BajaNomad

1974 Baja Map from Auto Club (from Barry A)

David K - 2-18-2011 at 01:58 PM

In the early 1970's the Auto Club of Southern California produced a vary detailed map of northern Baja... and the remainder of Baja was on the other side... which was the same style map as their 1960's Baja map, but the fishing and hunting notes were removed. In 1975, they totally remade the map with Baja split into north and south halves that they continued to use up to the last version (2007).

However, they reduced the scale and details found on their early 70's map.

My only copy is badly marked and ripped... and when Barry A told me he had a good copy he would send me, I was thrilled to say the least!

So, here is that April, 1974 edition of the Baja map... the first one with the completed Baja highway on it, as well!

If anyone would like a close up zoom of any of these maps, just let me know which one of the 10, and what area of the map. The only part of Baja I didn't get scanned was the far east corner along the border (Algodones/ San Luis R.C.). Let me know if you want to see that.

Again a BIG NOMAD thank you to Barry A!!!:bounce::bounce::bounce:

The Northern detail map... two scans west then east, with three cross sections north to south:

















[Edited on 2-18-2011 by David K]

David K - 2-18-2011 at 02:06 PM

The other side of the map for the rest of Baja:









These almost 37 year old maps are a look back in time, and posted here for educational purposes.

KurtG - 2-18-2011 at 02:07 PM

That is the map that guided me on my first motorcycle ride to Baja in October 1974. Had a 73 Honda 750 which I rode to La Paz and then to Cabo San Lucas. I spent a week in Mulege and have never stopped returning there. I don't have as many round trips as Pompano but probably around 100 over those 37 years. I have recently finished putting together a 1981 CB750 which I am soon going to ride to Mulege just for pure nostalgia purposes.

captkw - 2-18-2011 at 02:51 PM

oops!! I think I just did a blank post,,(I can hear my ex,laughing) I hvae that same map up in ca. at my northern home..is the front dark brown ??

Barry A. - 2-18-2011 at 03:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
oops!! I think I just did a blank post,,(I can hear my ex,laughing) I hvae that same map up in ca. at my northern home..is the front dark brown ??


Yes, the cover is brown and blue.

DK I am really impressed with your scanning of that map-------it came out great. Glad I was able to help.

Barry

David K - 2-18-2011 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
oops!! I think I just did a blank post,,(I can hear my ex,laughing) I hvae that same map up in ca. at my northern home..is the front dark brown ??


Yes, the cover is brown and blue.

DK I am really impressed with your scanning of that map-------it came out great. Glad I was able to help.

Barry


Thank you Barry... because of your sharing, the entire world wide web can enjoy this map!

I have a couple of close-up requests... I am going to do them now (Ensenada area and San Felipe area)... Stand by Nomads!:cool::light:

David K - 2-18-2011 at 06:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
oops!! I think I just did a blank post,,(I can hear my ex,laughing) I hvae that same map up in ca. at my northern home..is the front dark brown ??


Yes, the cover is brown and blue.

DK I am really impressed with your scanning of that map-------it came out great. Glad I was able to help.

Barry


Close Ups...

David K - 2-18-2011 at 06:03 PM













If you have a request... or even closer zoom than above, just ask!:light:

David K - 2-18-2011 at 10:09 PM

No map is without errors, rather intentional or not...

The national park in the Sierra Juarez (around Laguna Hanson) is mis-located out in the desert. La Roca didn't have its own seperat road from the sulfur mine, it branched off the Nuevo Mazatlan road. Nuevo Mazatlan is shown too close to Bahia Santa Maria... it is really about halfway to La Roca from BSM. Just a couple I remembered from back in the day...

captkw - 2-19-2011 at 07:52 AM

yep,, that's the same map that I have,,,,cool

David K - 3-3-2011 at 07:29 PM

Remember, I honor all requests for close ups from any map I have...

Bob H - 3-3-2011 at 08:11 PM

Fantastic posting David. Just fantastic.

THANK YOU!

You need to have your own TV show, like a Huel Howser type of show, called Baja's Gold!

[Edited on 3-4-2011 by Bob H]

ncampion - 3-3-2011 at 08:18 PM

Great job. My first trip all the way down was 1979 and I think that was the map that I used. Good old AAA. Can't beat them.

Barry A. - 3-3-2011 at 09:07 PM

AAA maps---------were the gold standard for years.

Not so much anymore. They have removed countless "roads" from their maps lately (what's with that??), and I don't believe they can be counted on anymore, and are not near the quality maps they used to be. I believe that they contract out their map making now, and have disbanded their own "map staff", from what I understand.

(Sigh-----)

Barry

David K - 3-3-2011 at 09:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
AAA maps---------were the gold standard for years.

Not so much anymore. They have removed countless "roads" from their maps lately (what's with that??), and I don't believe they can be counted on anymore, and are not near the quality maps they used to be. I believe that they contract out their map making now, and have disbanded their own "map staff", from what I understand.

(Sigh-----) when I was helping them update their map

Barry


The removing of dirt roads from the map or classification of graded roads as 'unimproved' or 'poor' roads on the last couple of ACSC (Auto Club of Southern Calif.) Baja maps had to do with complaints received by members who had a tough time or thought the road shown as graded should have been good enough for their Honda Civic, etc. and they got there to find a washout or something... Sad that people have become so weak or complaint oriented!

Oh, I was told this by one of the Auto Club Baja team members when I was sharing some road conditions with them...

I think the 2007 edition was the final one... although I sure hope not!

[Edited on 3-4-2011 by David K]

racheldarlin - 3-4-2011 at 08:17 AM

Great job with the scanning David.

