2015 Nomad 'Hike for Walter Henderson's Rock-Pile' (Lost Diaz Grave Mystery)

Harald shows me some stuff he found along the Pole Line Road and gave me two insulators, including the one with wires attached I photographed in the Pole Line Road thread.




Karl is packing up.


Harald is packing up.


Looking south, up Arroyo Grande


Auf wiedersehen amigos!

The three of us remaining drive south 0.6 mile to Arroyo D, and find it is wide and smooth enough to drive in a ways.


TMW and Frigatebird follow me as we are able to drive quite a ways into Arroyo D!


But we have to walk at some point!


White crystal sheeting (fossil salt/ halite?) on the surface of these boulders.


Not a canyon to be in during an earthquake!


CAVE!!!






Frigatebird volunteers to check for wildlife!


All clear!


About 20 feet long to the left.




Looking out from inside.


We go as far as we can, but it gets steep real soon.


I climb to the top of the first ridge. Photos looking around...





Back down in the canyon bottom...


Boulder dropped on a tree during a recent quake perhaps?


Heading back out...


Giant Ant Found!






Talking with TMW back at the trucks.


Selfie in Arroyo D

One more big surprise, coming up!

Maps of Arroyo D Hike:

A surprise in Arroyo B!

Arroyo B (2 miles north of A, 2.6 miles north of D) was my original planned hike route up from Arroyo Grande. On Google Earth, it seemed to have the most potential.

However, a week before our trip, PaulW hiked into the mid section or inner valley of Arroyo B from the north, and when he tried to walk out to Arroyo Grande in it, he came upon a 20' dry waterfall and found no way around it. Paul climbed up the south side of the B canyon and down into Arroyo Grande to return to his vehicle.

On our way home from Arroyo D, Tom wanted to see how he missed getting a photo of Arroyo B when he and XR Phil explored Arroyo Grande a few months earlier. I also wanted to see the end of the arroyo at Arroyo Grande... just because... it is there!


Driving north down Arroyo Grande.


The Arroyo B junction is wide at Arroyo Grande, but a row of shrubs hides the side wash, except for a small break in the brush on the north side. A large beach/ bench of sand is behind the brushline.


Looking up Arroyo B toward's PaulW's waterfall. I turn around and walk back out...


What is a GIANT tree log doing in this part of the desert? Is there a hidden forest up Arroyo B? These are desert hills, hardly able to support such massive growth!


I shout over the brush to Tom and Joe (by the trucks in Arroyo Grande) that they need to see this.




For scale!


Arroyo B and A, and potential Henderson hike routes

Baja is full of surprises and new discoveries. I welcome ideas on this tree species.


The desert trees are in bloom as we drive north in Arroyo Grande.




Pole Line Road at Arroyo Grande.




Passing the south well, heading for the north well and caretakers house.



We continue down Arroyo Grande, pass the Pole Line Road junction (7.5 miles from Arroyo B, 9.5 from Arroyo A, 10.1 from Arroyo D) and continue north for 5.3 miles to the huge water well pump complex that serves the gold mines about 40 miles north of San Felipe, along Hwy. 5.




A final look south from where we came.

At the wells, we make a right (east) turn and take the graded road along the water pipe and power lines. 4.4 miles from the wells we cross the CODE race course (the pipe briefly goes underground here, for the road south to pass over it). 6.5 miles from the wells, the road to Hwy. 5 turns left (north) as the power lines continue east. New activity in this valley has a branch waterline going north just before the turn.






At the CODE race course crossing. (SCORE as well)


Looking north on the race road.


The salt flats and north end of the Gulf of California, as we near Hwy. 5.

At 12.5 miles from the wells, 17.8 from the Pole Line Road at Arroyo Grande, 25.3 miles from Arroyo B, we reach Highway 5 between Km. 106 and 107, about a half mile south of the La Ventana rest stop/ store (former Pemex station).

The rest of the trip report notes I have say it was 46 miles to the La Puerta Pemex station (a U-Turn was needed because the highway is divided, and the station is on the southbound side).

