Mine at Huerfanito

Quote: Originally posted by Pablito1

In the 1960s early 70s there was an onyx mine a little to the south and a very few miles west of that big cantina that burned down at Huerfanito. I was at the mine 2 times I think. I have a beautiful piece of onyx from that mine. When they put in the pavement a lot of the small roads were destroyed.

Pablito, the onyx mine is San Judas... see my reply above for the exact GPS.

Directions from the highway:
San Judas Onyx Mine west of Hwy. 5, access turnoff at Km. 118.5. There's a gap between the end of the guardrail and the white curb after. Go to the right between those two. GPS here is: 30° 0.140'N, 114° 33.950'W (Hwy. 5 road) You will be on the older or detour road just a bit, going southerly ~0.5 mile, then fork west towards the mountain along or on the ditched runway, and come to the west end of the old airport runway ~0.9 mile from the highway at: 29° 59.581'N, 114° 34.375'W (San Judas). On Google Earth you can see the run-up pad at this point. The ruins of some small buildings or homes are just 600 feet north and the onyx was quarried just 500 feet beyond (it appears).

Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco

Gracias Pablito. Running thru there tomorrow morning, will look around.

The campo of El Huerfanito was called Nacho's for a number of years... Nacho's El Huerfanito. It is on the shore opposite the island, Isla El Huerfanito (Little Orphan Island). Today, that is 0.4 mile east of Km. 103.
In 2017, there was just some poor condition palapas for camping.

Quote: Originally posted by Pablito1

David, that San Judas place may be the mine but I thought that it was closer to Huerfanito. For sure a couple of years have passed and maybe I don't remember exactly. Thanks and Regards

That old road, at 10 mph max, made it hard to remember distances.
That San Judas mine was shown on the 1970 Cliff Cross Baja map as 'onyx mine' just past Okie Landing:

Yes, thank you for a refreshing topic of discussion, Pablito1. Also, for the chicken story.

Salvatierra (with a cabin, gas, and pop named after the offshore island) was (as I recall) the business created by the man who had the pick and wheel barrel doing repair work on the road.

*The 1975 AAA guide has: "Campo Salvatierra (Mateo's Place), a camping spot in an arroyo near the beach where gasoline and refreshments are available". It was 13.3 miles south of El Huerfanito (Nacho's Camp)/ 33.4 miles from Puertecitos.

*The 1979 AAA guide has Campo Salvatierra as 33.5 miles south of Puertecitos and abandoned.

*The 1991 AAA guide says it is 35.1 miles south and the same abandoned condition.

Quote: Originally posted by Pablito1

I can't add anything about Campo Salvatierra. The guy that I remember repairing the roads was always near the hills. Sometimes he was working and sometimes only his tools and wheel barrow was there. I always left him some money. I thought that Tony Reyes was the person that started Okie's Landing. At least I was told that he had put in that cement slab that had the palapa shade. And speaking of that shade one day around 1971-72 there were 3 men there that I did not know. They had 16 turtles under the shade and were waiting for a truck to come and haul them to somewhere. Remember that big pile of tartuava heads at Okies. But those piles of big heads were at all the camps in that area. Interesting time but it's long gone and remember "el reloj no vuelve atras" or "the clock doesn't turn backwards". Regards Pablo

Well, with maps, photos and old books we can look back in time.
I remember Okie Landing when it wa sactive in the 1960s. I don't think we stopped there or for very long. I think they used a cave for ice and fish storage? When I was 16 and driving myself in 1974 (and after) it was abandoned, as I recall.

Here are photos I took of the concrete floors of the Okie Landing cabins:

2011


2007

Interesting.......

Okie Landing on Maps

On the 1962 Howard Gulick/ Lower California Guidebook Map


On the 1967 Automobile Club of Southern California Map


On the 1970 Cliff Cross Map


On the 1975 Arnold Senterfitt Airports of Baja California Map


On the 1975 Baja California Guidebook Map


On the 1975 Auto Club Map


[Edited on 7-13-2024 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by Pablito1

David, you mentioned that at Okie's there was a cave that they kept ice and fish in. and Papa Fernandez camp there was also a similar set-up but I never knew where it was. At Papa's there was a door on this cave. In the mid to late 1960s a man somehow got locked in that cave and died. I think his name was Rodrico. I had a friend [RIP Ron] that was at the camp when the accident happened and he told me about it. I never knew Rodrico but met his family later.

It was something I had heard of or read about... It very well could be your Papa Fernandez' story...? If i find it, I will share.
So much can be found in Gene Kira's wonderful book about the history of Ray Cannon and his Sea of Cortez, plus history of the 'golden age' of Baja... 1947 to 1977:

Eureka, see caption below photo...

From Gene Kira's book, The Incredible Sea of Cortez.

Quote: Originally posted by mscowpatty

Hi David...Took a look in my flight logs (in the way back machine)....for Turqoise Mine....Pretty close... 29 34.361 N 114 22.036 W

Hi Patty.
That is the road to La Turquesa Canyon, and up to Highway One (for 4x4s). It passes the green pools and turquoise mine.

Here is the mine as it was in a 1970 Baja Guide (by Cliff Cross):


Las Arrastras is now the location of Coco's Corner

[Edited on 7-15-2024 by David K]

closes mine to Huerfanitos is the Miramar mine
on the Gulick map

I remember when it was last active it had a nice road branching off from the highway
there was either a guard or a gate

a 1909 Pila is up Arroyo Miramar