2017 Baja Divide | Topanga Creek Outpost Adventure Field Log

A few photos from the Baja Divide. Chris took off with about 100 people when Leal and Nicholas kicked off the route. He had an absolutely amazing time. More information on his incredible adventure soon. Here are some photos to get started.

: Taking the day off to supply up, Chris stopped at a hardware store to replace the bivvy pole he had left accidentally in the forest. A plastic weather strip did the trick, cut in size for the purpose.

: Everyone had an amazing time on our rain day/party night at the Ceileto Lindo

: We camped here at the el Coyote. Ideally, make reservations for your visit so they know and have food for you.

: A whole bunch of us spent some of the funnest time in Baja waiting out the rain at the Cielito Lindo.

: For a couple brief fun moments, Dune Buggies shared the Divide Route. Rest assured you hear them coming and stopping for a moment to have the on the route was fun.

: Bikepacking through Baja California on an Advocate Hayduke. Chris explored the amazing area.

: Riding the dirt roads of Baja.

: Every bike set up was entirely different on the Baja Divide Route.

: The first segment.

: The Baja route is best done when the temperatures are cooler in the winter, but rain can strike.

: Relaxing on a rain day at the Ceilito Lindo.

: A fun, fun ranch and resort in the hills. The Meling family has a couple great places way way up in the mountains and only accessible by rugged dirt road.

: The Baja Divide route enters Mexico at Tecate where the border crossing is simple for bikes. Chris had to get a temporary visitor’s stay which cost $24.50 for 6 months. The process took about 15 minutes at the border.

: Chris went on the FASS Bikes shop ride in Vicente Guerrero with a bunch of other Baja Divide riders and everyone stopped for tacos. It wasn’t even Tuesday.

: An unscheduled impromptu Happy Hour at the Cielitio Lindo along the Baja Divide.

: We settled in an oak grove to protect us a bit from the morning dew and add a little warmth. Baja California is so diverse.

: Ana did a stellar job making the fire along the ocean on the Baja Divide.

: Bike packing along the Pacific Ocean in beautiful Baja, California.

: Mike is da man.

: After riding up for a while, a long decent waited in front of us. Snacks and water celebration before dropping down to the water.

: Camping taco night.

: One of the greatest meals and places along the Baja Divide was the Rancho el Coyote Meling in the mountains. The stove/oven is wood heated. Chris enjoyed some quiet time waiting for his breakpast.

: Nick bought his Hayduke from us, but Chris had never met him and they were riding together and realized the connection during the Baja Divide.

: For a day, Chris battled some muddy tracks which sometimes cleaned off when he had to wade through the water.

: Bikepacking requires cooking along the way and bringing gear. Simple is better. We cooked a lot of soups, rice and beans after stopping at stores for fresh breads and tortillas.

: Baja Divide random moment in virtually the middle of nowhere.

: One final pit stop before a significant climb on the Baja Divide route.

: Bikepacking on a Advocate Hayduke with Bedrock bags. Perfect setup for the Baja Divide for Chris. Tire sized ideally for the terrain.

: WELCOME.

: Our bikepacking crowd fit in perfectly at the Cielito LIndo in Baja for Happy Hour and a great time at the old Vegas style place.

: Chris on his Advocate Hayduke before Colonet after leaving the Pacific Ocean.

: Mike, from Canada, along the Baja Divide route. This guy has a great attitude in life.

: Group start for the kick-off the Baja Divide.

: That would be the last time Chris saw the Bivvy’s only pole. Missing, it is probably sitting in the oak grove forever.

: Downhills are fun after a few days of climbing in the mountains.

: So many hills. Never ending hills.

: Chris stopped for some hot springs along the route. Quite a nice break from bikepacking.

: Baja fish tacos are even better after a shop ride. We went riding with the local bike shop and stopped for tacos after.

: The bikes along the route were so different and all the set ups were too.

: Camping along the Pacific at night with a campfire is about as good as it gets.

: Chris stayed across from some old volcanoes in Baja. Old Mill, Baja California.

: Various terrain and roads are throughout Baja. The route takes you to many off the beaten paths spots.

: A bunch of us arrived at the same time and waited for a photo from the department of tourism. Fun day in Tecate.

: Chris bikepacked along the coast and set up camp on the ocean.

: Chris enjoyed a couple hours of glorious down hill riding into town after the mountains.

: A quick selfie from Chris on the route.

