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Jasha
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 10-18-2014
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Thank you Zola!! I have a 98' FJZ100 but I don't have a snorkel installed. I've driven off-road enough to be comfortable with a challenge. I know
things change but in your opinion is not having a snorkel an issue with making it through?
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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I am likely an ignorant driver, as I did not even know there is such a thing as a snorkel that can be fitted onto a car. I did have this advantage: I
speak Spanish fluently and was able to ask for guidance at the Pemex and then again out on the trails, where I met a man by the tractor who told me
where to take the detour. He said that my car would make it through, that it might look bad, but that the bottom is hard, and it would work. I am also
very familiar with the route. If you have not gone before, or if your car does not have very high clearance and excellent 4x4 capacity, this is not
the time to come here from the north. (Besides, there is no surf, and they say that the sands have been washed away from the points, affecting the
quality of the wave.)
If you go, try to come over the trails when the tide is low. There was water in places where I had never seen it before. If you drive too far towards
the Laguna, you will approach a newly formed estuary directly underneath your precarious sand bridge, and then you will have to back up very
delicately, as I did. That is why I approached the man by the tractor after turning back. You have to take the left onto the detour. Shortly
afterwards you will traverse the high water.
From there it is all a beautiful, invigorating ride, assuming you have made it to there!
[Edited on 10-20-2014 by Zola]
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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Sweetwater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 915
Registered: 11-26-2010
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Mood: chilly today hot tomale
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I am astounded to keep reading these reports.....I've done both the high and salt flats roads on motos over the past 5 years...The maps show that the
low (salt flats) road is the route for this years Baja Mil....if there's a new estuary and and the need for snorkels on 4x4's, how's that going to
work out for the race?
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The Baja 1000 marking crews have already been thru there and they have not reported any problems only the section from San Javier to hwy53 which they
say will or should be cleared yesterday or today. Surely the people from El Datel have been using the road to get to San Ignacio. If you don't see any
vehicle tracks don't go that way.
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Zola
Nomad
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Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sweetwater
I am astounded to keep reading these reports.....I've done both the high and salt flats roads on motos over the past 5 years...The maps show that the
low (salt flats) road is the route for this years Baja Mil....if there's a new estuary and and the need for snorkels on 4x4's, how's that going to
work out for the race? |
I did not use a snorkel and made it, but the water at the detour approached my headlights. I think that it is the section of the trail to which the
last poster referred. Also, the Baja 1000 markers run along the middle road along the salt flats, not the low road. It has been sunny and dry here
every day. Maybe everything is drying out quickly. After the one high-water section, there were a few other streams that we also crossed, but they
were not nearly as gnarly. I do not think a motorcycle could have made it on the day when we went -- last Saturday. I presume it is better now.
[Edited on 10-22-2014 by Zola]
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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Here is an update on the condition of the north roads from San Juanico to San Ignacio, going through Campo Datil and taking the middle road. There is
a lot less water than there was three weeks ago. There was a lot of sand on the middle road, almost too much sand. There were high waters in Campo
Datil because of high-level high tides, but it was all easily passable. Some of the Baja 1000 markers have fallen off, and the route is not as
perfectly marked as it was when we came down. Because of the hurricane waters before and the high-level high tides right now, motorists should take
special care to stay on trails that have tire-marks. We tried making our own trail from the middle road to the high road and very nearly became
hopelessly stuck in no time at all. It was a stroke of luck that we were able to break clear and return to the middle road. The detour from the paved
road to the high road is in worse shape now than it was three weeks ago. A lot of sand has blown onto it, and it is not as well marked as it was
three weeks ago. There is still standing water that you must clear at one part, but it is only half as high now as it was before. Overall there are
many more people out and about on these trails than there were three weeks ago. The Baja 1000 will come through shortly. I hope that this is helpful
to someone out there.
A local rancher told us that the high road remains unpassable. The low road is also a bad call because of the high-level high tides occurring right
now.
[Edited on 11-8-2014 by Zola]
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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On Monday the 10th left San Ignacio and unloaded Tunaeater for pre-run on the race course which turns off the main road about 7.5 miles from SI. I
continued down the main road. It's paved for about 25 miles. After the pavement there is one spot where the right side was covered with dirt with the
left lane OK. A little further a wash crossing had some minor damage. Passed an 18 wheeler coming out from the Laguna area. Two single lane sections
in the dirt before the Laguna. First one maybe 1/4 mile long with no pull overs for passing. Second one a little longer with pull overs. Turned south
at the San Jose de Gracia sign reconnecting with the race course and Tunaeater. He went ahead to El Datil where I met him. Several places of soft
sand. No problem going around mud flats, stay on most used road and SCORE markers.
