BajaNomad

Road Conditions? La Purisma thru San Juanico thru Laguna San Ignacio to San Ignacio

expatwanderer - 11-12-2006 at 12:30 PM

Does anyone know the current conditions for the Pacific coast road from La Purisma north to San Ignacio? I'm planning a trip down to Baja in 10 days (after the Baja 1000) and am trying to determine if this is an option from La Purisma northbound to San Ignacio, rather than cutting back to Hwy 1, which we will have already covered coming southbound.

Vehicle will be a Audi Allroad - AWD with approx 8 inches clearance, but running regular all season tires.

From the postings back in Sept, the road was definitely not passable by this vehicle at that time. Have things improved?

[Edited on 11-12-2006 by expatwanderer]

Purisima/San Juanico/San Ignacio Roads

Juan del Rio - 11-12-2006 at 01:30 PM

Had a pre-run group spend the night here at Juan y Juans' on Saturday, November 11th in San Juanico. They came in from San Ignacio and indicated that there will be challenges for low clearance vehicles in the race due to high water in some of the crossings. They are doable, but you gotta know what you're doing. Road from San Juanico to Purisima has a few issues at the moment as well if you are running at night. There is one new spot as you get closer to Purisima on the South road that already claimed a Ford F350 last night. The driver was able to power through it in four wheel drive, but ended up with two flat tires from it. I almost hit it myself on Thursday evening coming in... and I was going slow. The road in the worst shape I've seen in years, but regular vehicles are driving it everyday...go slow and no problems.
The road from Loreto to Purisma is another story. Todd Clement from Wide Open Baja drove it on Friday on his way here with Nick Baldwin for a pre-run and said it was one of the worst sections for a race he has encountered in years. Lots of big rocks, slow speed and tough to get above the "road chatter". He drove it in one of the finest four seat-er touring pre-runnner we have ever seen, so I'd think it's going to be tough. Central Baja plans a few surprise for this Baja 1000 race for sure!
I would recommend the South Road for your trip via Loreto to San Ignacio. All the folks who live here (that are driving down and back up) are not using the North Road at this time.

P1000235X.JPG - 46kB

expatwanderer - 11-12-2006 at 01:42 PM

Thanks Juan. So it sounds like the road north from La Purisma is not an option -- high water is not going to work for my vehicle.

Are you also saying that the road due east from La Purisma, thru San Isidro back to Hwy 1 is not an option?

We were hoping to do a loop - sourth on Hwy 1 thru Mulege, Loreto to Insurgentes, then turn north to La Purisma and then back east to Hwy 1 again.

Juan del Rio - 11-12-2006 at 01:49 PM

Yes, avoid the East Road at the moment. South Road via Insurgentes/Loreto/Mulege/San Ignacio is the safe option. It normally takes me under eight hours to drive from here in San Juanico to San Ignacio and it's always a great and pleasant drive. Have a fun trip!

expatwanderer - 11-12-2006 at 02:07 PM

Thanks. Do you also happen to know what the road west from Loreto to Mission San Javier and continuing south west/west to join to the La Purisma road around Santo Domingo is like?

We'd really like to see Mission San Javier.

Juan del Rio - 11-12-2006 at 06:24 PM

From what I understand, there is no problem with the road from the turnoff South of Loreto at this point before the race. Very short, easy and scenic drive!

ursidae69 - 2-20-2007 at 03:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Juan del Rio
Had a pre-run group spend the night here at Juan y Juans' on Saturday, November 11th in San Juanico. They came in from San Ignacio and indicated that there will be challenges for low clearance vehicles in the race due to high water in some of the crossings. They are doable, but you gotta know what you're doing. Road from San Juanico to Purisima has a few issues at the moment as well if you are running at night. There is one new spot as you get closer to Purisima on the South road that already claimed a Ford F350 last night. The driver was able to power through it in four wheel drive, but ended up with two flat tires from it. I almost hit it myself on Thursday evening coming in... and I was going slow. The road in the worst shape I've seen in years, but regular vehicles are driving it everyday...go slow and no problems.


Any new updates on this road? I plan to drive this route in mid-March into San Ignacio coming from the south. Thanks.