UPDATE on my ECR Hike

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper

What a bummer! Hope your prognosis is good, take care. Were you vaccinated prior to contracting Covid? Was it Omicron? Sounds like the economic impact of this disease is something almost as serious, yet overlooked by many. Godspeed a full recovery. John

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper   What a bummer! Hope your prognosis is good, take care. Were you vaccinated prior to contracting Covid? Was it Omicron? Sounds like the economic impact of this disease is something almost as serious, yet overlooked by many. Godspeed a full recovery. John Was NOT vaccinated, and the 'funny' part is I had an appointment a few weeks ago to get the shot but I was unable to make it because a oregon coast backpacking trip went bad with impassable rivers and and vehicle breakdowns. My daughter is vaccinated and she came over to 'nurse' me and she ended up testing positive for it but only felt some mild symptoms for less than 2 days. I am sure age had something to do with it, old folks like me are more likely to have more serious issues with covid, but the vaccine works and my opinion is for everyone to get the shot. It has been over 3 weeks since my symptoms started and I am still no where near normal today. As far as the economic impact, without a doubt. What is the reason to stay home while sick while the bills roll in and yet many people have little to no sick time and perhaps no vacation time to cover the gap and I GOT SICK FROM BEING AT WORK.

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

As far as the economic impact, without a doubt. What is the reason to stay home while sick while the bills roll in and yet many people have little to no sick time and perhaps no vacation time to cover the gap and I GOT SICK FROM BEING AT WORK.

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Alas, more bad news. I received this from the folks over at CAMINOREALBAJA.COM ----------------------- Hello John, We have some bad news for you. We recommend you cancel the trip as planned because we found out there are Narcos in El Paraiso. We actually saw some debris at another place from their activities too. It looks like they are using the water holes for small crops. At this time, we don’t know where all they have established. We are surprised that they are in a place like El Paraiso.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy   Alas, more bad news. I received this from the folks over at CAMINOREALBAJA.COM ----------------------- Hello John, We have some bad news for you. We recommend you cancel the trip as planned because we found out there are Narcos in El Paraiso. We actually saw some debris at another place from their activities too. It looks like they are using the water holes for small crops. At this time, we don’t know where all they have established. We are surprised that they are in a place like El Paraiso. Where is el paraiso? Sad when rural baja gets taken over by narcos…

Look southward from San Borja:

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Contact Teddi 'Baja Bucko' who rides mules through there, and 'Paulina' was not real far away, recently, riding on ECR. There's always the Golfo Camino Real between Santa Gertrudis and San Borja, as an option. It is also plotted on the new Benchmark Atlas (thanks to CaminoRealBaja.com)

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Oh my, so sorry!! Next year will be better, and the ECR will still be there! Studying the ECR has been a favorite subject since I was a kid! Because you are also an Erle Stanley Gardner fan, you might enjoy the many photos I have acquired from the Temecula Valley museum. I have so many, and on my new Viva Baja web page, I am still uploading and organizing them. If you want an advanced peek (but come back in a week and look again): https://vivabaja.com/erle-stanley-gardners-photos-in-baja-ca...

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Quote: Originally posted by David K   Oh my, so sorry!! Next year will be better, and the ECR will still be there! Studying the ECR has been a favorite subject since I was a kid! Because you are also an Erle Stanley Gardner fan, you might enjoy the many photos I have acquired from the Temecula Valley museum. I have so many, and on my new Viva Baja web page, I am still uploading and organizing them. If you want an advanced peek (but come back in a week and look again): https://vivabaja.com/erle-stanley-gardners-photos-in-baja-ca... The pictures help add another dimensions to Gardner's trips. It was cool to see all of these. That stock looking VW beetle at Santa Maria is mind blowing. While I have not been to Santa Maria, I have been down thru the 'swamp" and a ways up the other side before I turned around....SO CLOSE! Also, about 2/3rds of the ways thru these pictures are a acouple with what like a giant daisy, do you know what that is?

I have just finished editing the ESG page (for today), and I have grouped the photos together, better than they were. Look again, and tell me what group you see that in... https://vivabaja.com/erle-stanley-gardners-photos-in-baja-ca... thanks!

Edit:
This agave?



[Edited on 12-28-2021 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

Hope for a speedy recovery. Maybe next winter I will be able to join you with the change in plans? Any hike would be fun down there, a loop or whatever.

I do a fair amount of hiking in the states when I can finagle time off from work (usually unpaid ....).

In 2021 I did 6 days in Glacier National park. While I avoid the national parks like a plague Glacier was amazing.

Did a section of the Oregon Coast this fall.

Also did several Utah trips this year ranging from 3 to 5 days backpacking.

While most of my stuff is off the more well known trails, I usually have lots of solitude and sometimes some crazy adventures.

You are welcome to join in on any of them. I am getting up there in years so the mileage isn't very high usually but then again about half my trips do not follow a trail for the most part.

Glacier was a high mile trip, a little over 70 miles in 5 days, but most are in the 20 to 40 mile range over 3 or 4 days.

Let me know if you want to go sometime.

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

That is what it is, an agave? But yes that pic.

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

I would love to join you, I start the PCT March 17th so I will be gone for about six months on that. You are welcome to join me if there is a section you want to do? When I get back, I want to do surprise canyon outside of Death Valley, while not long it looks fun. I want to spend about three days hiking around the ghost town. I retired in November and want to stay active so I will stay in touch for sure. There are several places I want to hike in Baja.

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

I would love to join you, I start the PCT March 17th so I will be gone for about six months on that. You are welcome to join me if there is a section you want to do? When I get back, I want to do surprise canyon outside of Death Valley, while not long it looks fun. I want to spend about three days hiking around the ghost town. I retired in November and want to stay active so I will stay in touch for sure. There are several places I want to hike in Baja.