Bike would not start at El Datil so loaded on carrier. Same conditions some soft sand spots and again stay on most used road around mud flats. Did not
see any standing water. On the San Juanico road. One bridge out with detour around. Hit pavement at San Juanico. Pavement good to arroyo crossing way
west of La Purisima bridge out. Again detour around it. Highway OK until road construction north of Santo Domingo. Pavement good down to hwy 1.
[Edited on 11-14-2014 by TW]
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-18-2011
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Excellent road update TW.
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Several friends I know were pre-running in four wheelers, trucks and buggies, south of El Datil and followed the SCORE GPS track and it went across a
mud flat area instead of following the road around. It was Wednesday evening and they all got stuck. They finally got a tractor in and got out
Thursday. Note the SCORE markers followed the most used road.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5819
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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most used track?
I think I found that mud flat when I came through a water crossing north of Datil in late October. The most used track had been drifted over with
sand from a stiff breeze and I could not see the next score marker, so I followed the most obvious track.
It was apparently made by a couple of pre-runners who made a prematuhe crossing, found a place to turn around and followed their own tracks back
through it. It sure made it look like the main track! The mud was like quicksand and got worse with every track put in it.
It took me an hour to get myself out of that mess, and another hour helping a local get his produce truck back on the trail.
That place gets locals too, he makes a business out of hauling produce from Vizcaino to Datile and San Juanico, and he got fooled!
By the way, three pre-runners passed by with no offer to help, and I can't help but think their trophy trucks could have pulled that 3/4 ton Chevy out
better than my Kia Sportage did.
G.L.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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Any word on conditions of the north road from San Ignacio to San Juanico? Is it still necessary to take the detour a little to the east of the Laguna?
Is the high road still closed?
Here is the update on my very solid off-road car after driving it through streams without a snorkel: The mechanics at the authorized dealer where I
purchased it brand-new in 2013 tell me that it has a lot of rust on the underside, and that I can either replace a lot of components now or wait until
they start to malfunction a few years from now. 
So this is how I have learned about the need to place a snorkel on your car before attempting to cross streams in it!
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15937
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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you should know that salt water is not your friend when a vehicle is involved.....
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 9-20-2014
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Am I missing something here? To me a snorkel kit just keeps the water out of the air intake, and possibly a breather. The underside of the vehicle
and other components won't be helped by that! Thorough cleaning and lubing are the treatment for salt exposure.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
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Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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The ONLY way to avoid underbody rust on the north road is to take the upper/Mesa road.. Go anywhere near Datil and it is guaranteed to start.. And
like my dock neighbor Neil Young says.. Rust never sleeps.
5 trucks over 20 years have proven this to me.. Wouldn't do it different. Love those people! Soy Datilero!!!!
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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I have had the car inspected here in SD after each journey to San Juanico, and I have taken the high road only once. Until now the car (an FJ Cruiser)
has gotten fine reports each time, with no problems. But the last time I had to drive through a stream that came up to the headlights and also through
several other lesser streams (it was after Simon, in mid-October). That is what really got to my car. The mechanic says that the components on the
undersigned are all rusted and will start to fail within 2-3 years.
Is it better to replace everything now or wait for another year or two?
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15937
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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trade it in.....
fresh water up to the hood is an undercarriage rinse. toss in salt water and RUN AWAY!
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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Wow!! I just bought it, brand new!
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15937
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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since it's a Toyota you should have better luck. electrical components don't lkike to get a salt water E N E M A. too many minerals that will conduct
electricity! you might get lucky?
worst case, check out our friends here who learned the hard way. watch every minute until you see what the water did to their circuit boards.....
BRUTAL!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13VXI9F3VTk
[Edited on 12-27-2014 by woody with a view]
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
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Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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Sounds as though I need to bite the bullet, belly up to the bar, pay the piper, smell the coffee, and reap what I have foolishly sown! I will replace
all of the components underneath the car that the mechanic says must be replaced. I love this car, it is by far and away the best off-road vehicle I
have ever driven.
Next time, if it is inondated on the north roads, we will drive around Loreto and come in from the south! Saving eight hours, or however much it is,
is not worth having to replace the entire underside of your brand new car. It has only 9k miles on it!!
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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Zola
Nomad
Posts: 122
Registered: 9-7-2014
Location: San Juanico, Point Loma
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Mood: Enthusiastic
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Sounds as though I need to bite the bullet, belly up to the bar, pay the piper, smell the coffee, and reap what I have foolishly sown! I will replace
all of the components underneath the car that the mechanic says must be replaced. I love this car, it is by far and away the best off-road vehicle I
have ever driven.
Next time, if it is inondated on the north roads, we will drive around Loreto and come in from the south! Saving eight hours, or however much it is,
is not worth having to replace the entire underside of your brand new car. It has only 9k miles on it!!
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” George Bernard Shaw
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