Six months in the making, a sea kayaking trip in the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja was what we all needed to cure the transition season blues! Heather and I have visited some beautiful places, but never with 6 of our friends on an isloated island. The group of us (Heather, Jen, Aric, Jay, Sharon, Steph and Shawn) spent 7 fantastic days travelling around Isla Espiritu Santo. It was an unforgetable time and Baja2 is in the works for next year.
This is a satelite photo of the island. We travelled counter-clockwise and our campsites are marked in red. The entire trip was about 70 kms.
Fearless paddlers on the first day. We took a boat (skiff) ride out to the island from La Paz.
The weather for the first few days was a little cloudy, but still offered some amazing sights.
Not a bad way to wake up.
Gathering the troops before breakfast.
I am a rockstar!
The island was much more mountanous that we had anticipated. Despite being in the desert, the landscape was really diverse.
Our guides, Manuelito and Fransisco.
Some cool caves along the coast.
The one-armed-amputee crab didn't stand a chance!
It was pretty easy to feel separated from work, cities, people, you name it!
On the way up through Urses trees. The peak in the background is Sir Donald.
On this day we made our way up to 8812 bowl at the end of the Conaught Creek drainage. It's quite a hike to get up there (about 4 hrs) but well worth the views and long run down to the valley bottom.
This is the ski run that awaited us... Stupid poachers...
The last ascent up a pretty steep ridge.
Almost there...
Finally at the top of Bruin's Pass where we could access the bowl.
Lindsay meet pow...
Nice New Year's treat!
