BajaNomad - Road southwest out of Agua Verde

Road southwest out of Agua Verde

motoged - 12-10-2010 at 09:29 PM

Nomads,
Google Earth has me seeing a road out of Agua Verde in a southwesterly direction that leads to Constitucion. Has anybody driven that or know about it?

And I don't mean the highway :cool:

[Edited on 12-11-2010 by motoged]

DavidE - 12-10-2010 at 10:18 PM

I wonder if that can be the original brecha?

David K - 12-10-2010 at 10:55 PM

What's a 'brecha', Dah-veed?

Ged, I have heard of this 'unmapped' road... but don't recall any recent reports on it... Might have to search all Agua Verde Road posts?

motoged - 12-11-2010 at 12:08 PM

"Brecha" is a "gap".....

comitan - 12-11-2010 at 12:21 PM

Ask

Graham he walked it.

motoged - 12-11-2010 at 12:47 PM

The Google Earth imagery for Agua Verde is dated July 28, 2007, so may be inaccurate as a few hurricanes have swept through since that time and Graham's "hike".

If one were to look at GE, the wash that runs south from the E-W road a km or so west of the AV fish camp, and follow that wash south and then west for a few km's (a road is faintly visible in and along that wash). you will see (where the "brown map" joins the "green image") a road switchbacking southeasterly and then southerly....and eventually westerly to end up at the east end of Insurgentes or Constitucion..... THAT is what I am referring to.

Several years ago a late nomad from the east cape tried to get through on a quad but could not find his way through

http://www.rancholeonero.com/memorial4roy.html )

and..... http://www.rancholeonero.com/divertido.html

[Edited on 12-11-2010 by motoged]

4x4abc - 12-25-2010 at 11:14 PM

I have used the Agua Verde "back door" several times the last few years. Its narrow and very steep. Driven carefully any 4x4 should be able to do it.

track file here:
http://www.baja101.com/GoogleEarth/agua verde road.kml

images here:
http://carlosnpainter.smugmug.com/Events/Agua-Verde-back-doo...

larryC - 12-26-2010 at 09:59 AM

4x4abc
the first link is broken, takes you to a site in german that says that the page cannot be found, but the link to some pictures is working. I could not tell from the photos where you are exactly. Can you tell me where you get onto that road exactly. I would love to try it. I try to go into agua Verde once or twice a year. the only road I know of takes off hiway 1 at about the km 64 marker south of Loreto. Great little restaurant right there run by a family that used to live in AV. Beautiful road.

thanks
Larry

4x4abc - 12-26-2010 at 01:20 PM

changed the file name - should work now:
http://www.baja101.com/GoogleEarth/agua-verde-road.kml

4x4abc - 12-26-2010 at 01:24 PM

Baja has so many more "surprises" to offer - I am working on digging as much of them up as possible:
http://www.baja101.com/first-adventure/

elfbrewery - 12-26-2010 at 02:06 PM

Keep me in the loop. Agua Verde is one of our hot spots to jeep.

DavidE - 12-26-2010 at 03:14 PM

Brecha is a primitive "road". Gringos know them as "Jeep Trails".
Terreceria is a graded road.

If interested refer to any Guia Roji atlas. Even though the two words are slang, the Mexican mapmaker marks his legend with them.

motoged - 12-26-2010 at 04:39 PM

Thanks, guys....It sure would be nice to see a few picks of the rough stuff....an enquiring dirtbiker wants to know... :saint:

That's the route I figured on Google Earth....but GE is not the trail

David K - 12-26-2010 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4x4abc
Baja has so many more "surprises" to offer - I am working on digging as much of them up as possible:
http://www.baja101.com/first-adventure/

It sure does...!

A life time of Baja traveling and exploring, and I will never see all of what Baja has to share!

Your web site reminds me of what Harry Lewellyn used to do in Baja... show people how to use their 4WD vehicles and show them Baja... Did you know Harry? He authored 'Shifting into 4WD' and many articles.

