BajaNomad

Construction on MEX 5 South of Puertecitos

bonanza bucko - 7-29-2009 at 06:03 AM

Has anyone driven up or down MEX 5 South of Puertecitos in the last coupla weeks? If you have please tell us the following:

1. How far south is the pavement? The last time we were on it, in May, they had about 7 miles south of Puertecitos paved.

2. How far South have they improved the dirt road? The last time we were there they were blasting through the first, the most Northerly, mountain of the Tres Marias and had graded constructioin road....a better surface than the "real road"....for another five or so miles.

3. Is there any construction going on South of the Tres Marias?.....in the vicinity of Huerfanito?

We are planning to drive in to Alfonsina's with a truck load of stuff in mid September and would like to plan our trip. We normally have been taking about 2.5 hours on the dirt road between there and Puertecitos. That has been getting shorter as the construction progresses.:?:

BB, I will be down there in about a week---

beercan - 7-29-2009 at 11:22 AM

Will give you a report at that time .
In addition ,I am heading down again about middle of Sept. Lets get together !

Road conditions

Gouchomarx - 7-29-2009 at 01:04 PM

Is there any part of the existing road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga that require 4WD or is it just rough ? Can a regular passenger car make it ?

preston - 7-29-2009 at 01:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gouchomarx
Is there any part of the existing road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga that require 4WD or is it just rough ? Can a regular passenger car make it ?


You will need a high clearance vehicle, not necessarily a 4WD. I've done this a half a dozen times in a Ford Explorer with no problem.

DO NOT TRY THIS IN A REGULAR PASSENGER CAR.

I am also anxious to hear the status as I am planning a late September trip. Photos would be appreciated.

Preston

[Edited on 7-29-2009 by preston]

Curt63 - 7-29-2009 at 01:56 PM

I drove it in June and I agree with Preston.

BajaWarrior - 7-29-2009 at 03:59 PM

We went to Gonzaga and stayed at Alfonsinas exactly one month ago. The new highway is being built at an impressive rate but the original road remains past Huerfonito all the way to Gonzaga.

The paved section is still just about 6 miles or 1/2 mile past Campo Costillo.

From there the road parallels a bit in and out of the original road and there are also a lot of trucks delivering materials and heavy equipment moving about as well. Definately no smoother than years past and we did it in a off road Toyota (2500lbs) with BFG KO's 33" aired down to 8 lbs.

Just take it easy and you'll do fine. The reason for what we might call delays is the amount of bridges that need to be built across the numerous arroyos.

Have a great trip.

[Edited on 7-30-2009 by BajaWarrior]

Ken Cooke - 7-29-2009 at 05:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gouchomarx
Can a regular passenger car make it ?


There are rocky outcroppings that may take out your oil pan along the way. Sharp stones may cut your tires. Be careful and be safe. :!:

larry - 7-29-2009 at 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gouchomarx
Is there any part of the existing road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga that require 4WD or is it just rough ? Can a regular passenger car make it ?


4WD is not the issue, but clearance is. I have driven this road in a Dodge Grand Caravan, which has very low clearance. I made it through, but I wouldnt like to try that again. A passenger car can make it, but the higher the clearance, the better. And make sure you have a good spare.

redhilltown - 7-29-2009 at 06:45 PM

Agree on all counts! But if you're going to air down to 8 lbs, you should know what you're doing like the Warrior and have a way to air back up once you hit asphalt.

Still...I cannot believe they are going to finish this road...I know that sounds gringo of me but the huge expense during such economic bad times. Unless the money is stashed away safely in some drug lord's slush fund. HUGE arroyos and washes await them further south and then the hills past Coco's......we'll see.

Pictures of the trip of Alfonsina's

bonanza bucko - 7-29-2009 at 07:14 PM

This is for Preston who wanted pictures. Click on this page: http://gallery.me.com/wingswest#100062 and you will be at our Mobile Me (Mac) picture page. At the bottom left of the black screen click on "slideshow" for full sized pictures. There are a lot of shots of Alfonsina's and etc. It was a Thanksgiving trip to our place at Alfy's....we've been there for 35 years...mostly flyiing in.

