BajaNomad - Exploring baja's backcountry with google earth and no internet connectivity

Exploring baja's backcountry with google earth and no internet connectivity

Skipjack Joe - 12-11-2011 at 09:31 AM

Perhaps some of you know of this but for those who don't.

You can navigate to any part of baja if with a pc with google earth and a gps system. The only catch is that you have to know where you plan to go before you leave home.

Here's how:

1. At home navigate from the start of journey and to a reasonable section of land area until google earth shows all of the land area crystal clear.

2. Log out from google earth server and copy the files -

a. dbCache.dat
b. dbCache.dat.index

from the location that your google earth stores them. In my case:

Documents and Settings>idoncov>Local Settings>Application Data>Google>GoogleEarth

to a saved directory. Rename them with something meaningful.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have your whole itenerary mapped out and it's contents saved.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later in Baja when you have reached the starting point of your journey.

1. Copy the saved files 1 by 1 back to their original google earth directory location.

2. Start google earth.

3. It will say that there is no connectivity and ask you if you wish to work from cache. You say yes.

4. Navigate to your location. It will be sharp. As you navigate out of cache locations it will get blurry.

As you drive explore baja use your gps and google earth to confirm that you are where you think you are and going to where you think you're going. You should see the google earth landmarks around you.

The greater the elevation the more territory is saved but you lose detail as you zoom in. The files should be saved at the highest elevation that still gives you the greatest detail you seek.

[Edited on 12-11-2011 by Skipjack Joe]

[Edited on 12-12-2011 by Skipjack Joe]

Natalie Ann - 12-11-2011 at 09:39 AM

Sounds like someone is planning their vacation.

nena

Santiago - 12-11-2011 at 09:59 AM

Good one. Way better than simply marking a few waypoints and then checking your GPS as Baja maps are no bueno.

wessongroup - 12-11-2011 at 10:53 AM

Google Earth is some free app... just saying ... one can spend hours on the Earth... and if ya get bored ... there is always outer space... like the universe ... interesting stuff ... thanks...

David K - 12-11-2011 at 11:20 AM

Thank Igor... I don't have a lap top (yet), but great info!

Skipjack Joe - 12-11-2011 at 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago
Way better than simply marking a few waypoints and then checking your GPS as Baja maps are no bueno.

Oh absolutely. You can take a gps reading off your truck, enter it into google earth, and see where you are in relation to your planned route.

And what about all of those forks we encounter virtually everywhere we go. Get a reading, enter it into computer, and make the decision. Sometimes a compass gives you a feeling about it. But, as you know, some forks go parallel for quite a while and then veer off in other directions. So it wasn't apparent at the 'intersection'.

Hook - 12-11-2011 at 11:58 AM

So, as you move through the cached GE maps, your GPS will update your location IN REAL TIME as you are driving?

[Edited on 12-11-2011 by Hook]

Skipjack Joe - 12-11-2011 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
So, as you move through the cached GE maps, your GPS will update your location IN REAL TIME as you are driving?

[Edited on 12-11-2011 by Hook]

No. Each file is 2GB and contains the features and gps coordinates of what's stored in them. Once you leave the area you get a blurry image of the adjoining area. To get it sharp you have to replace the file that google is using with one that has it the features sharp.

When you move your cursor around an area or zoom in the features are blurry for a bit and then become sharp. Google has moved information from it's server to your laptop's cache and it's sharp once that is done. All we're doing is saving that information so that when there is no connectivity we get at it.

This is free of charge. I'm sure you can purchase navigation systems that will do it automatically, Hook. Their own maps and a gps system all built in.

MMc - 12-11-2011 at 02:25 PM

There are so many things wrong with this. Ask yourself, does tech make me happy, or does it keep me busy? What makes me happy? I prefer to live in the world not watch it or download it. I have never put a GPS spot or going to a web site on my "to do and see list." Just saying. MMc

David K - 12-11-2011 at 04:11 PM

Some of us here love exploring... and Baja is the last frontier to most of us!

