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David K
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New Years '06 with Nomads, a Blue Palm Filled Canyon, and more! (part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part 1 at: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=14970
After coffee and goodbyes we head west from Bahia Santa Maria (Km. 31) and drive the 3.5 miles from Hwy. 5 to the old Puertecitos road, then turn
south and enter the sulfur mine valley... last worked 50 years ago.
West of the old main road was the ore crusher. Only the concrete foundations remain...
[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]
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David K
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Here was the ore crusher as I first saw it in the 1960's... from Cliff Cross' Baja Guide of 1970...
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David K
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From the sulfur mine, we continue a couple more slow miles south to the Canada el Parral ('Azufre Wash') road to cross over to Valle Chico and its
great palm lined canyons.
Here's one more shot at the sulfur mine...
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David K
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Shortly after turning west off the old Puertecitos road you can scout around for 'Apache Tears' which are obsidian pebbles long ago blown skyward from
some volcano. The pebbles are dull black, but if you break them the glossy volcanic glass is exposed.
Here are some apache tears as they are seen on the ground and one smashed on the flat rock with jet black shiney surfaces.
0.7 miles from the old Puertecitos road is a major fork... Ahead continues on across the San Fermin plain and reaches Arroyo Matomi at a point 12
miles west of Hwy. 5.
We take the right fork for Parral Pass, across the coastal sierra to Valle Chico. I first found this long forgotten road in Dec. 1978... and it took a
lot of rock moving and detouring to make it through. Now, off road racers and others have used it and it is well worn... well, for most of the way...
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David K
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Inside Parral Pass (Canada el Parral) are many tall cardon cacti and interesting geology...
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David K
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Here the rock layers are folded into waves... Baja Angel finds a seat.
Last Feruary, 2004 I have photos of Georock explaining how this happens... Our group of Nomads came this way to reach Matomi Oasis.
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David K
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Many veins are in the canyon walls... I am sure they have all been checked for gold... ???
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David K
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Inside Canada el Parral someone has been mining decorative rock such as shale and other flat rocks/ flag stone... perhaps for the many homes being
built around San Felipe?
We passed a truck loaded with stone about 2/3 of the way in. Beyond the area being mined for stones, the road deteriorated to just some motorcycle
tracks and the brush has encroched to offer some pin stripes.
Soon we exit Canada el Parral and enter Valle Chico and follow the 'straight across the valley' fence line road to the west side of Valle Chico where
the north-south valley road
to Matomi is.
Photo added showing the road crossing Valle Chico just after emerging from Canada el Parral... taken in 2004.
[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]
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David K
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Upon reaching the road to that goes south to Arroyo Matomi, we turn right (north, then it heads west) and drive to Carricitos where we turn left
(south).
Carricitos is a large corral, behind which is a small ranch house and a very faint road goes right past the ranch house westward to Carrizo Canyon
(fence blocks the drive into the canyon in a couple miles).
Our goal is Berrendo, the next canyon south of Carrizo. It's driveway is just 1.4 miles south of Carricitos... and it is very sandy drive up the wide
arroyo to where rocks force all to walk further.
Blue palms grow out of the south canyon wall, just before reaching the end of the drive... I hear a fault is the explanation as blue palms grow only
in water or where their roots can be damp most of the time.
Seeing blue palms is spectacular, but seeing them on moutainsides is amazing. Here in Berrendo is one place and on a mountainside a few miles
northwest of Tinaja de Yubay is another (see my photos of 'Rock Palm Hill' at http://vivabaja.com/401 )
Here is where I parked the Tacoma and Elizabeth and I began the mile hike...
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David K
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Baja Angel and Baja Blue!
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David K
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They soon got taller...
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David K
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This is my second time here... The first was in April, 2004 with Jide and Bajalou with others who met us that day in Parral Canyon just south... see
http://vivabaja.com/404 'Exotic Canyons of Baja'
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David K
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Finally, surface water... it hadn't rained this season yet... Year round mountain spring water deep in these canyons!
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David K
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Elizabeth takes a photo of me...
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David K
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At the head of the canyon (as far as we went, anyway) is a huge grotto with palms all around... A boulder bigger than most homes is the backdrop...
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David K
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Up on top is a really tall blue...
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David K
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Can you see how big those rocks are??? This is really something and well worth the effort to get there!
[Edited on 1-4-2006 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Here is Arroyo el Berrendo as we drive out... notice the sand.
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David K
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Mama Burro and her Burrito
Near where the Berrendo road joined the Parral road was this sight...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64595
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I tried tossing some trail mix at them, but soon discovered why he wasn't eating any...
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