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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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La Turquesa Trek
Greetings all,
This more aggressive type of offroading creates a new shortcut joining M-1 with M-5 and is not for the faint of heart. Dust off your macho rides and
lets do it and not just talk about it!!!!!
Your ride needs to be a shorter wheel base 4X4 with at least one same axle LOCKING device or some form of TRACTION CONTROL.
My LR3 and David K's Tacoma have both recently returned from Mision Santa Maria ----- A trek that thourghly tested both vehicles and quantified their
more aggressive type of offroading capabilities.
This La Turquesa Trek will be a FIRST of any 4X4s in a great many years to get thru. There was, at one time, an old truck trail to the mine but storms
and time have wiped a lot of it out. The offroad motorcycle guys get thru here on their 'thumpers' but are doubthful about us wimps in our nice
shinny airconditioned camp gear laden cages.
Basic route of travel will be a night in El Rosario Baja Cactus Motel >>>> Laguna Chapala >>>> Coco's Corner >>>>
Las Arrastras past the pools >>>> La Turquesa Mine >>>> west on the challenging arroyo >>>> 2,000 foot climb out
up the mountain(no mistakes here or you die) ....on top and to Mexico 1. -------------- Easy Right ------ just say si mano -----
Date set for this fun run is ----- Weekend of June 16, 2007.
U2U me for conformation and details.
Best Regards, sq.
[Edited on 6-8-2007 by The squarecircle]
[Edited on 6-8-2007 by The squarecircle]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Okay guys, you asked for this... a Baja Nomad created short cut to Gonzaga Bay!
Last February, Baja Angel and I drove from Mex 1 (just south of El Pedregoso (the lone boulder mountain, on the right side of Mex. 1, between Cataviņa
and Laguna Chapala) to the top of the La Turquesa Grade and found an old mine or 'Jeep' road that was bulldozed into the mountainside.
This route had been used by motorcycles as a short cut and is described in Kacey Smith's Baja GPS guide as the 'XR Ride'. Other riders have called it
Coco's Shortcut after learning about it from Coco (at Coco's Corner, a few miles south).
We hiked nearly halfway down the grade, not sure if there was a place to turn around, if we had to... When I got home I saw it on Google go right to
the arroyo...
It is approx. 1 mile from the bottom of the grade to the turquoise mine road that comes about 3 miles off Mex. route 5 and passes the green pools.
It is this approx. one mile in the wash (used now by motorcycles) that would require some brush and rock moving to get four wheeled rigs through.
I hope Squarecircle and other Nomads have great success! I will be unable to attend due to an important family event that weekend! However, I will
help any other way that I can!
My trip web page for the La Turquesa Grade is http://vivabaja.com/207
Here are some photos from that page...
It is 4.6 miles from Mex. 1 to the top of the grade on this road.
Here is what we saw... an old mine road graded down the mountain.
At 1/3 the way down, we saw nothing that would make this difficult to drive in a good 4WD rig.
Baja Atlas topo map with the entire route between Mex. 1 and 5 shown.
Satellite image which easily showed the grade, which I high lighted. I point out the top and bottom of the grade and the point I hiked down to.
GOOD LUCK AMIGOS!!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The full Trip Report with more photos from last Feb.: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=22806
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here are Squarecircle's photos of the other end... the mine: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24607
[Edited on 6-13-2007 by David K]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I would really like to be there but the family has other ideals for this fathers day weekend. And coming only two weeks after a 10 day trip thru Baja,
I was not able to convince them otherwise. Sorry
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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La Turquesa Trek
| Quote: | Originally posted by The squarecircle
Greetings all,
This more aggressive type of offroading creates a new shortcut joining M-1 with M-5 and is not for the faint of heart. Dust off your macho rides and
lets do it and not just talk about it!!!!!
Your ride needs to be a shorter wheel base 4X4 with at least one same axle LOCKING device or some form of TRACTION CONTROL.
My LR3 and David K's Tacoma have both recently returned from Mision Santa Maria ----- A trek that thourghly tested both vehicles and quantified their
more aggressive type of offroading capabilities.
This La Turquesa Trek will be a FIRST of any 4X4s in a great many years to get thru. There was, at one time, an old truck trail to the mine but storms
and time have wiped a lot of it out. The offroad motorcycle guys get thru here on their 'thumpers' but are doubthful about us wimps in our nice
shinny airconditioned camp gear laden cages.
Basic route of travel will be a night in El Rosario Baja Cactus Motel >>>> Laguna Chapala >>>> Coco's Corner >>>>
Las Arrastras past the pools >>>> La Turquesa Mine >>>> west on the challenging arroyo >>>> 2,000 foot climb out
up the mountain(no mistakes here or you die) ....on top and to Mexico 1. -------------- Easy Right ------ just say si mano -----
Date set for this fun run is ----- Weekend of June 16, 2007.
U2U me for conformation and details.
Best Regards, sq.