Barry, Thanks and what I want to know is how you kept a '74 map in such great condition? My first AAA was a '98 and in a couple of year ago it looked like mice had tried to make a nest. Finally got tired of wasting a roll of tape on it every year and tossed it. (Also I went to the Almanac)

I talked to my local AAA guy and he said GPS and Google had pretty much made it not worth producing paper maps any more.

Barry A. - 3-4-2011 at 08:50 AM

Rachael Darling------------I have always been a map-fanatic, picking up 2 of every map---one for filing, and one for actually using. But in this case I inherited that pristine Map from my deceased Aunt who was a Baja fanatic and map-nut, like me, and who taught me to always buy 2 of all maps for the reason stated above.

I love my paper maps, tho the ON-line maps are really neat. I don't have a lap-top, so when on the road I want my paper maps, which I often laminate with plastic so they won't "fall apart".

It saddens me that paper-maps are fast becoming a thing of the past-----I have spent countless hours studying my "paper maps" over the many years----------I have hundreds of them in my file cabinets.

I supervised the BLM mapping of the southern CA desert (San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties) in the mid-70's, the result being the present day Recreation Guide Maps that BLM publishes--------excellent maps with infinite detail, and I believe the best available today. (I am proud of that effort, obviously) :biggrin:

So there you have more info than you ever wanted to learn. :lol:

Thanks for asking.

Barry

David K - 3-4-2011 at 10:17 AM

Wonderful Barry!

Any viewers who love old maps... be sure and look down this forum (Baja Historic Interests and Literature) as I have posted many, many maps dating back to 1701... and if you have a map that you don't see... please share it... email me for details on how.

San Pedro Martir Mountain Ranches

David K - 3-8-2011 at 11:37 AM



An interesting look at the mountain area.

While this was a 1974 map, some of the mapping information must of come from around 1969, as the road north from Mike's Sky Rancho (built around 1970) to San Matias/ Valle de Trinidad is not included.

The observatory road built also about 1968-1970 is not shown, but a road up from Concepcion ranch is... not sure if it ever was possible to get through that way... past Corral de Sam ?

Also, there never was an automobile road to Mision San Pedro Martir as shown... A difficult foot trail up the side of the mountain has always been the only way from Santa Cruz.

Mexitron - 3-8-2011 at 12:22 PM

yes, the old road built for logging got you up at least to the high meadows of the SPM...don't know about a road going up to the observatory area though.

What's the road heading south of R. Santa Cruz and appearing to come tantalizingly close to the Mission?

Has anyone taken the road from the current observatory road to R. Santa Cruz in recent years? I was on it in 1990-ish and it looked like it could wash out easily. The road west of Santa Cruz at that time was overgrown and in not too good a shape with many locked gates to get through to end up in the San Telmo Valley area.

David K - 3-8-2011 at 05:13 PM

I recall a signed road for Rancho el Potrero off the observatory road near the Socorro mine. That would then continue south to Santa Cruz and west to Valladares. The road to the mission is an error (as you know having hiked to the mission with Jack Swords and Taco de Baja).. it should be shown as a foot trail... if at all.

Thanks for the note on the road above Concepcion... In 1960, it was reported that the road was built about 1950 for lumber operations, but never was used for that purpose.

Have you seen the flume/ canal built in 1896 by Harry Johnson to carry water from the San Rafael river to his Socorro mine, 20 miles away?

Great history all over Baja!



[Edited on 3-9-2011 by David K]

scan0020-R.JPG - 47kB

Edguero - 3-10-2011 at 09:12 PM

I have come across a Baja map that was issued by the The Automobile Club of Southern California and California State Automobile Association.
I cannot find a date anywhere on it, only MAP NUMBER 2011, it is printed in black and white for roads and cities and red for wildlife such as fish, birds, deer, lions, etc. Anyone have a clue what this is?

David K - 3-10-2011 at 11:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Edguero
I have come across a Baja map that was issued by the The Automobile Club of Southern California and California State Automobile Association.
I cannot find a date anywhere on it, only MAP NUMBER 2011, it is printed in black and white for roads and cities and red for wildlife such as fish, birds, deer, lions, etc. Anyone have a clue what this is?


Yes, the was a the map made in the early to mid 1960's...

Here are some parts of mine (with roads we traveled in 1966 marked over):







If anybody has a clean copy of this map, please scan it or if you would like me to share it, send it this way!

David K - 11-19-2012 at 09:32 AM

Another bump, in the road!

Family Guy - 11-20-2012 at 09:43 AM

nice maps. thanks for sharing!

David K - 11-20-2012 at 11:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Family Guy
nice maps. thanks for sharing!


El gusto es mio...

I am happy to take requests for zoom-in images of any area of interest... just let me know!

David K - 11-20-2012 at 11:56 AM

Here is a close up of the area of San Juan de Dios and San Fernando mission sites in 1974:

durrelllrobert - 11-20-2012 at 12:52 PM

Quote:
So, here is that April, 1974 edition of the Baja map... the first one with the completed Baja highway on it, as well!

If anyone would like a close up zoom of any of these maps, just let me know which one of the 10, and what area of the map.


Thanks David/ Barry. For the do it yourself people you can blow these maps up just by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the + key as many times as you need.

David K - 11-20-2012 at 05:57 PM

But, they will be distorted using Ctrl + if you get too close... I can re-load a zoom in image for clear detail, and I don't mind at all helping.

durrelllrobert - 11-20-2012 at 07:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
But, they will be distorted using Ctrl + if you get too close... I can re-load a zoom in image for clear detail, and I don't mind at all helping.

I know that you don't mind. Sorry I interfered.

David K - 11-20-2012 at 09:24 PM

No problem at all... please never hesitate to offer ideas!