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Surprise Canyon in Death Valley, is that the one that goes up to Panamint City? I think it is and we did that early this year and it was an amazing hike. Your in one of the hottest, driest deserts in North America and the first quarter of the hike is in a flowing creek! Saw some bighorn sheep, Panamint City was really cool and while we saw a car at the trailhead we did not see anybody during hike.

I used to "drive" Surprise Canyon

it was the toughest 4x4 trail in the US

in case you wondered - the yellow FJ40 is on a rear winch line

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

I have had Covid twice in 2020 after the 3 vaccinations my long Covid symptoms are gone BUT - even short hikes exhaust me like a several day hike sometimes working on my car for an hour gets me on my knees I will not mention the occasional brain fog (can't form a single thought) life has changed dramatically

I am really worried about this. I am like that now and I am hoping it 'passes' and I can feel normal again.

Going to really suck if I can't backpack anymore.

Sorry to hear you are still suffering from it.

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

I used to "drive" Surprise Canyon it was the toughest 4x4 trail in the US

Panamint City

main reason for closing off Surprise Canyon was that it was incorporated into Death Valley NP
but even when it was under BLM it was closed on occasion
a squatter at the entrance would chain it

only one house at the top is kinda intact
not much equipment left
a lost road continues far above Panamint City
36° 8'29.47"N, 117° 6'54.81"W

I have been up and down through the waterfalls numerous times
sometimes training Special Forces
at night, no lights of course
it's already tough in daylight
and always cold and windy
one day we were surprised by snow
not funny

Death Valley is a good example if how much we have lost - and how much we will lose in the future (in Baja)
there were almost 100 mining roads and trails 40 years ago
no it's down to a hand full
gated, locked, obscured
I was lucky enough to have driven most of them

one of the most spectacular was San Lucas Canyon
a mining road chiseled into a rock face
connecting Cerro Gordo with Saline Valley
direct route
mind boggling
36°37'18.96"N, 117°45'30.30"W

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

Death Valley is a good example if how much we have lost - and how much we will lose in the future (in Baja)

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc   Death Valley is a good example if how much we have lost - and how much we will lose in the future (in Baja) not a good comparison. usa has tons of public land, and it is all open (for use as specified, so, yes, you may have to hike or ride horse or bike, and not drive with a beer in your hand). by comparison, mexico has little public land. death valley is still open for all to enjoy, and hiking is quite easy in winter when temps are cool. good they got rid of all the vehicles and the trash/visual blight they left in the desert! still plenty of spaces for the offroaders to drive in the desert [Edited on 12-28-2021 by mtgoat666]

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

Good stuff Harold. I've ridden all over DV and surrounding areas. Some amazing stuff. I can't imagine how it wad before is was all a park. There is a guy with a YouTube channel that owns Cerro Gordo mine, I think that's the one? He restoring and renting parts out.

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper

I've been to several isolated mining operations in the Sierra Nevada, but not yet over to the Cerro Gordo area. It's mind blowing the amount of road engineering and mining technology involved, and that's over 100 years ago. Hauling all that mining equipment, just awe inspiring! John

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

4x4 your trip pics look really dangerous. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

I live in the gold country and find old mines and cabin all of the time. They did some amazing things by hand and with animals, tuff people. I really love finding lost and forgotten gems. Either by hiking, moto, SXS or jeep. Lots of stuff out there.

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

I think mine comes from my grandfather. He was a history buff, gold miner, metal detector and general explorer. I shared many an adventure with my grandparents all over the US, looking for lost tressure. I grew up reading his old treasure hunting magazines and listening to his stories. I always marvel over what the old timers did by hand with minimal tools and resources.

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

miners created hundreds of roads in Death Valley to get easier to their locations on foot, with a burro and of course to move equipment many of them were not closed because gov thought nobody would find them I did like a road in this canyon leading to the Eureka dunes 37° 9'6.07"N, 117°40'52.25"W Baja is more fun though the super dry climate keeps roads and trails visible (and usable) even after a couple of hundred years

Quote: Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc   miners created hundreds of roads in Death Valley to get easier to their locations on foot, with a burro and of course to move equipment many of them were not closed because gov thought nobody would find them I did like a road in this canyon leading to the Eureka dunes 37° 9'6.07"N, 117°40'52.25"W Baja is more fun though the super dry climate keeps roads and trails visible (and usable) even after a couple of hundred years Harald----------Is that the Steel Pass road you are referring to? Great road into the past.

Quote: Originally posted by Barry A.

Thanks, Harald. Without actually being there I have no idea how to determine Lat. and Long. Thanks for clarifying the location. I AM a tech dinosaur, you know. (0: I see I have some exploring to do.

"why do we love to find/discover old abandoned stuff? what do we get out of it?"
So many reasons - proof of the geologic theories, proof of the past indigenous residents and realization that they thrived without the today's conveniences - a peek into "how" of their life - tangible "exhibits" from the history books - lessons and appreciation for the continuity of what was until now - knowledge of how past generations chose a path of hardship to achieve their dream. The items in the photo were all found within about 200 yards from where I was camped off UT Hwy 21 - the Old Spanish Trail: million-year old shells from when that valley was an ancient sea; indigenous tools, a mano; various rocks - chalcedony, fossil marine species now a geode. All fascinating (to me). On that trip, in Kodachrome, I found some petrified dinosaur dung - coprolite. You pick that up and realize dinosaurs were right there where you're standing.

Baja is a Time Machine!

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama

Wow, the Fordyce and Rubicon got nothin' on that Surprise Canyon trail! What a crazy run, love all the winch lines.