: Everywhere around the northern part of Baja was spectacular mountains, terrain and vistas. Chris bikepacking through was a treat.

: Late in the day before some hills lots of us stopped and set up camp along this road.

: Chris at Salvador’s shop in Baja. FASS Bikes is the best shop Chris found.

: Chris stopped to smell the cactus and the ocean views along the Baja Divide route.

: Chris brought along his patch.

: Lots of different setups and a few traditional campgrounds

: We were treated to some pineapples cooked over the fire in Baja camping on the second night.

: Chris relaxed along the Pacific Coast after camping in his Bivvy. It was a great night sleep. You can see tracks from the dune buggies on the sand and we saw a couple having a good tim.

: UnPredict Your Journey

: We had a group photo in Tecate with the department of Tourism. A couple people from the Mexican government were in Tecate promoting alternative recreation for Baja and bikepacking is ideal. After the photo, most of the group found some coffee and/or tacos.

: The first night of bikepacking the Baja Divide on the kick-off week included food, freebies and the chance to have something silk screened with the logo. Just like summer camp.

: Baja Divide Sunset.

: There was a lot of places to camp and have coffee stops along the Pacific Ocean.

: Chris had a beach day and played in the sand. UnPredict Your Journey.

: Getting out there and enjoying some very away time in a very away place.

: Crazy or not, a bunch of us joined FASS Bikes for a morning ride. We took a break from riding the divide to do it.

: Chris probably should have waited for a couple days before he went down this road. It was wet and muddy, obviously.

: A little time prepping bikes in Tecate before the group photos.

: Baja California is just plain beautiful with a variety of terrain.

: After riding for the day, Chris and a couple others decided to camp on the ocean.

: Chris, Ana, Jace, Nicholas, Lael and a few others took the morning off from bikepacking the divide to go on the local shop ride and see the local singletrack. Fun morning in the hood.

: Stopping for a lunch break in Baja, California.

: Everyone got their wifi fix on the Baja Divide every few days at small cafe’s and motels.

: Fun group start. We all stayed together.

: Chris set up his Advocate Hayduke with Bedrock bags and 27.5 plus tires. Perfect for him. Just plain perfect.

: Glad this moment was a week after the rain. The Baja Peninsula has a lots of mixed terrain.

: Chris brought along a couple of our bikepacking patches.

: Riding his Advocate Hayduke, Chris, bikepacking through Baja, is headed down to the water.

: Sand dollars, Sand Dobs, Star fish.

: Some ancient volcanoes that were probably under the sea are in Baja along the ocean. Amazing.

: A whole slew of us started the Baja Divide in San Diego to kick off the route.

: Inside the Happy Hour extravaganza. We took over the old school resort for a couple days and had a terrific time.

: After riding in the mountains for a few days, the ocean was a terrific place to see and enjoy for about 20 miles.

: A celebration day at the Cielito Lindo Santa Maria in Baja California.

: 2 for 1 Margaritas at the Cielito Lindo for Happy Hour along the the Baja Divide. Just about perfect.

: Baja is completely diverse in topography.

: Fass Bicycles shop ride day during the Baja Divide trip.

: The Northern section of Baja is mostly hilly, so it was nice when we had relatively flat areas.

: The roughly 100 of us that set off on the kick-off of the Baja Divide route kept leap frogging each other. We often stopped and chatted camping and having meals like this lunch

: Mike and Suzanne camping along the Baja Divide. These two are from Canada.

: Chris found some terrific camping spots on the Pacific Ocean.

: The hills are alive in Mexico.

: A few murals along the route. Chris tried stopping when the photo op was right.

: The Cielito Lindo Resort is a snapshot of time forgotten. The 1960s Baja resort hasn’t been largely changed in over 50 years. Still a bit out of the way and worth every adventure nuance to find it and stay there.

: Chris was riding along and all of sudden an art project occurred. Just wild. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the owner of this ranch is more of an artist than anything.

: Back in the 60s and 70s, the Cielito Lindo was only accessible by airstrip. John Wayne, Henry Fonda and the likes were regulars. John Wayne owned it for 10 years according to the current owner. Completely off the beaten path, the Cielto Lindo is just like it was in the 60s. Amazing. We had a great time staying and hanging out in the original lounge/bar.

: About 100 of us had dinner together on the first night of the Baja Divide Kick-off and camped together. A night that will live kindly in everyone’s memory.

: We set up camp on a bluff along the ocean, made a fire and had a terrific night sleep.