! :biggrin:

yankeeirishman - 3-24-2005 at 09:50 AM

Dont let DavidK fool you here! The El Matomi Holiday Inn is up there.

burro bob - 3-24-2005 at 11:45 AM

Arthur
Any canyon you pick will have something worth the effort to find. Canyon Toledo has rock art sites. The best are up canyon a ways. There are also several nice pools to cool off in.
burro bob

Arthur - 3-24-2005 at 11:51 AM

Beautiful shot, Bob. I didn't notice Canyon Toledo in my atlas, but I wll look again. I believe you about "any canyon." I have never seen one yet that wasn't worth walking up.

burro bob - 3-24-2005 at 11:54 AM

Or you could go up Canyon Cajon for an overnight and get to some real big waterfalls. On the way (if you know where to look) you will pass a rock painting site.
Not sure why you would want to go to the canyons when you could come into town this weekend and play find a parking spot. Or you could go to any beach around town and play spot the floating bales. This is a favorite game of many young soldiers and you often see them strolling the beach in their free time.
burro bob

Arthur - 3-24-2005 at 12:03 PM

Another beautiful shot. What a country!

We'll probably see enough soldiers coming down 5 to satisfy our lust for uniforms.

burro bob - 3-24-2005 at 12:12 PM

Arthur
The atlas ddoes not have the canyons named correctly. They have the same mistakes as the mexican topos. My list of canyon names comes from my rancher friends who live and work out there. Davids list has different names that he has compiled from other map sources. From canyon Cajon on north to canyon Providencia the names vary depending on who you ask. I'm not trying to say he is wrong and I am right but I haven't seen any two lists of the canyon names that is in total agreement. So be aware that people might be talking about two different canyons. The climbing map calls it Teledo and Bruce Barber used to call it Tulare.
Again I am not 100% sure but I think the entrance to canyon Toledo, on Davids map, is the arrow just north of the 1.9 distance.
This canyon doesn't see much traffic so will most likely be overgrown with plants with spines. I recomend long pants for hiking.
burro bob

Arthur - 3-24-2005 at 12:21 PM

I was just out in a place like that. I don't wear long pants up in the canyons much, but I was glad I had 'em. Thanks a lot for the tip.

If you have time, could you list a few canyon names in order so I can make your names jibe with David's and the atlas' ? Not that we have to have names when we're out there, but it sure wouldn't hurt, Don't have any climbing maps, but my buddy bought a couple of the Mexican topos when we were thinking of coming in from the west, and one of them covers some of the northern canyons.

David K - 3-24-2005 at 12:45 PM

Burro Bob is very correct!

The names vary, and the ranchers have their own preference... The best description comes from John Robinson's Camping and Climbing in Baja c1967!

Bruce Barber writes the most and his book is awesome, but is a bit confusing as his maps and text don't always line up.

Toledo (Teledo) is the third canyon north of El Cajon (about 10 miles). The first is El Oso, the second is De Medio (En Medio).

bajalou - 3-24-2005 at 01:58 PM

And the names change over the years. The map E.W.Nelson included in his reports of exploration of Baja Calif. which was published in 1922 has the canyon we call Cajon named Santa Rosa with a trail over to the west side of the Sierra San Pedro Matir in the vicinity of the mission. There was a meadow called Santa Rosa on the west side of the crest also.

:biggrin:

Arthur - 3-24-2005 at 04:33 PM

Just checked at the REI Coop in Corte Madera for that Robinson book, but no luck. Too late to order it, but I may look it up when we get back.

David K - 3-24-2005 at 04:40 PM

Arthur, here is the one with so much detail on great desert trails and finds north and south of San Felipe!

Bruce Barber's Book