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Author: Subject: Mulege to San Isidro Trail
John M
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[*] posted on 9-25-2018 at 07:26 PM
tracks?


AV - I don't have a GPS track but I think if I go out to my truck GPS I may have a couple of dozen waypoints - there are a couple of places to go off on your own adventure. If I have them, and can download them, I will send you a U2U and get an email address.

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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 11:28 AM
avrider


Kurt G's route and notes are right on the money. His descriptions of the difficult sections was pretty much as we found it two years ago except we did it in the reverse direction, Mulege to San Isidro. I have some additional way points that can supplement Kurt's directions but they don't change anything. I will say that going Mulege to San Isidro there are two, maybe three intersecting ranch roads that will take you off in the wrong direction before the rough stuff even starts. I plotted those, and have the gps coordinates. As Kurt drove it, those intersections probably wouldn't even be worth mentioning. I did make a track in Google Earth following his directions and using some of my waypoints and can convert it to KML file if you'd like to see it.

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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 05:31 PM
Kurt's Road Log (edited version)


Quote: Originally posted by KurtG  


Here is my report from March 2012:



Trip Report/road log San Isidro-Mulege Mountain Route 3/22/2012

For reference our vehicle is a 2000 Explorer stock Bauer Ed. with 255/70/16 Michelin street tires run at about 22#.
The report is a mileage log and includes GPS data and elevation for key points. The log is as accurate as Garmin and Ford's odometer could provide.

Mile Zero is starting North from San Isidro at 26.12.866x112.01.577.
Excellent road to:
Mile 12.3 Purisima Vieja then to
Mile 15.4 Paso Hondo. Both are oasis villages with some great scenery.
Mile 17.8-Springs and ponds on left.
Mile 18.3-Small village.
Mile 21.2-water crossing/palms and on to Buenos Aires at mile 25.9.
Mile 29.1-Agua Grande
Mile 32.2. 26.32.962x112.06.834. Elev.2100. Sign: El Llano straight, Guajadami to the right. Go straight.

From here the road is steep and rocky with a lot of erosion. Low range used to:
Mile 36.7 the top of high plateau. Elev. 3350 at 26.35.899x112.07.222.
Mile 37. Incredible views of deep gorge on right. Continue to climb to:
Mile 39.1. 26.37.146x112.06.743. Elev. 3765. High point overlooking the broad expanse of El Llano below.

This is where the road ended when I attempted this route some 15 years ago. The descending cuesta was the most difficult of the entire trip. Steep, sometimes narrow and off camber and rough eroded rock with lots of loose stuff. This is an area to use extreme caution. We crept down in low range, 1st gear to arrive in the flats of El Llano at:

Mile 40.6. 26.37.786x112.07.153. Elev. 2616.

At this point we met a rancher with a Ford F350 4wd and a cattle rack who had 3-4 cattle loaded. We told him we were going to Mulege and he said he was as well. That gave us a better feeling about actually completing the trip since I didn’t feel we could climb back up that previous cuesta or at least really didn’t want to attempt it. He confirmed that that plateau is El Llano. As we started up the next grade we saw him starting behind us. A rough ride for those cows! The road continues up and down a bit before a gate at the top of the final cuesta at:

Mile 43.1. 26.39.029x112.08.07. Elev. 3429. Now down the cuesta, steep and rough but not nearly as bad as the earlier one. There has been traffic up and down this area since we were on it and turned back a few months ago. I think we could now go up this one ok.

Mile 46.2. 26.40.320x112.07.130. elev. 1346. This position is right by the ranch at the bottom of the cuesta. Rancho El Llanito. It is relatively new. This is the important coordinate for anyone doing this trip north to south since it is not shown on the maps and in my experience the Baja Atlas and other maps are only an approximation of the roads in this area.

From this point you are on the road that goes straight to Mulege. There are occasional roads that come in from both side notably at:

Mile 50.8 which has a sign pointing back to Rcho El Llanito. I believe the other fork here leads to the area of El Potrero and El Batiqui and Pia de la Cuesta Guajadami. I have motorcycled in that area but not since the hurricanes changed some of the roads a few years ago. Note that I have not called this the Guajadami Road since it splits off from the old mission route and is generally to the west of it.

Continue straight into Mulege arriving at Hwy 1 (icehouse road junction) at MILE 67.3.

