These photos are from the first trip to Baja with Wildcoast. It was a week long camping trip down to the seven sisters area. On the trip was Serge Dedina, the executive director of Wildcoast as well as two program coordinators Zach Plopper and Saul Alarcon Farfan. In addition to the Wildcoast staff was Kimball Taylor the Senior editor of Surfer Magazine and myself. I was told the only catch was that Surfer would have first pickings at all the photos I shot which was fine with me. I believe we did over 300 miles off road this trip. Besides a few close calls on the road and some small waves the trip was a great time.
This is where we turned off Mex 1. Here Zach is firing up his GPS locator. The battery died about 2 minutes after this. This was my view for most of the trip.
The largest Cacti I have ever seen in person. As you can see extra tires are essential when you are hours away from anything. This is at least 8 hours south of the border.
Thriving cacti as big as your head.
A good amount of the trip was surveying parcels of land so there was a lot of hopping in and out of the truck. This is the first spot we jumped out to check out.
Over there. No over there.
Down there.
Front row seat to an amazing view.
I had never seen this before. It is a type of mold I believe that grows on the rocks. You will see more of this later.
Emptiness as far as you can see.
Zach checking another potentially perfect point.
Not a soul around.
We were looking for a camping spot to settle in to for the evening.
There are bones and skeletons of animals everywhere. It reminded me of how easy it would be to die down here without proper planning. On the right is a rock with fossilized shells.
There was a wetland right by where we camped and the water had a red hue I'm pretty sure because of the salt.
So as we are setting up camp a local and his dog come over to hang out. At one point in the night I look over and the dog is going to town on Saul's foot. I thought he was going to eat his foot off. The owner told us no worries, he has no teeth.
This is where we camped, not a bad spot eh?
Kimball picking his spot for the sunset session.
Serge kept saying how much this place reminded him of Trestles. This is the walk back to camp for the evening.
Good morning
Here is a shot of our camp. I went to unroll my sleeping bag and a beer that was in the back of the truck had exploded on it so I dried it as best I could by the fire and slept in the back of the truck.
We brought some stuff. Saul trying to work amongst the clutter.
We're out here.
So at one point we got separated from the other truck and had no idea where they went. Here is Kimball and Zach trying to spot some dust or any sign of the other truck.
Serge to the rescue.
So this is the first person we saw after turning off of the Mex. 1
This is the second truck we ran into and they happened to be friends of Wildcoast. Here is a little meeting in the middle of the road. No worries no one will be coming this way for days probably.
Saul doing his thing.
They wanted stickers, especially the one with the turtle.
During the course of the meeting Kimball had decided that it was time for him to return his friend to the wild.
Goodbyes are not easy.
Getting your moneys worth out of your 4 wheel drive.
Not a bad spot to stop for lunch.
These were the largest starfish I have ever seen.
This is the truck we rode in for the first half. Eventually Saul took this one back by himself and we all packed in the Tacoma.
More fat starfish and some local fisherman.
Potentially perfect point #100
Zach sampling the juice
This was our next camp spot. That little shack up on the hill. The lady we ran into on the road told us that we could sleep there.
Windward side was howling
The shack provided some good shelter and a good place to cook.
As well as an awesome place to watch the sunset.
There was some good conversation accompanied by a full moon.
Its amazing how much light a full moon gives off. That glowing red thing in the bottom of the frame is a piece of chemically treated wood that was in the pile. It smoldered all night.
Star streaks
Zach on the left enjoying a cup of coffee. I dare you to try to wake up before Serge. No matter what time you wake up he has already had breakfast, made coffee for everyone and read a magazine.
Getting ready to start the day.
This is the first coyote I have ever seen in the wild. He bolted across the road.