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jrbaja
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For the adventurers
How many people on here would be interested in an organized trip in the back country of south Baja to see places that haven't been seen by anyone in
hundreds of years?
What it involves.
1. 2 days driving on washboard and 1 to 5 mile per hour roads after about 20 hours on the transpeninsular.. Probably some digging and road building
necessary when in the back country..
2. Camping in tents or vehicles, eating pretty good during the vehicular travel part, maybe even some ice cream and movies.
3. Switching to backpacking, burros or horses to continue another 2 - 3 days into the hills. This means, the basics in amenities. Beans, rice,
chiles, tortillas and the basics in local fair. Meals will be prepared by the locals if there are any, and the guides using their local fare for ease
of travel.
There will probably be snakes and critters, there will be a lot of hiking and climbing, probably getting wet and for sure very very dirty.
Why we are doing it.
There are some places in Baja that haven't been explored before. Now that the locals are credentialized through PROFEPA and INAH, they are
interested in exploring certain areas that they have only heard about. We, ( my local guides) and I have been planning this trip since our first
expeditions into the hills when we first learned of these areas. We have waited until they were authorized which they now are.
From what I can find out, nobody alive has been to many of these places and this means the local folks as well as tourists.
What it also means is discoveries, documentation, and lot's of photos. This will be the first trip of it's kind into certain areas and it will be
an experience.
It will be hard work, a lot of walking, climbing, and probably being stuck at times. We will be stopping to pick up trash and teaching any locals
about it as well.
They are interested in tourism. Now they have a plan. This will be the first of it's kind trip and not by any means an easy one.
If interested let me know through U2U messages and I will give more details.
Any adventurers out there? This is a good one!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Sounds great! When, JR?
Is everyone on their own or are you collecting a fee (for the locals, naturally)? Jack Swords would be great to have along to document if this is when
he is at his La Paz address.
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Bajaboy
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Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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I'd definately be interested but would need a few more details....when, where, cost, length of trip...etc.
Zac
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Mexitron
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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YES, YES, YES!!!
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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Some details
When? Sept.- Oct.
Where? South Baja.
Cost? $500-$1000 per person depending on our final plans. This money will pay for everything on the trip as well as paying for some badly needed
supplies that will be taken with us and distributed to the remote ranches.
Length of trip 10 to 15 days approximately including 4 to 6 days getting to and from the sites.
Since we are only going by stories that have been passed down, we really don't know exactly what is in store for us this time.
None of the guides have been to this area either. That's why it will be an adventure, big time!
I will be limiting this trip to 6 people to join us and, you must be in excellent physical shape.
It is an organized trip so no one will be on their own. As far as food goes, I was going to see what the majority would like to do after we know who
is going.
I have already arranged for local fare which I have become somewhat used to, (it is actually surprisingly good) but we are by no means limited to
that if the majority prefers caviar!
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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SNAKES .......
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Snakes
Tastes like chicken
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jide
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Location: san diego
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Can you give me more details?
I am already taking 3 weeks off in october to explore the peninsula with my brother and 7-8 friends from Europe, I don't know if they would be
interested or if that fits their budget.
I would definetely be interested myself if I was on my own.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Details
The trip will be $1000.00 per person. It will be in the beginning of October. You will need a tent, sleeping bag, backpack, canteen, straw hat for
shade, sunscreen, long pants, long sleeve shirts, shorts, bathing suit, camera!!!!, and whatever else you can't do without. We will be carrying our
own stuff besides food and cooking gear so packing lightly is good.
We will supply all food and cooking gear, the guides will do the cooking, rural Baja style, and whatever else is voted on prior to departure.
You are expected to drive your own vehicles as far as we can get to by road or arroyo, depending on terrain. And then it will be on foot or burros.
I will have complete lists and itineraries shortly. I have one more meeting with the guides down south and we will have exact information.
We will be in areas where there are a lot of craftsmen who have been making things out of leather, metal, etc. for centuries.
I am trying to plan it so some of these ranchos can be visited prior to the expedition so that any orders made by us can be picked up on the return
trip.
I put a few of these items on this board under ranch crafts or something like that.
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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
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Wondeful...
This trip sounds great!!!!
Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Let me rephrase that hahahahahaha
I am 51 and am by no means considered a fantastic example of the perfectly fit body.
I abuse it quite often by various forms of recreation and other dumb things. (see www.confluence.org)
But, I have a sense of adventure and am not quite done yet. And in fact, one of the reasons I spend so much time in them thar hills is because of
the fountain of youth I discovered there.
But that will be on a different adventure!
Details to follow at a later date.
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JZ
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Only one question...
"We will be carrying our own stuff besides food and cooking gear..."
Who carries the beer and ice!
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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That can be arranged
and will be when it is decided who is going and what their preferences are. Normally, when we go backpacking, we do carry hydra paks. They hold
liquids. And they come in quite handy but I will get to that later.
This is going to be more of a "do it the way the locals do it" type of "outing".
And the way the locals do it is with Tequila. A couple shots here, a couple shot's there and no ice necessary.
