News from Baja California

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Created: Monday, 09 November 2015 09:43

Published: Monday, 09 November 2015 09:43

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We are still standing in Ensenada guests of the family of Carlos, for a change in plans and to organize ourselves accordingly. Yesterday we completed shopping for supplies and camp logistic, focused on some maps of the area and planned to make some movement.
Tonight I will leave for Cataviña with Martino, a small pueblo of one hundred inhabitants, where tomorrow morning we will be joined by Carlos and Luca. For three - four days we will patrol the area on new reports of local rancheros, in particular we will seek to reach a large cave where apparently there are many paintings; the cavity is known by locals as Cueva Pintada (painted cave) but does not appear that there has been no exploration nor recordings of INAH (Nacional Institute of Antropology and History) in its archives. This phase will be carried out on foot for the steepness of the area that does not allow the journey on horseback.

The following days we move to a more central area of the Valle de Los Cirios, specifically the Sierra de la Asemblea, a group of high ground shaped like a horseshoe completely unexplored. Here, according to Carlos there are many opportunities to find a lot of sites with cave paintings. In this area, given the vastness of the territory, we will move almost exclusively on horseback.
I think that with these assumptions, the renunciation to ride with rancheros will not be regreted.
The project cave paintings was set up by "Sociedad de la Antigua California" (founded by Carlos Lazcano) and now continues jointly with the Association La Venta. Hasta pronto
Ciccio

Support our adventure: Intermatica (Satellite phones), Ferrino (Clothing and outdoor equipment), Dolomite (Mountain footwear), Amphibious (Dry bags), Scurion (Led lighting systems), Tiberino (Dried foods ready to be cooked).

Read more: News from Baja California

Among ancient walkways and paintings in the Valle de los Cirios, expedition in Baja California (5 to 23 November 2015)

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Created: Thursday, 05 November 2015 10:14

Published: Thursday, 05 November 2015 10:14

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Starts today a new La Venta expedition in the desert of Baja California - Mexico. Geographical context - The peninsula of Baja California, one of the 31 states of the Mexican federation, has an area of about 70,000 km2 with a length of 1200 km, a population of just over 3,000,000 inhabitants and a density of 45 persons per km2, mostly concentrated in the five major cities of the state. It is bordered to the north by the states of California and Arizona (USA), on the east by the state of Sonora, and south by the state of Baja California Sur; west is wet by the Pacific Ocean.

For several years our mexican friend and partner Carlos Lazcano Sahagun, geologist and director of the Museo de Historia of the city of Ensenada, is conducting historical and anthropological research referred to the original peoples of Baja California. His excursions along the peninsula have led in recent years to many discoveries of ancient sites, caves with rock paintings and large areas with petroglyphs, along with revisitations of old Jesuit missions scattered in the territory. The focus is especially in the Valle de Los Cirios protected area of about 25,000 km2, located in the southern part of the state, in which Carlos is one of the staunchest promoters for the recognition of the site as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We leave in three: Martino Frova, Luca Massa and myself, and will work alongside Carlos in twenty days, all on horseback, in this fascinating adventure. We will reach the Mission Santa Borja heading towards the Santa Gertrudis (120km), retracing ancient roads and exploring new areas in search of sites with rock paintings, remains of ancient settlements and missions who evangelized in the eighteenth century these lands. While crossing the desert we will realize topographic maps, locate sites with GPS points, and we will film and make a photographic documentation. To the research will also join some local ranchers, curious and eager to discover the origins and places frequented by their ancestors. A unique adventure, both for the historical aspect and for the anthropological, with a bit of folklore traditions, since we will live days in western style, through uncharted territory on horseback and camping out under the stars in front of the fire. The program provides for the first seven days crossing a vast area in which insisted an ancient road that connected the Jesuit missions with the "rancherie" and villages in the desert. Of this way we have lost tracks and memory, as the locals hardly recalls it's existence; that's why the numerous requests of local participation in the project. The everything then to arrive in the middle of our journey, in the mission of Santa Gertrudis, where since 1751 every year there is a festival that brings together all the inhabitants of the area spread over hundreds of square kilometers of desert; excellent opportunity to document traditions and customs of the inhabitants of this inhospitable land. The remaining days are dedicated to the search for new sites and caves with paintings along the valleys and remote canyons of the surrounding areas. As much as possible, as we will be in desolate and remote areas, we will try to send news and updates from the expedition location. Francesco (Ciccio) Lo Mastro
Support our adventure: Intermatica (Satellite phones), Ferrino (Clothing and outdoor equipment), Dolomite (Mountain footwear), Amphibious (Dry bags), Scurion (Led lighting systems), Tiberino (Dried foods ready to be cooked).

Read more: Among ancient walkways and paintings in the Valle de los Cirios, expedition in Baja California (5...

The last glaciers

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Created: Wednesday, 04 November 2015 13:09

Published: Wednesday, 04 November 2015 13:09

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The last glaciers, a nice article, completed with many spectacular photos, published on October 30 on RSera. Giovanni Badino interviewed by Laura Mari, talks about global warming, how it is interfering and destroying the caves created by water in glaciers and how our association is monitoring many glaciers to have as much data as possible on this phenomena.

TED by Francesco Sauro about caves and exploration in Tepui

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Created: Tuesday, 27 October 2015 12:09

Published: Tuesday, 27 October 2015 12:09

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We suggest you the TED held at the Global in London by Francesco Sauro about caves and explorations in Tepui. Has already collected over 350,000 views. A success for Francesco, La Venta and all speleology.

The return from the Amazonas begins

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Created: Thursday, 16 July 2015 10:09

Published: Thursday, 16 July 2015 10:09

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The group took advantage of a couple of days left to go to President Figueiredo and see some caves in quartzites in a beautiful park just two hours from Manaus. Just arrived back in Italy topographies of the explored caves on the Araca will be made and photo and video material (mostly made with a drone by Martino Frova) organized. We begin to send some short clips of the main phases of the expedition (in this one which the fluvial approaching).

Read more: The return from the Amazonas begins

Also this year La Venta will be at the Adventure Outdoor Fest

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Created: Wednesday, 15 July 2015 08:57

Published: Wednesday, 15 July 2015 08:57

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Adventure Outdoor Fest, July 22 to 26, San Candido Innichen (BZ). The most accredited Italian event dedicated to sports in the nature, exploration, adventure and its protagonists, dedicated to all those who love the thrill and challenge with themselves.
A fast-paced festival that focuses on his format the passion for discovery and the desire to go beyond the limit physically and mentally, told through the stories of the athletes and guests, live performances, film, photography.
A great celebration of outdoor world that will give everyone the opportunity to meet great athletes and large enterprises, to prove himself and to live a unique experience in the heart of the Dolomites.

Read more: Also this year La Venta will be at the Adventure Outdoor Fest