The Baja California Peninsula is a land of extremes and contrasts. You’ll find yourself in mountain ranges that extend over 1,000 miles down the central spine of the peninsula, the Sonoran Desert, and the Sea of Cortez. You’ll explore these contrasting environments on foot, in a sea kayak, and on a sailboat as you develop your leadership skills.
Course Sections
Backpacking
Duration: 25-27 days
Route length: 50-100 miles
Average pack weight: 60 pounds
Emphasis on outdoor living skills and navigation
Location: Sierra San Pedro Martir
During this section, you’ll explore huge canyons and thick vegetation. You’ll begin with the basics of outdoor living, from tarp setup to cooking to navigation. As you travel, you will have opportunities to lead your group and learn risk management from your instructors. Eventually, you will travel in small groups independent of your instructors for up to a day at a time. By the end of this section, you’ll be ready to lead your friends and family on your own backpacking trips.
Sea Kayaking
Duration: 26-28 days
Route length: approximately 100 miles
Watercraft used: single and double sea kayaks
Emphasis on basic and advanced paddle and rescue techniques
Location: Sea of Cortez
250-pound participant weight limit (this is a function of the kayak’s weight carrying capacity)
The Sea of Cortez is a beautiful and dramatic environment where desert, volcanic coastal mountains, and the ocean come together. Watching the weather, judging sea conditions, and learning to assess your group’s strengths and abilities are just a few of the things you’ll learn on this section.
On most days, you will get up before dawn and begin to paddle. Throughout the day, you will have practical classes on kayaking skills, natural history, leadership, and expedition skills. On days when you do not move campsites, you may practice rough water kayak skills, explore the intertidal zone, go on a day hike, or learn about the desert’s natural history. You may also skin-dive and explore the world under the waves.
Coastal Sailing
Duration: 24-27 days
Route length: approximately 100 miles
Watercraft used: 22-foot Drascombe longboats
Emphasis on coastal navigation and leadership
Location: Sea of Cortez
On this section, you will learn the fundamentals of sailing as you explore the coast in yawl-rigged open boats called Drascombe longboats. Each of these craft can carry five people and at least a week’s worth of food and gear. Skills emphasized include coastal sailing, navigation, seapersonship, and leadership.
An instructor will be present on each boat to teach seapersonship, boat handling, anchoring and other nautical skills, but you, the students, will do most of the sailing and take turns in the various crew positions. You'll have time to practice many skills as you journey down the Sea of Cortez, anchoring or beaching the boats each night and camping ashore. On days when you don’t travel, you may have opportunities to review your skills, day hike, and visit local fishing and ranching communities.