La Puerta to La Rumorosa toll booth was 59 miles, and it was 96 miles to the Tecate U.S. Border. The border wait and entry process was just 10 minutes on Tuesday afternoon (5:44-5:54)

CONCLUSSION:

BAJA ROCKS! Good fun four wheeling with other Nomads and friends of Ken Cooke. Great to try and find history anywhere in Baja! On this Easter weekend, we traveled a road built in the defense of California during World War II and the telephone poles along it. Then we hiked and climbed to try and find a grave-like pile of rocks seen in the 1930's by Walter Henderson and written about by Choral Pepper and Bruce Barber in their books as they hoped to find the rock pile. The January 8, 1541 grave of Melchior Diaz, of the Coronado Expedition into the land that would be the United States, remains lost. Melchior Diaz was the first Spanish man to enter into California by land, but finding his grave on the west side of the Gulf of California would positively confirm that.

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

great job, David!

Thank you Harald... Here is a photo you took of me, Tom and Joe on the north side of Arroyo A, going around the dam gorge...

Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron

Looks like you had a great time David---thanks for all the great pics and report. My first thought about the tree was a mesquite, though ironwoods and palo verdes can get massive under the right conditions...

Yes, I did, you are welcome... thanks for your ideas on the tree log too.

Nice work David. Just as I remember it, except I thought you snapped a photo of the mountain lion when I evicted it from the cave?

Quote: Originally posted by Frigatebird

Nice work David. Just as I remember it, except I thought you snapped a photo of the mountain lion when I evicted it from the cave?

The older I get, the slower I get... sorry I missed that photo shot!!!

Quote: Originally posted by KaceyJ

DK, to me , because of the knots / nodes / morphology the tree looks to be a Cottonwood or Sycamore which may seem out of place but I'd bet there is a stand at a higher / wetter location upstream

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

DK....What was your criteria for the current search site? How did you narrow it to the current area?

Did you read the letter earlier in this thread? The following map points out places in the letter...

Based on the rock pile's discoverer, Walter Henderson... as told to Choral Pepper in 1967 (and she turned into a mystery story in her book and magazine articles):



As you can read Walters letter, I shared publically here on Baja Nomad for all to enjoy and help figure out where the rock pile was...

Mentioned and pointed out, on the 1962 Lower Ca Guidebook Map 3: Remember, there was no Hwy. 5 back then, the old road to San Felipe may have been close, however.
*La Ventana
*Road running west from just north of El Chinero, about 20 miles south of La Ventana.
* Take off about 5 miles below road north of El Chinero
* RED ARROW: Parked at Base of hills
* Arroyo Grande
* Base of Cerro Borrego

[Edited on 7-15-2015 by David K]

Do I have your general search area marked correctly?

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

David can you resurrect an overview showing the A, B, C locations in the AG wash? I know we saw it back when with coordinates at one time. Thanks

Hi Paul, Arroyo C was dismissed before this year's discussion, but it is at or close to where you parked your truck and hiked into Arroyo B's middle valley from (ie. the top right of this map that shows Arroyos B, A, and D from top to bottom):

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Do I have your general search area marked correctly?

Quote: Originally posted by Fatboy

Same story...reading it now...but am unsure where the comments such as these .... They reached the top of the Sierra Pinta range and then went steeply down the west side, into Arroyo Grande. Around noon, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the distance down from the divide and this..... They made camp that night in Arroyo Grande, and returned the next day to the Model A by traveling up Arroyo Grande to the base of Borrego Mountain and then back east to the car The camping part - no problem - but the rest? Are these based on other letters or notes or by a careful reading of the letters you posted?

Beginning at the Model A

We now know Henderson parked his Model A near 4 corners then walked west. Then my hypothesis is the easy walking would be one of the two drainages looking west. The one leading NW ends quickly after heading N. Lots of choices for sure.
The other one is Arroyo Arrajal which leads pretty much the same way but then turns SW. But there is another drainage that heads NW then W toward the heart of Arroyo Grande.
So my next project will be two fold.
1) Climb to the top of Arrajal and have a look. Who knows if I will make any conclusions from the top? I will tell you all about the results later. For now the preliminary plan is to start at the Slate Mine and take the NE leading ridge. My link about Slate is http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=72246#pid8855...
Note the error in the label of the arroyo

2) Drive as far as I can up the fork off the race track that leads NW Junction is at ~31 26.7, 115 15.9. Then walk around toward AG to have a look see.
So I will tell you the dates later and invite your participation.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Wonderful! Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez. That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande? Obviously we will not know any of this for sure until the rock pile is discovered! I wish you luck! I do have a planned return expedition, perhaps after the heat of September?

