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Baja, where the mountains meet the sea. Students Drew Farwell and Danny Kaufman enjoy the view from the summit of Picacho del Diablo.
Photo: Alexis Alloway |
Flanked by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sea of Cortez on the east, the Baja California Peninsula is a land of extremes and contrasts. Granite and volcanic mountain ranges extend over 1,000 miles down the peninsula’s central spine, and Picacho del Diablo, a 10,126-foot peak in the northern mountains, is snow-covered in winter months. The rest of Baja California, while still very rugged and mountainous, is Sonoran Desert country, receiving less than 10 inches of rainfall a year. Here exists an amazing variety of desert life, including more than 110 species of cacti. For three months, you’ll explore these contrasting environments on foot, in a sea kayak, and under a sail while having ample opportunities for cultural and Spanish language interactions with local students, educators, ranchers and fisherman. You will learn the skills you need to visit these ecosystems and communities comfortably and responsibly in the future.
Backpacking
Starting with the finer points of Leave No Trace camping, route selection, map reading, risk management, and hazard evaluation, the backpacking section of a Baja Semester takes you deep into the desert and mountains of beautiful Mexico. Classes will include discussions on group dynamics, leadership techniques, geology, wildlife identification and informal Spanish instruction. As you move through this environment, you may meet and get acquainted with local ranchers who call this remote land home.
Sailing
Your mode of travel for this section will be a 22-foot Drascombe Longboat, a great open boat that will let you explore the remote coves that larger sailing vessels can’t reach. You’ll move along the coastline, camping on shore during the night and hoisting sail during the day. In the midst of learning coastal navigation, teamwork, seamanship, anchoring, sail trim, line handling and steering, you may take time off to snorkel the warm waters of the ocean and discover the underwater life of Baja.
Sea Kayaking
Along with learning coastal kayaking skills like navigation, rolling, surfing and paddle strokes, you’ll also focus on free diving skills, water risk management, and, perhaps, spear fishing. Desert natural history is also a large part of these sections because it’s easy to take advantage of land-based activities when the sea is too rough for travel. Some semesters make an open water crossing to explore uninhabited islands located in the Gulf of California, while others visit San Nicolás, a remote fishing village where you’ll spend some time learning about the local culture. You’ll travel through these protected wildlands, observing the abundant bird and marine life and becoming enchanted with this land and its people.
Semester in Baja
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| Duration: |
78 days |
| Age: |
17 and Over |
| Tuition: |
Spring: $10,675
Fall: $10,925
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| Financial Aid Options: |
NOLS Scholarships
Federal Financial Aid |
| Dates: |
Spring 2008
Jan. 17-April 3, 2008
Jan. 31-April 17, 2008
Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking
Fall 2008
Sept. 10-Nov. 26, 2008
Sept. 24-Dec. 10, 2008
Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking
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College Credit:
(Optional) |
16
Semester Credit Hours
2 Hours Biology
2 Hours Environmental Ethics
4 Hours Leadership Techniques
6 Hours Skills Practicum
2 Hours Risk Assessment |
| Course start/end: |
Mulege, BCS, Mexico |
| Equipment Deposit: |
$500 |
| Fly in/out: |
Call Admissions |
| Downloads: |
Fall Semester
Course Description (pdf)
Spring Semester Course Description (pdf)
Equipment
List (pdf)
Reading List
(pdf) |
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Next Steps
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Related Courses
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Additional Suggested Reading
The Cave Paintings of Baja California, Harry Crosby
The Last of the Californios, Harry Crosby
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