If we can see a dirt road on Google Earth going to an interesting place, the GPS will show us which road or which fork to take. This reduces unnecessary driving, wasted gas, road wear, and allows more time to enjoy the hike or photo op at the end of the road.

Good maps are great, but often still don't have all the roads on them. Even the newest (2009) Baja Almanac still doesn't show roads that are not only there since 2001, but don't even need 4WD... But, on Google Earth you can see them plain as day.

We who seek some adventure or love exploring new sites (to us), no matter who else has been there before, is what makes Baja so special and why we go through what we do to get there.

MMc - 12-11-2011 at 05:35 PM

How many days do you have in Baja this year? Adventure is for that go and do, not surf the web and wish. MMc
(do I smell popcorn?) :lol:

Skipjack Joe - 12-11-2011 at 06:08 PM

Don't know if you're referring to me. We're leaving in 5 days.

This thread is for those who do 'go and do'. Why would anyone download maps and not use them?

Whatever.

woody with a view - 12-11-2011 at 06:15 PM

have fun and leave some clams and spotties for me in january....

BajaRat - 12-11-2011 at 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MMc
There are so many things wrong with this. Ask yourself, does tech make me happy, or does it keep me busy? What makes me happy? I prefer to live in the world not watch it or download it. I have never put a GPS spot or going to a web site on my "to do and see list." Just saying. MMc

I asked myself and....................No I'm totally cool with it.
Thanks Joe, I've been printing maps but never tried this. :cool:

BajaRat - 12-11-2011 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Some of us here love exploring... and Baja is the last frontier to most of us!

If we can see a dirt road on Google Earth going to an interesting place, the GPS will show us which road or which fork to take. This reduces unnecessary driving, wasted gas, road wear, and allows more time to enjoy the hike or photo op at the end of the road.

Good maps are great, but often still don't have all the roads on them. Even the newest (2009) Baja Almanac still doesn't show roads that are not only there since 2001, but don't even need 4WD... But, on Google Earth you can see them plain as day.

We who seek some adventure or love exploring new sites (to us), no matter who else has been there before, is what makes Baja so special and why we go through what we do to get there.

Well said. :cool:

Fernweh - 12-11-2011 at 08:09 PM

Right on Joe.

may I expand a little bit on that.

I have been using a similar set-up for years now.

My adventurewagen has a small GPS receiver (picture) added under the right plastic headlight cover. Its battery is recharged whenever I turn on the lights.
This GPS receiver transmits the satellite data via bluetooth to my laptop in the car. It logs on automatically when I turn on the computer, works like a charm and I have never (almost) lost the satellite reception.
Using a program to capture the GE cache file - called "GPS for Google Earth", it will use the current cache file or a save one, and displays the GE satellite image as needed.
You need to scan the area with GE when still online, especially if you like to see the close to the ground images later.
As Joe already mentioned, the cache file can hold 2G of data, GE will add new data and erases the old one when the cache is full.
When on location (Baja) you can then use the GPS for GE program to track your movements in realtime, and it also lets you replay your movements, which in turn is saved to a different file.

My route south from El Barrill along the coast to the Hwy 1 past San Ignacio was found, driven and tracked with this great setup.

Karl

Skipjack Joe - 12-11-2011 at 08:18 PM

Well I'll be damned! Thanks. Here is what I was about to post as you were posting:

------------------------------------------------------

Last summer we met a family at San Francisquito that was having it's springs welded by Beto (a good man, by the way).

It seems they had made that wrong turn to the right and ended up at El Barril. Realizing their mistake they backtracked to the turnoff. But by then they were running out of daylight. So they picked up speed and drove hard over the washboard road. The small boat trailer just wasn't built to handle that kind of stress. That turnoff, however, is marked on the almanac.

----------------------------------------------------------------

This past summer I had decided to explore some cave paintings in still another area. They were supposed to be on a butte rising over a plain. But when we got there we saw several buttes in the area. Which one was it? We found them using the above technique. It still took a lot of climbing to find them.