4x4abc - 12-26-2010 at 07:04 PM

David,

Harry is a good friend of mine. We briefly worked together in 1987/88 or so.

4x4abc - 12-26-2010 at 07:06 PM

here is the loop:
http://www.baja101.com/first-adventure/first-calendar.html

snowcat5 - 12-26-2010 at 10:03 PM

Just drove the Brecha 4 weeks ago to Aqua Verde- no problems but some spots with wash-outs and very rocky- slow going. 4x4 is a must and a tire repair kit is also. We saw mountain goats near the coast, in the steeper mountains and two bobcats. There is a rancho, about half-way, that sells Cokes and fixes tires, or so the sign sorta says.

David K - 12-26-2010 at 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4x4abc
David,

Harry is a good friend of mine. We briefly worked together in 1987/88 or so.

Harry attended my Viva Baja #3 event in Oceanside, back in 2002... I also bumped into him the year before in San Cosme off the Agua Verde road... the tide was too high to drive to the hot springs... He called himself 'Silver Fox' I think when I first met him?

4x4abc - 12-26-2010 at 10:47 PM

Yup - Silver Coyote

larryC - 12-27-2010 at 09:20 AM

4x4
Thanks for fixing the link, I learned something today. My first trip into AV was in the mid 80's around 85 or so not too long after they finished the other road. I had no idea that your road existed. Usually when we go in there we camp at Playa Bonita, and then go into AV by boat so we would never see the turnoff to Constitucion. I wonder how long that road has been there? Looks like a fun trip, I'll have to try it sometime.
Larry
PS I ran into a guy and his much younger wife at Bahia Animas years ago and as I remember he called himself Silver something, could that be the person you and DavidK are talking about? He was leading a group of about 10 small SUV's on a tour of Baja.

[Edited on 12-27-2010 by larryC]

David K - 12-27-2010 at 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by larryC
4x4
Thanks for fixing the link, I learned something today. My first trip into AV was in the mid 80's around 85 or so not too long after they finished the other road. I had no idea that your road existed. Usually when we go in there we camp at Playa Bonita, and then go into AV by boat so we would never see the turnoff to Constitucion. I wonder how long that road has been there? Looks like a fun trip, I'll have to try it sometime.
Larry
PS I ran into a guy and his much younger wife at Bahia Animas years ago and as I remember he called himself Silver something, could that be the person you and DavidK are talking about? He was leading a group of about 10 small SUV's on a tour of Baja.

[Edited on 12-27-2010 by larryC]

Yah, that was him Harry Lewellyn...

David K - 12-27-2010 at 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Yah, that was him Harry Lewellyn...

His old tour web site is still up:

TRIP LEADER: Harry Lewellyn

This exciting 4WD camping tour brings the mysterious Baja peninsula to life.

The tour description below is from a previous trip and is intended to give you an idea of what we'll do on this exciting trip onto the Baja Peninsula.

WHAT:
As we move down the peninsula, an unexpected desert forest unfolds like something out a movie. The giant card�n cactus and cirio "trees" line our trail. We'll first scurry south to see an onyx quarry and get acquainted at out potluck dinner. Then, we'll work our way west to the ocean for the night and the most spectacular little canyon and panoramic vista of the Pacific Ocean in Baja. From there, it's farther south to Guerrero Negro for a night in town (hotel and group dinner included).

On another night, we'll camp at Mision San Borja and visit the remarkable well preserved Indian cave paintings. A massive herd of elephant trees, deep blue water and sky, and offshore islands then herald our arrival to Bahia de Los Angeles and eventually Bahia de las Animas, about 40 miles to the south.

At Las Animas, we'll trade our 4Xs for inflatables and take a closer look at the nearby offshore islands and bay for a few days. Here we can go clamming and fishing, so bring your gear and some garlic!

Far too soon, the time comes to head north. On the way, we'll stop at Gonzaga and/or Puertecitos on our way to San Felipe for a night in a local hotel. Tide permitting, we'll conquer the sands of the Sea of Cortez on this day's northerly run.

