I've been out to see the rock "walls" several times now. Because of the slope on either side, these stacked rocks always gave me the impression of
something to used divert/contain livestock than the remnants of something more structurally significant. The dead palm tree at the bottom of the slope
that David K mentions in an earlier report was also intriguing - so atypical and out of place for that region. Who planted it, and why? Never came
across the "sleeping circles" that Choral pepper references, either on foot or with Google Earth. I was searching for these on the flat mesa like
clearing south west of the walls on the same outcrop. But perhaps, I've bee looking in the wrong places.
But the cave on the south side of the outcrop is something new to me. I don't recall anyone on this board posting about it, and these drone shots are
the first time I've seen it.
I would be interested to know if Geoff took the time explore the area around the cave on foot. If so, what were his impressions on the area -
coincidental geology? Potentially habitable? It looks to be quite large, but the boulders hanging off it's roof perhaps make an entrance into the cave
appear precarious.
Looking forward to what Geoff has to say...
In my 2009 thread, the photos were all shared... Only a few Nomads have been to the site after I confirmed it was indeed the Choral Pepper Santa
María Magdalena lost mission.
'Geoffff' (4WD van traveler) recently returned from another of his super expeditions to Baja and I anxiously await his trip report.
In the meantime, he sent me the photos and videos of his drone flyover of the mesa near Bahía las Animas with the mystery walls and cave. This was
the site of a discovery made in 1966 when the Erle Stanley Gardner expedition found these walls, a dam, a lone date palm, and Indian sleeping circles.
Desert Magazine's Choral Pepper was on this expedition and climbed to the top of the mesa for a close look at these walls. Her research following that
trip would conclude that this was likely the lost Jesuit mission project of Santa María Magdalena, shown as "started" on the Jesuit's 1757 map...
south of Bahía de los Angeles and north of Santa Gertrudis (first called 'Dolores del Norte').
Here are the 2009 site and Desert Magazine's 1966 photos:
[Edited on 4-17-2019 by David K]
Its a geoglyph. Art. Probably no utilitarian purpose. A couple of the pics it appears to be an abstract phallus.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Here's the 1757 map with Mission S.M. Mag. "started" between L.A. Bay and Dolores del Norte (Santa Gertrudis) that put Choral onto the idea that this
was the (abandoned) Jesuit project:
The map is drawn from data of about 10 years earlier. Dolores del Norte was renamed Santa Gertrudis upon its founding in 1752.
"Al folio 549, línea 3a., [11, 341], se nombra la misión de Nuestra Señora de los
Dolores del Norte. Esta misión, cuando llegó a fundarse en el sitio mucho antes
destinado para ella, como a veintiocho leguas de San Ignacio, se llamó, y se
llama, de Santa Gertrudis. La razón de esto se dará en otro lugar. Aqw basta
advertir que, en lugar de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores del Norte, se debe poner
Santa Gertrudis: y lo demás, como es, por quién y cómo se administraba, ponerlo como lo trae la Historia, porque así estaba administrándose
cuando fueron
los informes del estado de las misiones, que va poniendo en este lugar.
Aquí faltó advertir, que debe suprimirse el parrafito en que se pone la que
!,e cuenta por onceava misión en este folio 549, [rr, 341), con el nombre de Santa
María Magdalena, inchoada en el norte; porque ésta es la misma que se acaba
de contar por décima en el mismo fol. 549 con el nombre de Nuestra Señora de
los Dolores. El motivo de esta equivocación fue que, cuando se comenzó a tratar
de tal fundación, se creyó con fundamento que se le daría el nombre de Santa
María Magdalena, y así de esto como de los indios ya bautizados, que habían
de pertenecer a esta misión, se dio noticia a Móxico. Después de algunos años,
habiendo con nuevo fundamento creído que la intentada misión se intitularía Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, y habiéndose ya determinado el sitio
en que se había de
poner la cabecera, se escribió sobre esto a México. Estos papeles o cartas pasaron
<le México a Madrid, con otros papeles pertenecientes a la Historia. El autor,
leyéndolos, no dudó que hablaban de dos diversas misiones, viendo dos distintos
nombres, como es regular el persuadirse a ello; y por eso las puso por dos distintas. Mas en realidad es una sola, que en diversos tiempos, y antes de
fundarse,
con diferentes motivos se les dieron distintos nombres; y al fin ninguno de ellos
pudo conservarse, por no haber llegado a efecto la fundación o dotación, que
se había tenido por cierta y asegurada. Y cuando llegó a establecerse esta misión
se le dio el nombre y advocación de Santa Gertrudis, conforme a la mente del
que finalmente quedó por fundador.