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Do you think from 4 corners the arroyo north of Arrajal should be the first choice? ======== Quote: Originally posted by David K   Wonderful! Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez. That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande? Obviously we will not know any of this for sure until the rock pile is discovered! I wish you luck! I do have a planned return expedition, perhaps after the heat of September?

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Use the hint that Walter gave us, that he was seeking a way to the Sierra las Palmitas and Tinajas, for the rumored blue palms. He knew they were too far south, but that was the only route they found from the San Felipe road to the base of the small mountains, east of the Sierra Juarez. That is why I guessed he would have hiked northwest to the divide and not straight west from the Model A. He came back a different route, from the base of Cerro Borrego, so that I think Arroyo Arrajal was on or parallel to his return route back from Arroyo Grande? ======== Quote: Originally posted by PaulW   Do you think from 4 corners the arroyo north of Arrajal should be the first choice? ======== Quote: Originally posted by David K   Yes. ======== I understand your suggestion and will do both. That northerly one quickly merges with the off shoot NW from Race but does not look as drive-able. I want to drive for a quick look before the hiking begins. So the dilemma is when ‘does one head west’? My guess would be 31 28-29’? PS, Other readers need to remember Henderson’s C. Borrego is the present day C. Arrajal? On the new maps C Borrego is closer to Hwy 3. Another easy hike to get the views south to see Diablo and Lugana Diablo

Quote: Originally posted by kevin_in_idaho

I googled Walter Henderson and trying to figure out who he was, etc. I see by one of your posts you are looking for a grave site? This is pretty cool to see how your thought process is going! It'd be cool to find it. [Edited on 3-21-2017 by kevin_in_idaho]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by kevin_in_idaho   I googled Walter Henderson and trying to figure out who he was, etc. I see by one of your posts you are looking for a grave site? This is pretty cool to see how your thought process is going! It'd be cool to find it. [Edited on 3-21-2017 by kevin_in_idaho] Read this: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/searchin...

Who's in charge here?

Quote: Originally posted by John M

Charles V - of Spain appointed Antonia De Mendoza as Viceroy. One of his early priorities was exploration. Having heard of the fabulous Seven Cities of Cibola Mendoza organized an expedition to take a look assigning Francisco Vazquez de Coronado the task - as it worked out, Coronado was unable to fulfill his assignment. Mendoza had more success establishing educational institutions. Mendoza succeeded in many of his responsibilities. I didn't really know this stuff but a quick search on-line gives such great details. Staying with the thread, Melchor Diaz was involved in supplying Coronado. John M

The airstrip is probably the one at 31-23.685x115-20.200. The trail along there was used in a couple of SF 250 races. The turnoff on Hwy 3 is about a mile west of the road that goes down to Diablo Dry Lake.



[Edited on 1-16-2019 by TMW]

[Edited on 5-7-2021 by BajaNomad]

What TWM posted is what I drove on one of the several trips in the area.

Went in at his KM179 several times.

Also went in and out off of Hwy 5 a couple of times, somewhere around 10 miles north of the Hwy 3 and 5 junction.

Went out where TMW has H3 marked, that we are all talking about, once and still not sure if that is what 4x4abc is referring to though.

That runway has ditches every 50 to 100 feet at least on the western end. I walked it to the end and found a couple of old campsites and there was probably 15 ditches on that half.

Sure, Arroyo Grande is just right of the center at top of the image.

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Last Sunday two guys in a Jeep headed west from La Ventana to look for the rock pile. No tracker device. 26 miles later the jeep crapped out. (I never got a location. I was not part of the search team as I an in the states). The two guys had enough water. One stayed with the Jeep and the other started hiking. The hiker eventually got to San Matias and called in. (I double checked that - WOW what a hike. I guess he got to hwy 3 and walked up the road???) Meanwhile it got dark and the wives called locals for help Help started Sunday in the dark and included 6 Jeeps. 3 went south on the west side of the gold mine. 3 went north. No success and they all went back to San Felipe and found the hiker was safe. Some time Monday the hiker and the Jeep were recovered. Both guys are healthy. Names of the two in the Jeep withheld Rescue team included usual friends and San Felipe good guys most of you all know about.

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

David can you fix TMWs picture?

El Arrajal

El Arrajal-2

El Arrajal-3

El Arrajal-4

El Arrajal-5

Thanks Tom!
(Hope that is what Paul wanted)