Our exit back to the U.S. will bring a contrasting surprise: Laguna Hanson, a pine forested, tropical storm fed lake area at 5,000 feet! From here, it's just a few hours to our painless Tecate border crossing that will ease us back into the USA.

Neal Johns - 12-27-2010 at 01:07 PM

Harry is a good dog! When he first started his tour business, he had no insurance, and used to cross the border near Signal Mountain!

That was before 9/11.

LarryC, you forgot to mention that "younger wife" was drop dead gorgeous, and smart too!

Harald, what you doing now? Met you once with Harry.
Neal Johns

Neal Johns - 12-27-2010 at 01:12 PM

Looking at Google Earth, I can't believe the dozens of ranches along/near the route after getting up the mountain! Interesting.

4x4abc - 12-27-2010 at 02:20 PM

yup, the "Silver something" guy with a much younger wife was most likely Harry Lewellyn. Not too many guides are active in Baja.

larryC - 12-28-2010 at 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neal Johns
Harry is a good dog! When he first started his tour business, he had no insurance, and used to cross the border near Signal Mountain!

That was before 9/11.

LarryC, you forgot to mention that "younger wife" was drop dead gorgeous, and smart too!

Harald, what you doing now? Met you once with Harry.
Neal Johns

Neal
She was, and probably is, much more impressive than Harry, I can still picture her, but if I was to trip over Harry in the desert I wouldn't recognize him. Fun people, everyone in their group seemed to be having a great time.
Larry

elfbrewery - 2-9-2011 at 02:56 PM

Harald,
I noticed from your Google Earth trail that you went from Constitucion to AV. Is this true? The trail info indicates a 22% drop going into AV and that the trip took 3.5 hours, of which 90% of the distance was covered in the first 2.5 hours. It appears you slithered down into AV.
Which way would you think would be better (with a 4wd jeep-like vehicle with a couple kayaks on top) -- Constitucion to AV or AV to Constitucion? (We would take the other road to the NW of AV for the other segment.)
Thanks for the info and any advice you can provide.

Marc - 2-9-2011 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4x4abc
here is the loop:
http://www.baja101.com/first-adventure/first-calendar.html

Very nice. You may be hearing from me.

bajaking76 - 2-10-2011 at 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
Nomads,
Google Earth has me seeing a road out of Agua Verde in a southwesterly direction that leads to Constitucion. Has anybody driven that or know about it?

And I don't mean the highway :cool:

[Edited on 12-11-2010 by motoged]

According to the map from from Secretaria de Comunicaciones Y transportes(Mexican for the planning division) that I forgot to send to David (sorry). There is a brecha from Agua Verde, it starts in San Jose de La Noria in a northwesterly direction and crosses through the villages of Sto. Tomas, EL Pedregoso, San Miguel de Quepo. It shows it intersecting the main road into agua verde just west of Los Cerritos.

David K - 2-10-2011 at 11:01 PM

I am patiently waiting for any and all Baja maps... always!

I would really like to have the Auto Club map from 1970-1973... I have one that is badly damaged and marked up... The auto club produced a very detailed map of northen Baja on a large scale (as far south as just below El Rosario & Puertecitos) and on the reverse side was their older style map of the rest of the peninsula.

If I can get a copy, I will scan and share it for a good look back at the roads in Baja 40 years ago...

bajaking76 - 2-11-2011 at 06:47 AM

Hey David, I just received the baja (Upper and lower) maps that I ordered from NatGeo, they are very detailed and cost me all of $20. Weather and tare proof....here is the link...the maps I said I was sending you will be in your email today... :coolup:

...

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/maps/travel-a...

David K - 2-11-2011 at 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaking76
Hey David, I just received the baja (Upper and lower) maps that I ordered from NatGeo, they are very detailed and cost me all of $20. Weather and tare proof....here is the link...the maps I said I was sending you will be in your email today... :coolup:

...

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/maps/travel-a...

Thanks!

Yes, I do have the Nat'l Geo maps (both sets... as the first printing had errors, like placing Mision San Pedro Martir at San Telmo, oh my!).