Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 13:31:22 -0700 From: "Kirby Stevens" <K_Stevens_at_telus.net> Subject: [Paddlewise] Baja Bound Hello Everyone, I will be heading down to Baja in early November to check out places to paddle. While I am down there I am considering taking several extended trips of 6-8 days. One I will be paddling is from Mulege to Loreto. Can any one else give me some other ideas or interesting sights to stop at as I will be driving down and staying about 5 weeks. Or as long as my money holds out. Thanks Kirby Stevens Hello, I've paddled the coast from San Felipe to La Paz & around I de la Guardia, in trips from 125 to 600 miles. I have usually crossed the border at Tecate, to avoid the T.J. hassle/hustle. Must say I liked La Bay to Sta Rosalia after 3 times on that route. It has paddle-in sea caves closer to Sta R. and it is pretty cut off from Hwy 1., little outfitter traffic, unlike like farther south. It has a long stretch of cliffy shore that is best started early. Also, avoid getting stuck on the long N. facing bay of S. Rafael in a stretch of N. wind. Camp Gecko in Bahia de Los Angeles http://www.campgecko.com/ is a good place to hang and get acquainted in La Bay, as well as place to stash a car while paddling south. You can finish in Sta Rosalia on the Malecon and stash gear on a hotel's property then catch the bus N to the Labay turnoff and hitch or if traffic is slow catch a ride with Romeo or someone going to LA Bay. Largest cost is gas, camping 20 mtrs above the high tide generally belongs to all. It's polite to ask if pangeros or locals are camped there, but usually no problem. In a month from home, about the shortest practical trip, we've done two - 125-150 mile stretches. Always paddle south, keep Baja on your right, as Ed Gillet would say. >From La Bay, day trips or longer are poss to Animas Bay south or north to I Coronado or beyond. Watch the winds from the west in this area! Be prepared to sit it out, even on a day trip. I also liked Loreto to LaPaz. The same idea of stashing a car at Tripui Rv Park or arranging for someone who'll be camping at the area just south to watch it, then taking a bus back from La Paz wil work fine. Mulege to Loreto is more traveled by outfitters. You can leave car at Orchard Rv Park and paddle to Loreto Shores RV Park, then grab bus North to get car. Always get around points early, be able to sit out bad wx with plenty of water/food. You didn't mention whether you were going alone? Have a plan A, B, and C. & be able to self rescue. Rolling a loaded boat with that much water/food/gear is different, but not that hard if you think of doing an accelerating motion vs a simple snap. Practice it in realistic conditions if you want to rely on it, like other rescues. You should expect winds and seas of 4-6' or more, with lots of wave and current activity when passing points. There's no quick rescue with a vhf Mayday to the coasties, but that isolation, often with no manmade lights visible, is also an attraction. That's a few quick thoughts; drop a line if I can pass along more from old notes. Have fun, Jay Gingrich *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Jay G" <jaymtb_at_amigo.net> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise Baja Bound > Mulege to Loreto is more traveled by outfitters. You can leave car at > Orchard Rv Park and paddle to Loreto Shores RV Park, then grab bus North to > get car. Always get around points early, be able to sit out bad wx with > plenty of water/food. Water is cruicial. Mulege-Loreto route can take 5 days with stops (makes little sense without stops in some coves) or 10 days if the weather screws up (I should say *when* it screws up - November can be windy, and this route goes along unprotected stretch). Any 5-6 days trip may become 10-11 days long. Galllon of water per day is a lot to carry, and manual desalinators are slow and costly. Btw, do you know any reliable fresh water source north of St-Rosalia, approximately half-way to San Rafael? Alex. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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