If the majority wants ice cold beer, that's why there are burros!
But, I'll tell you one thing for sure. You have never had a better beer than a cold one after a few days backpacking in the hills of Baja. Tried n
true!!
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jrbaja ...you must be in excellent physical shape...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, if I were only 70 again....
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
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For the hard of hearing,
anyone who has pulled as many "dragon tails" as some on HEAR, can do this trip. I perhaps made it sound a little uncomfortable in the beginning but,
that was just weeding through the "martini in a hotel room group."
Here's the good part. I like to take pictures. I am fairly agile still but I run on Mexican time. And I like to take pictures. Most every trip, the
Mexicans (of all people) are waiting for me.
Not because I'm lazy, crippled, or trying to be annoying. Some of you will get that.
But because I like to take pictures. Period.
My dogs don't like it, my guides don't particularly care for it, and I am famous for it. And, I can't help it.
When I am on these little jaunts, I figure that while I am here, I am going to take advantage of it. Most of the places are pretty remote and it
may be a long time before I have confidence enough in my van to come back. So, I take pictures.
Come to find out, two things have happened because of this.
1. I don't get worn out and enjoy and see as much as I possibly can while on these trips and,
2. I have taught the locals that I truly understand what ma?ana means. So much so that I have been accused of being more Mexican than the Mexicans
when it comes to importance of punctuality in the mountains.
And, by the way, all this has been taken into consideration on the planned October adventure.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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In My Dreams for This Adventure
BajaLera and Steve of course, Neal Johns and Esposa, Jack Swords and Esposa?.
Hey waita minute here, there are a whole bunch more that would be on my list but heck, let's just see how it goes.
What a kick THAT would be.
And as far as people that weren't mentioned, Don Jimmy will be there in spirit no matter what prank he's up to right now.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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I hope you have a grand time exploring! I will not be able to do this trip... However, don't worry... both Neal Johns and Jack Swords are excellent
with a GPS!!! 
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frizkie
Nomad
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Location: Victoria, BC, Canada & El Chorro, Baja Sur
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Is that time frame a fer shur???
If so JR..DRAT!!! I sure wish it was later like sayyyyyy Nov - Dec!!!
Cuz' it certainly would be good to have a NURSE/PARAMEDIC along wouldn't it? I'd even bring medical supplies including snake bite kit.
If you need any help or advise re first aid kits for your trip...I'm here for ya.
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Anonymous
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I've never been to Baja, but I do enjoy backpacking and since I am familiar with logistics for survival, I have some questions: will a map of the
proposed route be made available for planning purposes prior to leaving home, and for ones family? Is fresh water available enroute, if no one's been
on the route, how can a regular supply be assured? Are the guides familiar with edible cacti, and/or trapping animals to augment the food supply. I'll
assume the talk about beer/ice/tequila was in jest; it should be obvious there will be higher priorities, "miles from nowhere" when the going gets
tough. Which brings up the question of turning back should that become necessary. How many guides? Sufficient to give one up to provide
escort/assistance with walking, should that become necessary? Later, if another member needs to turn back, another available guide? Do the guides
speak english? Could an alternative to leaving ones car unattended in the outback be explored, to avoid returning to a wheeless automobile? What type
of supplies would have to be carried for the people, I hope hoes, shovels and such, are not some of their necessities. Could the time frame be nailed
down a bit tighter, my boss needs a little more exactitude than "10 or 15 days" when I leave. That's all I can think of for now, I'm sure more will
come to mind, I just now saw this thread.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Good questions there Anonymous
So good in fact, I think I'm going to stay home from now on. You scared the crap out of me with all that stuff.
I think I'll see if I can arrange for paramedics to take us out there, "just in case"!
I've been to Baja.
A map. Well, there's a bunch available. But, in the area where we will be going, the maps are all wrong so that probably won't work.
This is Baja. Of course there isn't any water. It's a desert.
The guides and their families are the original families of Baja. They have been living that lifestyle for hundreds of years and they are still
there. But, I don't trust them so I'm bringing space bars and M and M's for emergency survival rations.
Beer Ice and Tequila in Jest ? Boy, you haven't been to Baja have you?
Turning back, I always do that. As soon as I'm finished with whatever it is I am doing.
Guides. Well, not having been to these parts before I can't say for sure, but how it generally works is, the farther out there we get, the more
interest the locals have in what we are doing. So much so that last trip, we picked up a new guide from every ranch. This means there could actually
be hundreds of guides with us by the time we reach our destination.
Escort, assistance with walking ? I thought that's what the shovels were for.
Nope, no english from these guides so I really don't trust anything they say.
As far as leaving the cars unattended, They have pay parking lots on almost every corner and they are only into stealing hubcaps, not entire wheels.
Tell your boss it's 20 days, that way, if you are fortunate enough to live through a trip like this, we will have time to go get all our hubcaps
back.
And, I am so glad you saw this thread, you are exactly the type I have been looking for to go on this deepest darkest Baja adventure.
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