Baja in February, plan ahead.

[gregangsten]

Beginning President’s Day weekend, February 14-16 we are planning a trip to Baja. The weekend will be spent flying a great site called variously, Cotes Cliffs, San Antonio Del Mar, or Colonet. It’s a 10 mile long, high coastal cliff site that is top-landable and soarable for its entire length, though with one gap. A bunch from Elsinore used to go there a few times every winter when the local flying here sucked (like now) and I went several times with them. It was a good time and I’d like to pass the site on to others who would otherwise never know about it. Several of us are planning to take motorcycles and I’ll be taking my car and trailer, so I can carry extra gear and gliders. The little town of Colonet is 8 miles away from the flying site so it’s strictly camping above the cliff, but it’s a pleasant spot.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/or6avfqjommz ... ifl2a?dl=0

Plan to leave at a time that will let us rendezvous at Denny's in San Ysidro by the border around 7AM for breakfast. (Exit San Ysidro Blvd. right, left at the light, left under the freeway.) This way people can leave from various places and we can all meet, eat and cross the border together to caravan through Mexico. We should also get to the Cliffs about the time the wind comes up, hopefully.

Saturday and Sunday at least, we’ll spend flying and kicking back. Monday you can head home, or join a few of us as we head south. We’ll be going on to Guerrero Negro and Scammon's lagoon, seeing whales and driving on to Laguna San Ignacio for some more.
http://www.utsandiego.com/feature/513/lagoons.html

The timing is all pretty open here. I'm figuring to take the whole week off and get back on the weekend, though it could be a little shorter too if necessary or desired. Surfers could go on from San Ignacio to Scorpion Bay. I'd also be a little curious to take that drive up to the Observatory also if anyone is into it. I have heard of people launching from there and flying to the beach at San Felipe on the gulf. Nice little write-up here:
http://blog.conifercountry.com/2014/07/ ... ro-martir/

Some links with more info:
Where to stay in Guerrero Negro:
http://www.baja-web.com/guerrero-negro/guero_bus.htm

http://vivabaja.com/

[MikeL]

Sounds fun, I might be interested, schedules permitting

ML

[r8pistol]

I'd like to try to make this trip.

[gregangsten]

We're less than a month away so I thought I would put up a list of people planning to come, as well as those sitting on the fence, so that you can contact each other about sharing rides. If I can help or you have questions, contact me. Just reply to the email blast if you don't have my address.

Here is the list, as I remember it anyway:
Greg (and Adam and Nurit) Angsten,
Adam Newman
Orian Price
Ken Manatt
Marshall Robin
Mike Lichterman
Steve Murillo
Kris Greblo
Francisco Sevillano
Robb Derringer
Janyce Collins
Anna Eppink

Who did I miss and who has dropped out?

[jcflies]

I need to have a serious talk with mi amiga, Cludy, before I fully commit. Not too fond of those who control EVERYTHING in Mexico--OR their reach, just now...

[gregangsten]

I discovered this on the internet, a place to stay right in Colonet:
http://www.hotelparaisocolonet.com/index.php
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hotel-paraiso-colonet-colonet
If you don't want to camp, this might be the ticket.
A thread here discusses it:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=56139
The other two places mentioned there are both in San Quintin, another 25 miles south.

There is also another place a little farther south of Colonet if you want to be at the beach and maybe surf too:
http://www.bajabound.com/hotels/baja/ho ... ocasas.php

A good source of info and links for traveling Baja:
http://www.instant-mex-auto-insur.com/b ... a-highways

You will not need a tourist card to go to Colonet to fly, though you will need a passport. If you continue on to the lagoons which are across the state line in Baja Sur, you will need to have the card. We will get them right after crossing the border.
http://www.bajabound.com/before/permits/visa.php
http://www.discoverbaja.com/go/driving- ... s-customs/

[avianna]

I've got a few bay area friends that may make the trip down too At least one is serious. I'm still in.

How far is the drive from the hotel in Colonet to the launch? From the map it looks like a long drive on dirt roads. Anyone else planning on staying there?

Anna

[gregangsten]

I've never seen this hotel and I think it opened after I was last there. The town is just beyond the turn-off we take to the cliffs which is something like 8 miles of dirt road but it's flat and not too bad.

[r8pistol]

I'm seriously interested in going. Does anyone that's going have room for me and possibly one other in their car/truck? Of course we'd help pay for all gas/expenses and assuredly make your drive a hell of a lot more interesting.

If you have extra room, please PM me or email me. Thanks!

