2025-01-02 Baja – Cerro los Potrerillos, C. el Encinoso, C. las Cabras
Second day of January and we did not yet hike a mountain in the New Year. 😂
We spent January 1st on the beach, snorkeling, learning Spanish, and enjoying coffee in a real restaurant with gorgeous views.
Great sandy beaches around Las Barilles. No wonder many foreigners like this place.We enjoyed snorkeling here, but I don’t take photos of that.
We had to wait for Jan 2, to get armoured smart-vaquero outfit for Chester. We are in Los Barriles, a small town by the Sea of Cortez.
Chester considers options for his anti-cactus dresscode.
Cerro los Potrerillos
In the afternoon we head into to the mountains, Sierra La Laguna range. With little day left we pick a tiny peak to get a workout for the day and test Chester’s new ‘smart vaquero outfit’ (thank you Bob Parr 😄).
Wow, it’s a great outfit- now I want one 😂.
It was late when we finally escaped the town of Los Barilles. Nevertheless Chester pointed a short little named cerro on a map, Cerro de Portrerillos – minimum distance, minimum elevation gain, just perfect to make up and down it before the sun sets.Working a new machete in his new ‘smart vaquero outfit’ on the way towards the Cerro
This is how he uses it
* Note from Chester – a machete is just a sword, and swinging a sword is a recipe for repetitive strain. I quickly give up on being a knight. The cactus dominated regions to the north have given way to dense brush. Easier to just grab the shrubbery with leather gauntlets and snap it over.
The “Coat, Army Combat Uniform” is amazing. Literally armor.
Interestingly branches when cut produce blood- looking sapNice big boulders decorate the summit of Cerro los Potrerillos.Easy to climb, and nice to sit onWe both can fit 🙂 View from the summit, the first hill of the year.No time to linger on the summit although surprisingly internet is here.We enjoy flowers of the desert Looking for a flat place to sleep we came across this rancho. Chester told me his uncle Ted used to decorate the fence in a similar fashion.
January 3, 2025 – Cerro el Encinoso
The following day, Jan 3 we have a longer hike planned- Cerro el Encinoso. We start at civilian twilight to avoid the heat.Looks like not everybody made itGruesome And stinky – this is what happens when there is no rain for a yearLuckily the scenery improves and the route is clear.As we gain altitude vegetation changes. Now we see oaks, the bark of an oak is really distinct Final route to the summit is not bad. Once in a while there is a faint trail we can follow.Soon we are on a small summit of Cerro el EncinosoOn the way back Chester enjoys collecting wild figs. I no longer feel like eating them.Back to the ranch road
Jan 3 2025 – Cerro las Cabras
One peak in a day would not suffice 😄. Chester finds another small named peak, and we drive tomorrow the trail head of Cerro las Cabras.Little to report. We made it up and down in the heat of the day. Bushwhack was not too bad, not too great. Found sections of goat trails, always helpful.Time to move on….
Marta and Chester's Maleficent Adventures 