HotSchott
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Posts: 156
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: Sandy Eggo
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Snow and Rain in Baja Norte
Returning from Guadalupe Canyon yesterday, we started to make our way onto the Laguna Salada road. It was already wet enough to clump up on the tires
and we were throwing dirt everywhere. I have cleaned a couple of hundred pounds of salty mud from the truck before, so we pulled a u-turn and hit the
graded road back to Mex 2. Within ten minutes the magnitude of our decision became obvious as the skies opened up and puddles formed quickly on the
graded road. The rain actually softened the washboard which made the trip a little better. I am sure we would have a very different story to tell if
we had ventured out on the Laguna. It must have been at least two inches of rain between 8:00 and 11:00 - an entire year of rain in dryer years.
It was still raining hard going up La Rumorasa Grade until about half way it turned to snow! By the time we got to the top we were in 4-HI and there
was four inches of snow. Tractor trailers and busses were clogging the road and sliding all over the place. Most of them just stopped where they
were. The view was absolutely amazing with snow clinging to the red rock faces and pinion pines. I am sure the road was closed within minutes
behind us. We saw several ambulances headed towards the down grade which had to be treacherous with snow on a frozen road. It snowed half way back
to Tecate.
Time to dry out the camping gear and dream about the next trip. There will be some amazing flowers and bugs this spring if this weather keeps up.
Steve
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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we were heading north from BOLA and the rain started comeing down around colonet hard and continued to santo tomas. BOLA weather was great!!
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Corky1
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Posts: 416
Registered: 11-22-2003
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Any pictures of the snow??
Corky  
 
\"Keep The Rubberside Down\" |
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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Snow in Orange county down to 1,000 or so according to the local papar.....
I recall a Thanksgiving trip in the late 1970's where we too barely made it up the Rumarosa grade because of the snow. Trucks jacknifed all over the
place. Pretty cool to have snow in places where it is not common.
[Edited on 11-22-2004 by Taco de Baja]
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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anyone interested in
skiing Baja ?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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JR-----Is that Laguna Hansen in the picture?? Pretty cool.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Yep Barry
But it was about 3 or 4 years ago. And of all things, I left my skis in San Bartolo or I'd be heading up there right now.
Here's the story. A neighbor and I had just returned from Puerto Pe?asco and hit snow coming over Rumorosa. It was a big storm so after being home a
couple days, I couldn't stand it.
So, I packed up the dogs and the van and headed up to Laguna Hanson. Right around 5000' and hit snow around La Huertita.
It was most exciting as I hadn't skiied in quite a few years so I was really looking forward to it.
Got up to the lake which was frozen over and met a young ranger up there. Talked to him for a while and I was apparently the first loco to go skiing
around those parts so it was kinda cool. He refused my offer of him trying it out but he did take a couple pictures for me.
So, I skiied and the dogs romped and then I went to set up a camp.
Now, I was born in the Berkshires and lived in Jackson Hole and Gillette, Wyoming and Lake Tahoe for 10 years so cold is nothing new to me. In fact,
I still have all my mountain duds so I was prepared for the weather.
But, I have never seen a colder night than the night at Laguna Hanson. I started my Dinty Moore or whatever on the stove and by the time I sat down
to eat, the dogs water was frozen solid. About a half an hour!
So, I build a fire and we are almost in it staying warm. A beautiful full moon rose over the frozen lake with Pink Floyds "Dark Side of the Moon"
echoing through the trees. Quite spectacular after an afternoon of skiing Baja and Bigs first experience with snow.
I'm sure many of you have heard the term "3 dog night". This night was one of those but I only had the two. And they slept under the covers in my
van with me. It was a 2 dog night and was I ever thankful!!
So, after an uneventful but chilly night, I wake up in the morning to see that a group from Ensenada had arrived during the night. And the 6 or 7 of
them were camped in a tent, in the snow. The incredible powers of Tequila I suppose, as they were all still alive and waking up. What a kick!
So, I ski a little more and go to head out. After about a half mile, the engine starts overheating. And it's freezing out
In spite of the fact that I had antifreeze, the radiator had frozen. And not only that, I had a gallon of antifreeze and it was frozen too. Damn.
That's cold!
Get thawed out after heating some water and back to Rosarito. I was telling Carol about the lovely night she missed hahahaha and go to get the
stuff out of the van. Dogs water still frozen solid after a 3 hour drive home. Unbelievable.
We may not have much in elevation, but we make for it with coldness.
Ski Baja, but dress warm!!
[Edited on 11/22/2004 by jrbaja]
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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FREAKY COLD
Great story, JR. I have been really cold on the high desert of the Mojave, where my alum. canteens froze solid, and I barely survived the night in WW
II 40% down mummy sleeping bag on the ground, but your story takes the cake. I have never heard of a car with antifreeze, or even only a 50% mixture,
freezing up. That is wild! We all know that Baja is a land of extremes, and once again you proved it. Thanks for the story.
That entire country around, and in, Laguna Hansen is so fantastic------I love camping out by the escarpment to the east, and waking up to the sunrise
amongst the huge boulders.
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jrbaja
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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