Del mismo moda debo suprimir el parrafito en que se pone la misión que se
-encuentra en el XVI y último lugar, al folio 550, [rr, 341), con nombre de San
_Juan Bautista, inchoada en el norte; porque, si estuvo ideada tal misión, nunca
llegó a efecto, ni ha habido dotación para ella. "
Google Translation of Juan N. post [with my notes]:
[Not a very good or clear translation but basically stating the reason for the confusion of names of proposed or future missions from a 1745 Jesuit
report. I covered these missions beginning on page 184 of my book, in the chapter called: "Missions that Never Were and Lost Missions."]
Here now is the Google translation of what Juan N. posted:
"On folio 549, line 3a., [11, 341], the mission of Our Lady of the
Dolores del Norte. This mission, when it came to be founded on the site much earlier destined for her, like twenty-eight leagues from San Ignacio, was
called, and llama, from Santa Gertrudis.
The reason for this will be given elsewhere. Enough here warn that, instead of Our Lady of the Northern Sorrows [Dolores del Norte], you should put
Saint Gertrudes: and the rest, as it is, by whom and how it was administered, put it as History brings it, because that was how it was being
administered when they were the reports on the status of the missions, which he puts in this place.
Here it was necessary to warn that the paragraph in which the
!, and counts for eleventh mission in this folio 549, [rr, 341), with the name of Santa María Magdalena, [started] in the north; because this is the
same one that ends of counting by tenth in the same fol. 549 with the name of Our Lady of Pains [Dolores].
The reason for this mistake was that when it began to be treated of such a foundation, it was believed with foundation that it would be given the name
of Santa Maria Magdalena, and thus of this as the already baptized Indians, who had of belonging to this mission, news was given to Mexico.
After a few years, having, on a new basis, believed that the intended mission would be titled Our Lady of Sorrows [Dolores], and having already
determined the place where it was to be put the header, it was written about this to Mexico. These papers or letters passed [from] Mexico to Madrid,
with other roles belonging to History. The author, reading them, he did not doubt that they talked about two different missions, seeing two different
names, as it is regular to persuade oneself to it; and that's why he put them for two different ones. But in reality it is only one, that in different
times, and before being founded, with different motives they were given different names; and finally none of them could be preserved, because the
foundation or endowment had not come into effect, which
It had been taken for granted and assured.
And when this mission was established He was given the name and invocation of Saint Gertrudes, according to the mind of the that finally remained as
founder. In the same fashion I must suppress the paragraph in which the mission that is put -
Find in the XVI and last place, to folio 550, [rr, 341), with the name of San
_Juan Bautista, [started] in the north; because, if such a mission was devised, never It came into effect, nor has there been an endowment for it.
"
This comes from Miguel del Barco's additions and corrections to Venegas. The author in Mexico he is referring to would be Venegas. When he writes
about the misinformation being repeated in Madrid he is referring to Burriel.
So basically he is saying that Delores del Norte and Santa Maria Magdalena were both proposed names for what would become Santa Gertrudis. Santa Maria
Magdalena was the first proposed name then after a few years it was changed to Delores. This explains why there is a bell with the name Santa Maria
Magdalena located at Santa Gertrudis. I have read somewhere about bells being cast and donated to the missions by individuals but I cannot recall
where. It appears someone trying to score some brownie points with god jumped the gun and had the bell cast.
As you know, the name was finally changed to Santa Gertrudis to comply with the wishes of the Marques de Villapuente
This comes from Miguel del Barco's additions and corrections to Venegas. The author in Mexico he is referring to would be Venegas. When he writes
about the misinformation being repeated in Madrid he is referring to Burrus.
So basically he is saying that Delores del Norte and Santa Maria Magdalena were both proposed names for what would become Santa Gertrudis. Santa Maria
Magdalena was the first proposed name then after a few years it was changed to Delores. This explains why there is a bell with the name Santa Maria
Magdalena located at Santa Gertrudis. I have read somewhere about bells being cast and donated to the missions by individuals but I cannot recall
where. It appears someone trying to score some brownie points with god jumped the gun and had the bell cast.
As you know, the name was finally changed to Santa Gertrudis to comply with the wishes of the Marques de Villapuente
[Edited on 1-1-2020 by Juan N.]