This trip took about 6 hours so an average speed of about 10 mph. Thanks to Mulegena for the trip report on Baja Nomads that inspired us to do this trip. The scenery was wonderful although I would still rank the San Juan de la Pila road as the slightly more spectacular but I am really splitting hairs on that call. Do them both and tell me what you think!
Kurt and Kathy, March 22, 2012


Kurt, I hope it is okay with you that I played/edited with your log a bit!:light::saint:




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advrider
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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 06:24 PM


The trip log is awesome but harder to use on a moto. John M, If you could make the KML file that would be great. I try to plan my rides out the best I can with tracks/routes before we go, just because it's a large time investment just getting to Baja and getting the time off. I don't mind wondering around Baja but like to manage my ride time the best I can. Thanks to everyone that shares all of the info that makes exploring Baja so much easier and funner!
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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 07:12 PM
KML


avrider - do you have some thought as to which direction you will be riding?

I have a few added notes to what Kurt wrote and David edited, but as I said south to north and his notes are fine. Also when I made the gps file today there were a couple of sections that on Google Earth could present an "either/or" decision, however as usually happens both choices do come back together.

I will try to attach it here. If I can't get it to attach I will send you a U2U for an email address.

John

Attachment: Kurt & Kathy San Isidro to Mulege.kml (36kB)
This file has been downloaded 236 times
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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 07:16 PM


Most likely North to South but I'm not sure yet? Thanks again
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[*] posted on 9-26-2018 at 07:47 PM


Quote: Originally posted by John M  
avrider - do you have some thought as to which direction you will be riding?

I have a few added notes to what Kurt wrote and David edited, but as I said south to north and his notes are fine. Also when I made the gps file today there were a couple of sections that on Google Earth could present an "either/or" decision, however as usually happens both choices do come back together.

I will try to attach it here. If I can't get it to attach I will send you a U2U for an email address.

John



Awesome. Loads straight into GE. That's the way you do it!

That looks like one bad ass trip.






[Edited on 9-28-2018 by JZ]




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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 11:19 AM


If you do the Mulege to San Isidro route you can make a loop out of it by coming back by way of the San Raymundo trail.
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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 11:46 AM


It will be interesting to see if any of the central Baja trails are passable after the two tropical disturbances in the forecast figure out where they are going to come ashore!

By the end of next week, I suspect there will be a lot of road/trail updates that will need to be posted. Hopefully the track will continue to move further to the west!




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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 06:14 PM


Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
If you do the Mulege to San Isidro route you can make a loop out of it by coming back by way of the San Raymundo trail.


Anymore info on this trail? A loop would be very cool... We are looking at March if you want to lead the ride?
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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 06:21 PM


John M thanks for the KML, I can convert that to a GPS track. That looks like it will be a cool new route to try out in March...
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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 06:51 PM


Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
John M thanks for the KML, I can convert that to a GPS track. That looks like it will be a cool new route to try out in March...


How fast do you think you could rip through it on your bikes?



[Edited on 9-28-2018 by JZ]




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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 07:16 PM


The switchbacks and rocks will slow you down.
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[*] posted on 9-27-2018 at 07:56 PM


Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
If you do the Mulege to San Isidro route you can make a loop out of it by coming back by way of the San Raymundo trail.


Anymore info on this trail? A loop would be very cool... We are looking at March if you want to lead the ride?


Here is the loop using the almanac. I can trace it on Google Earth for a GPS track.


[Edited on 9-28-2018 by TMW]
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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 12:00 AM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  


How fast do you think you could rip through it on your bikes?

[Edited on 9-28-2018 by JZ]


Several years ago some friends left Mulege in the morning and slept in Loreto that evening....going through Commondu: "A" riders...




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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 12:10 AM


Quote: Originally posted by motoged  


Several years ago some friends left Mulege in the morning and slept in Loreto that evening....going through Commondu: "A" riders...


Where's the pic of the broken leg??




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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 04:23 AM


Coming out of scorpion bay I would plan it for a day ride just to be safe. I like to finish before dark and not cut into my beer time! Plus I think the views would be awesome so I wouldn't want to be in a rush.
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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 08:04 AM


Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Coming out of scorpion bay I would plan it for a day ride just to be safe. I like to finish before dark and not cut into my beer time! Plus I think the views would be awesome so I wouldn't want to be in a rush.


Stopping for the view at Mile 37, going North, is a must. Spectacular.
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John M
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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 08:49 AM
Views


There are many places to stop and take it all in. The view Kurt is talking about is outstanding.

At Kurt's mile 40.6 - El Llano valley - where he met the cowboy is also the very spot a cowboy came up and met us - we were setting up camp for the night. There was yet another post some time ago from another group passing the same place where they also encountered a local.

John M

You can click on the photo to enlarge it. Still don't have the NOMAD way to post figured out.





[Edited on 9-28-2018 by John M]
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[*] posted on 9-28-2018 at 11:11 AM


Beautiful country for sure.






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