The road pictures are in The Tres Marias....three mountains along the sea just south of Puertecitos, so called because you used to have to cross yourself three times to make it??!..there are shrines for that at the base of the mountains. At the top of the middle one is a memorial cross for Ray Grove who went over the edge in about 1973...his bones found in the spring after a winter in which the "road" was impassible.

The guys who have commented here are all correct: You will need high clearance but not 4X4. You will need to air down your tires and you will need to take it slow. Tires with 3 ply side walls are usually used because the sharp rocks rip thinner ones.

The trip from Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay usually takes me about 2:15 in a Toyota Tundra with over load springs in back and FabTech coil overs in front.

Lemme know if you like the pictures...I have more.:tumble:

David K - 7-29-2009 at 09:19 PM

After Hwy. 1 was finished in late 1973 and before the graded highway of 1986/87 was built, 4 wheel drives or dune buggies where the only way to Gonzaga Bay from Puertecitos!

All supplies came up from the new highway, and no maintainance was done on the Puertecitos route. It became 'worser' and 'worser'!

Here is Cliff Cross' map of 1970 which lists the 'Gonzaga Grades' so well...



[Edited on 7-30-2009 by David K]

TMW - 7-30-2009 at 07:28 AM

When you get off the paved road pay attention because some of the detours are confusing in the construction zone. The last uphill is basically one way so watch out for on coming vehicles. There are just a couple of places to pull over. That was a couple of weeks ago.

baitcast - 7-30-2009 at 01:11 PM

Anything they do has got to be better than this:lol:

SCT

Bajahowodd - 7-30-2009 at 01:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
We went to Gonzaga and stayed at Alfonsinas exactly one month ago. The new highway is being built at an impressive rate but the original road remains past Huerfonito all the way to Gonzaga.

The paved section is still just about 6 miles or 1/2 mile past Campo Costillo.

From there the road parallels a bit in and out of the original road and there are also a lot of trucks delivering materials and heavy equipment moving about as well. Definately no smoother than years past and we did it in a off road Toyota (2500lbs) with BFG KO's 33" aired down to 8 lbs.

Just take it easy and you'll do fine. The reason for what we might call delays is the amount of bridges that need to be built across the numerous arroyos.

Have a great trip.

[Edited on 7-30-2009 by BajaWarrior]


At least they build bridges these days. Back in the day, even on Highway 1, there could be numerous delays during rainy weather trying to get across the vados.

But.....we're gonna miss "That Road"

bonanza bucko - 7-30-2009 at 06:55 PM

If....a big if...."That Road" is gone in a coupla years we are gonna miss it! I know you think I am nuts. But wait and see. It's troubles will get bigger with time and retelling and retelling. We will miss the clean dirt it is made of. We will miss the 4 inch washboard and the boulders we have to climb over.

But we'll also miss the Longhorns belonging to some Vaquero we never see....and his "wild horses" too. We will miss the mountain sheep and the Pescadores in their old truck climbing up the Tres Marias with tonight's pescado for Ensenada restaurants.

We'll miss the desert rats....us...who will have to get there like any other human mortal....on a real road.

We'll miss the solitude "That Road" gives us....just remember when your beach is chock a block with camper shells and lotsa brats and louts from Orange County and LA what it was like when driving in there was a pure b-tch!

We will miss "That Road."

larry - 7-30-2009 at 07:08 PM

Yes, "That Road" will be a great memory--Gonzaga Bay will be lined with hotels, houses, restaurants. It will probably still be a wonderful place, but right now it is one of the great, pristine spots that a few of us get to experience. Some of my best experiences have been sitting on the beach at Campo Beluga, no one else camped there, watching the birds, the dolphins, and the waves.

David K - 7-30-2009 at 08:05 PM

The background on my web site is Gonzaga Bay... back around 1986: http://vivabaja.com
The old road and the current road in the recent years made getting to Gonzaga hard... from the north. I think when it is hard to get somewhere, it is more appreciated.

