| Pages:
1
2 |
El Comadante Loco
Nomad
Posts: 274
Registered: 6-12-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Matomi Narrows, Photos Added, Thxs Ken C.
Narrows Ride
On Friday Nov 16th we rode quads to check the closure of the narrows. We entered the narrows of Hyw 5 around K60.
The road was rough with many of large rocks and whoops. We took our time and enjoyed scenery which was as spectacular as ever. Just before, as we
approached the narrows the terrain got rougher and we encountered our first obstacle field of larger rocks and debris blocking our path. No problems
on the quads once we moved some of the larger rocks out of the way. We were able to advance about 1/4 to 1/2 mile when we ran into the complete
blockage by huge boulders. There was no way to attempt getting through without lifting the quads over the boulders. Confronted with this blockage we
got off the quads and took a short hike up the narrows only to find 3 more impassable areas. Now if you have a rock crawler you could make it through.
Well there will be no more Baja 500 or San Felipe 250 that will come down the narrows.
It was awesome to see the extent of the blockages and makes you appreciate the power of mother nature to move such large objects. I can only image the
power and speed of water moving through the narrows. At least I can say I was privileged to have had the experience to have ridden though the narrows.
Took some photos and will post them as soon as I learn how to do it.. Here is my crude attempt to attach a photo not sure if it will come out or not
El Comandante Loco
[Edited on 11-21-2012 by El Comadante Loco]
|
|
|
El Comadante Loco
Nomad
Posts: 274
Registered: 6-12-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Sorry for the double post.. I guess the photo did not come out. Just figured out how to delete the double post, done
[Edited on 11-20-2012 by El Comadante Loco]
|
|
|
Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
|
|
Jeez! Are you saying that somebody is gonna have to "Walk" to get there? They
won't be able to drive right up, get out, take pictures and punch their Baja cards? What the heck! Life can be hard sometimes.
|
|
|
Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
|
|
It is easy to bypass the Narrows, Just find Valle Chico and go south. 
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
There is a fairly easy way to get around the Matomi Narrows, as I am sure most of you know, but for those that don't, you simply have to cross the
mountains a few miles north of the Matomi, thru a canyon that runs east & west from near the old Apache Sulfur mine on the east end of Canyon
Parral (smetimes knows as "Azufre"), running west thru the Parral canyon to Valle Chico. In the past this was a very easy trail to use, easily
passable by 2-wheel drive pickup, but I have not been over it for years and it may also be blocked now, but I doubt it as there really were no places
that I remember that were even tricky.
Barry
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Some Maps to Matomi
|
|
|
Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
|
|
Gracias, DK!
At least some of us are now able to enjoy the post, rather than guessing where the narrows are.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
Gracias, DK!
At least some of us are now able to enjoy the post, rather than guessing where the narrows are. |
On my 1988 map, I wrote 'Difficult Passage' at the narrows, as the bare rocks were exposed in the years before. Next big chubasco could cover them up
with sand once again!
Here are my photos driving up to Matomi from Hwy. 5 and through the narrows (in 2006), start here:
http://vivabaja.com/618/page4.html
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
These rocks look like the ones on the Pole Line Road
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
In my opinion, Mother Nature will send sand and mud through the narrows, partially covering the rocks that are now placed there, making travel again
possible in the next 3-5 years.
With a good, flexible suspension, sturdy tires and a short wheelbase vehicle with good clearance, that route can be negotiated with minimal vehicular
damage. I would certainly like to check it out the next time I get down to the San Felipe area. I know the guys that run the Johnson Valley Hammers
should be able to make it through - provided that the rocks aren't much worse further down the trail than those pictured in Comandante Loco's photos.
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
You'll definitely want a Jeep to explore on these rocks!
near Las Vegas, NV at the Hump n' Bump event
Here's the Saavy Jeep running Falken Wildpeak ATs
Johnson Valley, CA
|
|
|
BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
so much for using the wash for the 2013 PRESIDENTS DAY nomads trail ride...maybe a run to Gonzaga is in place...
|
|
|
Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
I could totally do those narrows in my motorhome blindfolded. JK.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Use the sulfur mine/ Valle Chico road like we did in 2004 Prez Day Run... http://vivabaja.com/204
|
|
|
Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Use the sulfur mine/ Valle Chico road like we did in 2004 Prez Day Run... http://vivabaja.com/204 |
I can't believe it's been over 8 years since we did that run! Thanks for the memory of that trip. And, it was great to see my old dog Shelby
again!!! May she rest in peace.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
|
|
|
Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
|
|
I really want to take some Jeeps through the Matomi Narrows. I guess the event is being changed into a drive down to Gonzaga Bay? I'll have to find
a friend w/a Jeep and hit the trail sometime in the Spring.
|
|
|
BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I really want to take some Jeeps through the Matomi Narrows. I guess the event is being changed into a drive down to Gonzaga Bay? I'll have to find
a friend w/a Jeep and hit the trail sometime in the Spring. |
Ken we don't have a destination set at this
time,Gonzaga has been a option in the past, but I think, there is alot canyons around San Felipe to discover..I want to do El Berrendo with it's blue
palms, but will see...look for anew thread around the begining of January, thats if we survive Dic 21..if you know what I mean.hahaha
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