You have the story down pretty good!
San Juan Bautista, Dolores del Norte, and Santa María Magdalena were three proposed Jesuit missions in the ambitious program to convert souls and
pacify the land for the King.
The three missions were included in their 1745 report (page 267 of Engelhardt's The Missions and Missionaries of California, Vol. 1, Lower
California). The same three missions are shown on the 1757 Venegas Jesuit map as being "started".
Only one of the three was actually founded and the name changed from Dolores del Norte to Santa Gertrudis, as you explained. Rather than "started" the
were three "proposed" missions, all in different locations.
Since Santa María Magdalena was shown north of Dolores del Norte (Santa Gertrudis) and south of Bahía de los Angeles, it was natural for Choral
Pepper to propose the ruins they discovered in 1966 could have been for Santa María Magdalena, if they were indeed from the Jesuit period. Obviously,
the site was abandoned before the mission was too far along... and its bell hangs at Santa Gertrudis, as you said.
Nice to have another Baja Mission History fan here! Welcome...
Yes, that is them, all right! It was what Sharksbaja (a Nomad) saw and shared with me, back in late 2008... As soon as my wife and I could leave for
Baja to check it out to confirm, we did... New Years 2009, 11 years ago today! It was all posted here on Baja Nomad when we got back.
Del Barcos writings are know for being wordy, rambling, and repetitive so he can be difficult to understand at times.
The name Santa Maria Magdalena was being used before a suitable location for a Cabacera was found. There were already many converts from the region
to the north of San Ignacio and the Jesuits knew they wanted to establish a mission in the area. Santa Maria Magdalena was the name they planned to
use once a site was found and a cabacera established.
Once a site was found (at La Piedad), due to motives Del Barco does not explain, the name was changed to Nuestra Senora de los Delores del Norte.
The expected endowment for the mission never arrived.
They ended up using the endowment for the mission of San Jose del Cabo once it closed. At the request the person who provided the endowment, the
Marques de Villapuente, the name was changed to Santa Gertrudis.
So Mission Santa Maria Magdalena never had a location.
Delores del Norte was an early name for the planned cabacera to be built at La Piedad, the future site of the cabacera of Santa Gertrudis. Both those
names refer to the same location.
There was a Pueblo called San Juan Bautista where, according to Engelhartdt, a cabacera was to be built. The area to the west of San Ignacio was
decimated by disease and the population reduced to said mission.
The site of La Piedad was chosen for the mission (Dolores del Norte) because Padre Consag could not find any site better during his three expeditions
seeking mission sites from 1747-1751. When the funds for the next mission were going to come from the Marquis de Villapuente (with the abandonment of
his sponsored mission of San José del Cabo) the mission name was changed to honor his wife, Gertrudis.
Construction of the new mission buildings were started in 1751 before it was officially founded with the arrival of Padre Retz in 1752 following
language training for several months at San Ignacio.
hi David, saw you last week on the X Games youtube videos (recon) and was very impressed...ordered and received your book a couple days back. We
drive down from Oregon each year (for the last 3 years, newly retired) and live in or around San Jose for about 3 months. I'm really looking forward
to reading the book and driving by many of the missions!
thanks for these extra pics and the info. so much info so little time!
hi David, saw you last week on the X Games youtube videos (recon) and was very impressed...ordered and received your book a couple days back. We
drive down from Oregon each year (for the last 3 years, newly retired) and live in or around San Jose for about 3 months. I'm really looking forward
to reading the book and driving by many of the missions!
thanks for these extra pics and the info. so much info so little time!
Hi Martha!
Welcome to Baja Nomad and many thanks for the nice words...
It was very fun to ride with those famous off-road racers for six days doing that Recon trip. We were told that the footage would be incorporated into
the tour TV show, but there ended up being not enough room as they had plenty with the tour itself, although there is a scene of me riding with Curt
LeDuc in the TV tour show.
The 5 recon episodes on YouTube (about 6-10 min. each) are all linked on my website, near the top: www.vivabaja.com
Thank you for ordering my book! Not sure if you got it from Amazon, another site, or from me at www.oldmissions.com but any questions or assistance needed, just ask. Please join my Baja California Land of Missions Group for more photos and
discussion at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Happy New Year!
Mysteries of the past do exist and make for a fun adventure in Baja!
Let's hope that travel restrictions will be soon lifted (and the stupid virus gets eliminated)!
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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Emergency Baja Contacts Include:
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