RD

[gregangsten]

This is actually like two trips. Most people are in for the flying only, returning Monday. A few are going all the way. I am going on to the Deep South and may have room but I'm not sure yet.

Let's plan to meet in the LZ on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4PM and nail stuff down. Meanwhile, use the forum thread to arrange things.

[r8pistol]

OK, sounds good.

[lpedrazzi]

Hi all

I'm planning on making the trip down from the Bay Area (I would be the "serious" pilot Anna refers to above ) and was wondering if anyone has ever heard of / flown a mountain site near Colonet called Mt Diablo? I found it referenced in a thread on the org: http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?p=28449

Sounds pretty dramatic and could be a good option if winds are too light for ridge soaring...

Looking forward to getting out of the un-flyable SF bay area!!!

-Lauren

[OP]

aight,

It's looking like Cotes wont be working. I've surfed up and down the entire Baja a few times. When Baja gets wet, it's a mud pit. With winds mostly off shore there is no reason for the Cotes weekend.


LP brings up an interesting situation. I've proffered this situation in the past here. This may be my chance. San Pedro Martin has a 9,200' east facing launch. It's nearly analogous to flying from San Jacinto to the Salton Sea.

It's a 20:1 glide to the beach. So just one or two thermals needed for the goal. If one can't make the beach, just land near the highway towards San Felipe.


San Felipe has straight up full on ex-pat mc-manchion neighborhoods and nice golf courses. It's a nice place this time of year.

After regrouping we would then roll back below the mountain. Guadalupe hot springs are a cool-kid party spot. We would finish the weekend there.



So one flight, much fun. Greg can still get his whale adventure on.

[r8pistol]

I'm in if this mission begins to take shape. Couple questions: has anyone ever flown this mountain, is there a launch site, a road to launch? We'd need a driver(s). Looks like a great adventure, so I'm game. Agreed, Cotes/La Salina look to me non-soarable.

[OP]

Weather is looking perfect for this San Felipe XC adventure.

Warning Sexism Below:

I don't want my GF rolling solo down the road to San Felipe. It's almost a 3 hour drive in a remote part of Baja. Blondie with a flat tire and no cell would be a problem. Also the female pilots landing out along the East-West highway. They would be sitting there for a long time waiting for the retrieve.

We would have to make a caravan for the drivers. Also for the pilots: I've done a few solidarity landings for ease of retrieval. This adventure would require full cooperation between glider types. That is all the falcons launch/fly together etc... I'll probably bring a sport2.

Launch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_de_ ... ional_Park

http://www.google.com/maps/@31.044367,- ... Q!2e0!3e11


Goal

[OP]

has anyone ever flown this mountain, is there a launch site, a road to launch?

Yes but very rare. Such there is almost no beta (info) on the place.

We'd need a driver(s). Looks like a great adventure, so I'm game.

This is a serious adventure. Driver situation might be a problem as seen above.

Cotes/La Salina look to me non-soarable.

Yea it wont be. Baja Brent says it's a no-go.

[lpedrazzi]

yeahhhhhh, I had no idea the glide was 20:1. That is comically out of my comfort zone. I think I'll wait to have my first XC experience domestically

such a bummer! I do hope some ppl go check out Mt Diablo though! It would be sad for the site to fade from memory...I'd love to fly there one day

[gregangsten]

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... CAL74&MR=1

[gregangsten]

San Quintin weather looks the same. Am I missing something? Looks very good Saturday, pretty weak Sun and Mon but today is Thursday and who knows. I figure this is an exploratory trip first. Haven't been there in a dozen years. It looks like there is more of a home built where there used to be only a shack at our launch/land spot. Maybe we'll need to do some negotiating but my son is coming with his Mexicana girl friend so maybe she can help with that. There are also other launch/land possibilities.
A very weak day? Let's drive up to the observatory and check it out. Impossible weather? You can drive back to La Fonda, drink mojitos and take in the view while I head south. Nothing guaranteed here.

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... intin&MR=1

[OP]

It's looking to me that Cotes wont be on at anytime.

Back to the San Pedro Martir situation. Those whom can't make the beach will land on the gigantic salt flat below the peak. I'll straight up volunteer to land there first to help others. Probably the lowest altitude and easiest landing anyone can imagine. The beach would be cool, but since we will probably just return to the hot springs, everyone will be on the way.


So my verdict. Cotes wont be working. San Pedro Martir will be. We just have to agree on two LZs be for launching. Either the Salt pan at 1:1 glide ratio; or San Felipe at a 1:20 glide ratio. Make sure a large enough crew lands at both locations.