Thinking of a five- to seven-day trip to central baja next summer. I’ve read Scorpion Bay can get world-class around that time. Anybody have the low down on that area (getting there, where to stay, etc). Planning to drive down fron SD for about a week or so. Is this enough time? Kinda set on beggining of July (I’m getting married the second weekend of July, so all the boys are going to be here). Thanks for any info.
cheers,
Adam
Howzit E-Pacman, The last time I was there was in 94’ for 10 weeks, it never got crowded since the Hurricane that hit in 92 took all the sand away which turned 2nd point into a really short wave ( maybe 40 yards ). I have pictures showing nobody camping at all except for me. Had a stretch of 21 days with no surf at all, but got turned on to looking for arrow heads and other artifacts which most people don’t even know are in the area. I just checked the website and it’s gotten pretty expensive since I was there. I was paying $ 5.00 a week to park my camper and fish tacos were a dollar just as were cervasas. Scored really good third point but got some of the best waves at 4th point on glassy days. Took the north road out and it took me about 6 hours to get to San Ignacio, the last 40 miles was the wash board road from hell. Terry Hansen was there and we became good friends and surfed together everyday he was there, I hear he has a house and a few casitas for friends to stay in. Although I have been there about 6 times I think the trip in 94’ was the best, oh bye the way I did the whole trip which was over 4 months total,solo.
By road there’s two ways that’ll get you there. I recommend the long way. Bring spare parts and Duct tape.
Be prepared! Although, I have heard the roads have become much easier to get there. Going there at this time in the season is a big long shot if you want to get it good. It only breaks a handful of times like the pics even during the ideal times. Be prepared to wait and wait. Or come home skunked.
Solo sounds nice, but I thinks things have changed in a lot of areas in twelve years.
Off topic - Mike, do you know a Roy Cunningham on Kauai? I just saw his new/oldschool 10’6" 5 stringer gun w/ single keelfin. A Yater classic that should be done soon. It looks as if it could be ridden at the bay.
All the best,
Seems a long drive for one week.
40 hours driving is not something to wave aside.
Sure you don’t want spots closer?
spots closer would be alright. we hit la fonda and k38 quite often. good times. with a bit more time though, want to go somewhere beter.
In the Baja 1000 last Thursday, Robby Gordon (TT 31) averaged 73 mph from San Ignacio → el Datil → Scorpion Bay → Ciudad Insurgentes.
mtb
I’d like to think there might possibly be a worthy destination between N of Ensenada and Scorps.
But maybe not…
Feast or famine.
BTW, I’ve done the drive from SanFrancisco to my destination, about 27 hours pure driving time, solo, in two days. Not the most relaxing and fun, and probably not to be done again anytime in my life.
Howzit Skip, Sorry I don’t think I know him but then again I’m terrible when it comes to names sometimes. If he’s been here a while I would probably recpgnize him if I saw him. The board definitly sounds like a Bay board but the boys will probably hate seeing it in the line up since it seems that people are going for the longer boards so they can get in sooner. Wonder if he will play by the rules" No cords on longboards". Aloha, Kokua
Howzit Greg, There’s 3 different accesses to Scorp. I’ve used all 3 of them down through the years. The easiest is the longest and you only have about 45Kms of dirt road. In the future they plan to pave the north road and make it toll road which will cut the driving time, it’s tied in with the idea of having safe harbors every 150 miles along the coast for boats. The problem is they are probably ruin a few surf breaks in the process, and I understand that scorp is on the list but it might be the first point that will get a breakwater. When I was there the last time (94) I got turned on to some other breaks in the area that are winter breaks that are insane and actually better than Scorp. Off the subject a little is how we did our laundry, fill a cooler with soapy water, dirty clothes and 4 or 5 Bocci balls, then drive around for 20 minutes or so, change the water and repeat the 20 minute drive, lo and behold it’s a mobile washing machine. Aloha,Kokua
the mobile washing machine sounds like it would allow to cross back into the states. any idea how far from san diego though? and, is it worth it it in july?
It’s worth it if you have some flexibility in your trip dates… if not, don’t bother for a week’s trip. A few buddies and I made the mistake of setting a firm date for our trip to scorps last July and paid the price… knee high surf and under for the whole time we were there. Our trip was supposed to last 3 weeks but it was so flat with nothing forecasted (and still so crowded) and our van was on its last breath so we cut the trip short (down to 8 days!) to give us time to make it back if the thing crapped out on us on the way back. A couple flats, a dead alternator, and a few belts later we made in back to the states. An adventure for sure, but this summer I’m taking off for at least a month and hoping to make it all the way down to puerto. I’m sure scorps gets fun, but I need a wave that’s a lot more consistent. When I’m on trips like these I’m hoping to be in the water from sun up to sun down. Good luck though.
summer baja-for a week or so??start around guerrero negro and head south along coast-remember to keep you eyes open…
nice and subtle Matt. we stopped there too, skunked again. and the guys living in the three poles trailer were being total dicks, trying to yell everybody out of the water and off the beach. there were probably 20 - 30 surfers camped out when we were there with inconsistent waist high surf… as there was only one surfbale peak, tension was inevitable.
If there’s no swell, there’s no swell.
I like N of town, sometimes even past the cemetary road up past bandito country, but it still needs some kinda swell.
Fed Marine base is unreal at 6’ +.
Howzit Lee, By any chance do you mean Domingo, that was hymies secret spot when he was running the show at Scorp. Did you ever check out the set up at Gregorio on the way in to scorp from the south. The river mouth there has a wave very similar to Sunset on Oahu, it gets big and next to it is a break that reminds me of Velzyland. On one trip to scorp it was small but a swell was supposed to hit one day and every body was so focused on third point waiting for it that nobody saw the sand bar inside 2nd point start breaking as the tide dropped. I grabbed one of my friends and we snuck out and had a session with perfect 3 footers for about an hour. No one caught on to it til the tide changed and by that time it was dissapearing and one guy caught 1 wave before the whole thing was over. People get so caught up in the Scorp vibe that they don’t realize the amount of other spots within a short drive.Aloha,Kokua
Actually I’ve never been any good with a longboard, so never showed any interest in Scorps.
Usually the spots N of, but S of GNegro. Drove that area about 7 trips including windsurfing/surfing trips, where it’s hard not to score.
Just N of bandido country is some good stuff, if you don’t mind being checked out EVERY nite you are there by carloads of locals.
We just gross them out usually, eating straight out of cans, acting like animals, and roughhousing constantly.
the worse thing to happen to three poles was ray buying the property and building.he was speculating on the salt plant going in-figured he sbuild a few speck homes then dump n the plant execs-too bad…glad the plant didn’t make it.unfortunately, the building had already started and yes, it has created/brought in some real assholes there…not to mention it has divided the town-thanks a lot ray…