[Edited on 6-8-2007 by The squarecircle]
[Edited on 6-8-2007 by The squarecircle] |
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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La Turquesa Trek
Greeting tripledigitken, >>>>> How about dusting off that Xterria 4X4 and joining me on the La Turquesa Trek. I am sure your Datsun
will get you thru the more difficult sections. You have the 'off road' version and it's WHITE like MINE.
White being the absolute best color for serious off-roading.
>>>>>> Best Regards, >>>>>>>>>>>> sq.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by The squarecircle
Greeting tripledigitken, >>>>> How about dusting off that Xterria 4X4 and joining me on the La Turquesa Trek. I am sure your Datsun
will get you thru the more difficult sections. You have the 'off road' version and it's WHITE like MINE.
White being the absolute best color for serious off-roading.
>>>>>> Best Regards, >>>>>>>>>>>> sq. |
Sq0,
I thought of contacting you to let you know that I would love to do it, but can't that weekend.
Suggestion.................plan another trip with some advance notice. I unfortuneatly still work and have to squeeze my vacation time like blood
from a turnip. This year is booked.
I would schedule a trip to do it next spring, or.............? So if you want to do it again, and you will, I'm there.
Thanks for the offer.
Ken
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Fathers Day weekend is a problem for some, but what a great thing to do with dad or son: Build a road in Baja!!!   
Big graduation event (UCSD) I am attending Saturday, otherwise Baja Angel and I would be there with you Roy!
How about it Nomads? Help the squarecircle make that shortcut to Gonzaga we with 4 wheel drive could all use!
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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Hi David, >>>> Called Baja Cactus today and nailed down a room for Friday 15. Will get an early start, after breakfast at Ed's, and
proceed with the Trek. Naturally I was hoping for some help but I guess my timing is way off in left field somewhere. Oh well, nothing new in that
respect. We will shall now see what 'Winston' can do. >>>> I appreciate all your efforts in this venture. >>>> Kindest
Regards, sq.
[Edited on 6-14-2007 by The squarecircle]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Have a grand time Roy... I hope some Nomad viewers do join you at the last minute or show up down there... You never now!
It is only between 1 and 2 miles in the arroyo between the mine road and the bottom of the grade that needs some mods for a vehicle to pass, so I hope
it is doable. Be careful of where you put your hands amigo(rattlesnake warning)!!!
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Gadget
Senior Nomad
Posts: 851
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Point Loma CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Blessed with another day
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Sorry SQC. Parts just starting to come in for repairs on GSB after our Baja 500 fun. Have a mini thrash created for myself as I have to get it all
back together before the El Rosario trip July 20.
Good skill to ya.
We will be on that trail soon either to finish what you started or applaud your efforts.
"Mankind will not be judged by their faults, but by the direction of their lives." Leo Giovinetti
See you in Baja
http://www.LocosMocos.com
Gadget |
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Has anyone heard from SC
I hope he made it back safely.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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He hasn't called...??? Shall we mount a rescue party...???
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
Member Is Offline
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Maybe still stuck in traffic in TJ?.......
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
He hasn't called...??? Shall we mount a rescue party...??? |
David,
All kidding aside, it sounded like he was going it alone. It was just a weekend trip, maybe 3-4 days. Surely he was scheduled to be home by now.
Do you have contact numbers for him to check on?
Like to know he isn't missing in an area thats gets minimal traffic, especially in summer.
Probably no problem, but as a fellow Nomad we should try to verify.
Ken
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
Member Is Offline
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DK seems to always be kidding because of his smiling avatar:-)
But seriously, it's nothing to kid about; I'm starting to feel bad I hadn't wondered about SC sooner. What if . . . . ?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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ROY IS OK
5:44pm... just off the phone with The squarecircle...
Roy was with a friend plus two guys in another vehicle (older model Jeep Cherokee)...
They made it about half way (3/4 mile) between the turquoise mine and the bottom of the grade... However, bad scratches from brush and the Jeep
sustained some major rock damage.
Squarecircle said it was very hot and after a day of struggling, headed back to Beluga...
Look for a detailed report from 'The squarecircle' himself... soon!
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
5:44pm... just off the phone with The squarecircle...
Roy was with a friend plus two guys in another vehicle (older model Jeep Cherokee)...
They made it about half way (3/4 mile) between the turquoise mine and the bottom of the grade... However, bad scratches from brush and the Jeep
sustained some major rock damage.
Squarecircle said it was very hot and after a day of struggling, headed back to Beluga...
Look for a detailed report from 'The squarecircle' himself... soon! |
David,
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear all is well. I'll bet it was hot with the weather were having in CA and AZ.
Ken
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes, that limited their eagerness to scout other routes in the canyon/ valley.
As Roy hasn't posted yet, let me add that they did keep to the right (north) side, as did the motorcycles... Some evidence of an ancient road was
seen, that the arroyo has washed out. A flat area also promissed a route for autos... but scouting a cross over from one wash to the next is where
other Nomads would have helped... Another idea is to have one group come down the grade from Mex 1 and work a route from both ends... with
communication between the two teams...
Just something to do, in the desert!
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