| Description:
If you would like to venture into the outdoors, but aren’t quite ready for sleeping on the ground, this is the trip for you! We will spend the weekend at Rancho La Mentada, a 13,000-acre working cattle ranch located in the sierra foothills of northern Baja California . The ranch offers horseback trail riding, miles of trails to explore, and presentations in old time ranching techniques. We will also visit a nearby Kumeeyay Indian reservation and learn first hand how to weave traditional reed baskets and other traditional native crafts.
Brief Itinerary: More Info
Depart 2pm Friday for approximately 3 hours of driving (some of which will be on a rough dirt road) to Rancho La Mentada. Once there, the experienced ranch hands will welcome us with dinner. Spend Saturday learning beginning horseback riding skills before hitting the trails for as much time in the saddle as your tail can handle. When we arrive back at the cabins, there will be a visit from the local Kumeeyay women to share their history and teach us how to weave traditional reed baskets. Sunday will find us in the saddle again for a shorter ride to a historic Kumeeyay seasonal encampment, then back at the ranch for dip in the “cement pond” and lunch before heading home. Back at SDSU by 8pm .
Weather:
Day and night time temperatures vary with the seasons (Fall & Spring), but you can anticipate a nearly identical climate that we are experiencing just inland of the San Diego coast. Specifically, nights can be in the low 50’s and day time highs can be in the low 90’s. We will review the specific packing list at the Pre-Trip meeting.
Cost Includes:
Van transportation by experienced Aztec Adventures Leaders, road tolls, all meals (but bring some tasty, non-perishable snack food), cabin lodging, horseback instruction, and Mexican guide fees.
Food:
We hope you will be amazed, as many of our trip members have been, by the delicious dishes that will be prepared. All meals will be provided by our gracious Mexican hosts who will fire up the coals and prepare for us some authentic ranch bar-b-que meals. We’ll dine in the adobe dining hall and swap stories of our adventures out on the trail.! Please let your leader know if you have any dietary restrictions, as we can usually accommodate them.
Camping/Lodging:
Your cabin was constructed on-site from handcrafted adobe bricks in the old Mexico architectural style. Each cabin sleeps 3 and is complete with its own bathroom, shower, and old-fashioned wood stove.
Health and Physical Conditioning:
If you weigh more than 250 pounds, we strongly advise against participating in this trip as the ranch has very few horses that can handle this type of weight safely and comfortably. Trip Members should be in good physical condition and able to hoist themselves onto a horse without assistance. Prior experience horseback riding is not necessary, as instruction will be provided.
Risks, Hazards and Safety:
Trip Members should be comfortable around horses and cattle – PLEASE NOTE: This is a working cattle ranch and as such trip members need to adhere to the instructions of the leaders as well as Rancho La Mentada staff at all times! Other hazards include dehydration, loose rocks, and cactus.
DRUGS & ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AT ANY TIME DURING THE TRIP. We invite you to come on this trip to enjoy the sights of Baja California and the company of your fellow trip members.
Phone: (619) 594-6958
Email: aztecadventures@sdsu.edu
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