ECR-6) EL CAMINO REAL (from space, final section): Comondu to San Javier to Loreto

This is continued from ECR-5 (Guadalupe to Comondu), here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=37233

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The area between Mision San Jose de Comondu and Loreto contains many mission roads and cross connections between them.

The '77 Crosby map shows one road goes directly from San Jose de Comondu to the oasis of Quiñí, built once the mission was moved (after 30 years at the original site at Comondu Viejo, 15+ miles to the north).

Previously, the road went directly to San Miguel (Comondu) to reach that visita... only 2 miles from the new mission site.

This '77 map could be an error as Crosby did not begin his mule ride on ECR until he arrived at Comondu by auto and did not travel back to San Javier once mules were obtained. His 1974 King's Highway only shows the route via San Miguel and a secondary route heading east, as I saw on the images.

While a mission road is visible switchbacking up the slope from San Jose de Comondu mission, I only found that it heads east and not south. Perhaps a direct short cut to Loreto?

Once in the region of San Javier and Loreto, modern roads have covered much of the old trail in that few other routes were possible in such canyon country. One short section can be seen near Rancho Las Parras.

Here is Crosby's 1977 map (drawn by Daira Paulson) of this region:


Now here see the route as I found it on a topo map with arrows pointing to the locations of the following ten satellite images of the Camino Real from Comondu to Loreto:





SJ-1) Climbing up from San Miguel Comondu:


SJ-2)


SJ-3) Quiñí


SJ-4)


SJ-5)


SJ-6)


SJ-7)


SJ-8) Junction with the San Javier south fork near Rancho Viejo. This image has north at the top. All others are facing down the Camino Real towards San Javier or Loreto.


SJ-9)


SJ-10)


Loreto soon comes into view as you near the gulf coast...







[Edited on 2-28-2009 by David K]

Overview maps to see entire Jesuit Camino Real

Look to the Baja Historic Interests forum for all the maps in one place... coming soon!

[Edited on 2-28-2009 by David K]

1954 Howard Gulick El Camino Real maps

These maps and Howard's unpublished report are the tools Harry Crosby used to find the route when he rode the trail from San Jose Comondu north... for his 1974 book.

It was my close examination of Howard's map of the area between Calamajue and Las Arrastras that allowed me to find the trail from space in that section. Good work Howard Gulick!

All together now

It was, indeed, a nice job, but don't pay any attention to the opinion of that loser and unemployed Baja bum, TacoFeliz, he is just another graphics arts twinkie on the streets now.

I put up with him for a decade or two because I was after his wife, but now that she is too old, I can pick on him. ((I'm dead!)

Jay, any Baja trip dates yet?

Well... I spent a few hours yesterday and last night on the Gulfo route between Santa Gertrudis and San Ignacio (actually joins the Sierra route north of El Rosarito).. and could not find a lot od convincing Jesuit road construction.

I found a lot of trail... and could piece it together from Santa Gertrudis to San Juan de las Palmas, just over the divide... Then, coming north from El Rosarito, a trail can be followed to El Gato. But, from El Gato north to San Juan de las Palmas (las Parras on the topo) I have not seen an example of typical Camino Real road construction.

So, for the moment, the overall map showing the ECR routes I have seen from space, doesn't need to be amended!