Category: Hiking

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Where the Sea of Cortez Meets the Pacific Ocean

I arrived at Los Frailes yesterday evening just before dusk after a wonderful sail from Ensenada de Los Muertos. I averaged 6.2 kt with just the Yankee jib flying in 25-30 kt winds from the north. The following seas were big, driven by the fetch of the entire Sea of Cortez. There was something different about the sea conditions. The waves were steep and the intervals short, as is often found in the SOC, but I could see the water transforming as I approached Los Frailes … becoming more Pacific-like.

I rode the last of the wind into Frailies. The wind will be very light, variable for the next few days. That will help calm the seas down a bit. It looks like my weather window for sailing to San Beneticto is Monday, although it may be necessary to motor for half a day to get out of the shadow of the Cape. San Benedicto is about 300 miles south, about the same distance I have sailed the past week from San Carlos to here. The main issue is the traffic as I must sail across a major shipping lane, so I welcome the opportunity to rest the next couple of days. The break will also give me a chance to service the engine, clean the hull (while testing my new Hookah diving system), and go ashore to do some hiking (and test my new outboard engine).

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Hike Above Playa el Burro

I took a hike above Playa el Burro in Bahia de Concepcioñ. The bay is massive and includes many islands.

I am currently anchored off of Playa el Burro. Aegir-Ran is the furthest boat in this frame.

The hike was vigorous and although it is January, was nonetheless hot. The trail, if you want to call it that, initially follows a dry creek bed that is lined with ancient Amerindian petroglyphs.

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Hike to Elefante de Trompa Grande

While anchored in Bahia San Padro and waiting for a weather window to head south, I noticed a rock arch in the hills above the bay (circled in red).

Asking the locals, I am told it is called “Big Trunk Elephant” (“Elefante de Trompa Grande”). It took about two hours to hike to the arch, first through washes to the base and then bushwhacking to the arch itself. Once there, I discovered the rock to be loose and dangerous to climb. Also, it appeared that rock climbing would be needed to actually get to the hole. Perhaps the backside would be more accessible.