Mama Espinoza says bad roads bring good people! Gonzaga Bay was a place for good people, for sure!

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by David K]

nomad 034.jpg - 48kB

norte - 7-30-2009 at 08:11 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEQ1E8XPp4

baitcast - 7-31-2009 at 06:56 AM

I like that pic,on the other side of the mouth of the estro was one of the best spots for corvina in the area,evening in coming or high tide and they would be waiting for me.
Rob

woody with a view - 7-31-2009 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

We'll miss the solitude "That Road" gives us....just remember when your beach is chock a block with camper shells and lotsa brats and louts from Orange County and LA what it was like when driving in there was a pure b-tch!


this sounds just like what the saints of the secret surf spots are spouting from the shadows of the cardon.......

if you listen carefully you'll hear it!

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by woody in ob]

Martyman - 7-31-2009 at 09:35 AM

We only made it about 7 miles from Puertecitos (ten years ago). Before we knew it we had two flats in my buddies ford pickup.

Good Roads and Bad People are Subjective.

MrBillM - 7-31-2009 at 10:17 AM

Back in '74 when we first drove down to Alfonsinas in Baja Bugs with a friend who had been there the year before, we passed a loaded older IH Scout slowly poking along. We waved. He didn't.

When he arrived hours after we had and set up camp, we walked over to say Hello. At which point, he launched into a tirade about "OUR" kind of people in "THOSE" kind of machines destroying the roadway.

End of conversation. Period.

The road and people attitude always "centers" with the observer's OWN position. Everything beyond is BAD.

We're always the Good Guys, of course.

Martyman - 7-31-2009 at 10:42 AM

Who let the grumpy guy across the border? You'd think after a nice long drive like that they would relax. He definately did not have a cooler of Pacificos.

bent-rim - 7-31-2009 at 10:53 AM

The road from Puertecitos to Gonzaga is one of my favorite roads, I'll miss it. Hopefully Calamajue Canyon won't be paved soon.

BajaWarrior - 7-31-2009 at 04:19 PM

This bridge (taken late June) is the first of many heading south towards Gonzaga.

It is located just 1/4 mile from where the pavements ends which is 6 miles south of Puertocitas.

[Edited on 7-31-2009 by BajaWarrior]

2009_06_23 Gonzaga 014.jpg - 45kB

redhilltown - 8-1-2009 at 09:47 PM

I completely agree with Bucko, I'm gonna miss it. The solitude if you want it...seeing whales out your car window down in the bays...surprising bighorn sheep coming around a corner...beers and conch at 5 islands...my fave corvina spot where the old road used to go through and rusted out cars told the story (well, at least they did until someone dragged them out for the scrap!)...all of this not THAT far from home here in Long Beach.

I'm not sure if it's been discussed, but considering the cost of this new road, is it a no brainer that it is going to be a toll road??? Considering it will be mostly gringos and Mexicali truckers using it? Just a thought.

David K - 8-1-2009 at 09:52 PM

Mexico has (or used to have) a law that any toll road must have a parallel free road (older highway).

Who knows? I would think not... but there is no free road up the Rumorosa Grade.

arbee - 8-2-2009 at 08:45 PM

The Cantu grade is the free road to La Rumarosa.

David K - 8-2-2009 at 09:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by arbee
The Cantu grade is the free road to La Rumarosa.


There is no free paved road up the Cantu grade... there was once, but it was destroyed with the new 4 lane highway construction. The toll is very low, but everyone must pay fior the grade.

You must be thinking of the Baja 1000 course, which is a service road... I don't think that is considered the 'free highway' alternative to the toll road?

arbee - 8-3-2009 at 07:25 AM

You didn't say "free paved road", just free road, and I always take the Cantu grade when I'm on my dirtbike.

[Edited on 8-3-2009 by arbee]

David K - 8-3-2009 at 07:33 AM

I bet that is a fun run!:bounce:

arbee - 8-3-2009 at 07:39 AM

It beats going on the pavement.