El
Parral
After looking at the maps of Vale Chico for years and seeing
a road to a place called El Parral, I figured it was time to
find out what was there. I mention this to Wes on a Wednesday
and we decided to see what we could find. So on Friday, with
six baja bugs and desert rails, we set out to search for El
Parral.
We found the road into the canyon without any trouble and went
south through a wide riverbed and a small hilly area and then
dropped into the riverbed heading for "El Parral".
The convoy passed through an open gated fence and then another
fence with opened gate, drove by an abandoned pickup truck and
after another mile or so, a fence and corral. All gates were
open so we had lunch and proceded far up the somewhat washed
out road until we reached our end. We could see blue palms on
the hillside to the southwest and in the distance to the south.
The day was wearing thin so without another way to proceed deeper
into the canyon, we headed home.
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I
emailed someone to find out if they had any information
on what is beyond the washout in the road and received
several replies from David, Mexitron and Brooks which
made me more anxious to check it out again. Some people
hiking up to the ruins of the Mission San Pedro Matir
thought they'd come around to see it so I made plans to
try again. On the 9th of Apr, four vehicles with Dan &
Judy, Wes & Diane, Bill & Hap, and myself &
Teina started out. When we got to the second fence near
the old pickup truck, we met a group of four vechicles
heading the opposite way. They had just finished leaving
a note to me that they were heading to Matomi Rancho for
the next day or two. Four of the people had completed
the five day hike into and return from the ruins of the
Mission San Pedro Matir, the first time anyone has been
there in many years. While we were chatting, David K and
Jide showed up, having driven down from San Diego that
morning to explore the canyon with us. We made this the
lunch spot and visited until the others had to head out
to the Matomi.
Onward we went to the corral and set up our camp, as this
was going to be a two day affair. Got everything in order
and headed back down to the riverbed we first crossed
when we came in. After driving 2-3 miles up the sandy
wash, we begin seeing blue palms, a SE hillside covered
with them. Arrving at the end of our wheeled journey,
we set out on foot up the canyon. It was amazing, water
flowing in pools, green grass and shrubs and of course,
the blue palms. We kept trying to find out "whats
around that next bend" until it was time to get back
to our camp for dinner.
An evening spent around the campfire
was the end of another great day. Saturday morning and
it was time to do what we came to do - see if we could
find "El Parral". We drove to the end of the
passible road and began the hike. Not too bad even for
someone who sits around a lot. Not very far up the road
we began to see the blue palms near the road and water
in the streambed. We also saw lots of green shrubs and
trees. |
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About a mile and a quarter from the buggies
we came to a rock fence. It was over 6 feet high in some
places but mostly about 4.5 ft high with two gates and one hole
where another gate might have been. Just outside this corral
was the old ranch building, long abandoned. A wooden box with
a few beans in the bottom, old mattresses, chairs and all the
things left when a place's usefullness is over. Just to the
west was the stream with the shrubs growing so tight together
is was difficult to get through. Then the blue palms, a couple
date palms, an old orchard, some wild grape vines with tiny
grapes, other remenants of the ranch and people who once lived
here.
Jide and I hiked another 1.5 miles up the canyon. We discovered
a large natural tank in the rocks of the streambed filled with
water. Jide took a plunge to cool off and said it felt icy but
was refreshing. Nearby was the spring coming out of the side
of the streambed. The canyon continued and branched with blue
palms in the streambeds. We climbed a hillside where the rock
cliffs were studded with palms. We could look down into a branch
canyon that went back to where our cars were, but decided to
return the way we came as others were waiting for us. On the
way back, we saw a small watersnake swim across the pool to
some moss floating in the middle.
Back at the vechicles, we met the others and found out that
David and Danover had seen a good-sized red diamondback and
that another person had found a very complete ram's head with
a great set of horns, so new there was still some skin with
hair on it.
The sun kept moving toward the west, so it
was time to packup and head for home. We stopped at the ranch
out in the valley for a last look and to rest a moment in the
hammock under the shade of a large leafy tree. Water gurgled
into and out of the pila and the sound made it a very relaxing
spot. But we couldn't stay forever so into the vehicles and
back to our homes by evening.
El Parral was a canyon that I will return
to again. It is a unique and enchanting place visit.
Click on any of the thumbnails above
to enlarge the image.