Those cholla needles are so annoying after they work their way in. :lol:

Fernweh - 12-11-2011 at 09:53 PM

Sounds familiar as well......

Found some paintings last year the same way. Tracked to them using GE, camped out for the night and searched for them next morning with my buddy River, the GSP.

Maybe it was the same butte......

Karl

Mexitron - 12-12-2011 at 07:34 AM

Nice technique Skipjack. My favorite is still the full size topos but the two working together could help in some of the nether regions of the outback---especially where the Yucca harvesters have carved in all kinds of networks of confusing roads...

David K - 12-12-2011 at 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexitron
Nice technique Skipjack. My favorite is still the full size topos but the two working together could help in some of the nether regions of the outback---especially where the Yucca harvesters have carved in all kinds of networks of confusing roads...

How long does it take to grow back a yucca tree?

At the ditched El Arenoso runway (Sauzalito/San Juan de Dioas jcn. at Hwy. 1)

rob - 12-12-2011 at 09:47 AM

Thanks for that GE cache information Skipjack Joe! Didn't know that . .

I have a very useful program called Screenhunter (wisdom-soft.com) that saves the screen as a .jpg picture file. I also have an old copy of Fugawi GPS software - when you open the picture (or any scanned map) in Fugawi, you assign lat/long (or UTM) coordinates to each corner and you now have a map that "knows" where it is.

Show the map on your laptop, plug in your GPS and you have a realtime position/track machine.

motoged - 12-12-2011 at 10:48 AM

We might need a GPS to navigate the yucca hijack :biggrin:

Skipjack Joe - 12-12-2011 at 11:12 AM

Quote:

Mexitron, have you seen this?

http://www.sierenphotography.com/gallery/11413278_7bVVA#802214548_qdJfk

This professional landscape photographer uses Google Earth to visualize what the lighting will look like at various times of the day. He picks a subject and then decides when the best light for shooting it would be. I've never tried it but it could be useful to you. Your baja paintings always deal with light and shadows.

NO LAPTOP

wessongroup - 12-12-2011 at 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Thank Igor... I don't have a lap top (yet), but great info!

OMG !!!! Guess you go down like in the old days... do ya lack a cell phone too ?? ... :lol:

.. how did we make in 40 or 50 years ago ..

Use a lap top, with an antenna and some mapping software that worked pretty cool.. combined with using Google Earth, Garmin GPS handheld and the laptop... it is my job as navigator ..

Have recently gotten the Garmin Nevi ... which is really pretty good.. I must say .. like having the "view" right in front of you and they now have very detailed maps of all of Mexico with border towns too ... I've got more mapping stuff than I need, but it really is fun to really preplan your routes... and see the routes via Google Earth ... before ya leave the house ... amazing stuff we have today

TMW - 12-12-2011 at 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fernweh

My route south from El Barrill along the coast to the Hwy 1 past San Ignacio was found, driven and tracked with this great setup.

Karl

Did you do this in a 4 wheel vehicle?

Mexitron - 12-12-2011 at 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

Quote:

Nice!

wessongroup - 12-12-2011 at 12:48 PM

Cool link Skipjack..

Fernweh - 12-12-2011 at 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW

Quote:

Originally posted by Fernweh

My route south from El Barrill along the coast to the Hwy 1 past San Ignacio was found, driven and tracked with this great setup.

Karl

Did you do this in a 4 wheel vehicle?

Fernweh - 12-12-2011 at 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW

Quote:

Originally posted by Fernweh

My route south from El Barrill along the coast to the Hwy 1 past San Ignacio was found, driven and tracked with this great setup.

Karl

Did you do this in a 4 wheel vehicle?

Yes, I did....both ways.

Very cool trip, next time I might take some company - dinner time is more fun.

David K - 12-12-2011 at 07:05 PM

The squarecircle has been wanting to show me Los Corrales and I have yet to see the coast between San Francisquito and Santa Rosalia.

Thank you for the photos (and any more... perhaps in its own trip reports thread?)!

Ken Cooke - 12-12-2011 at 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The squarecircle has been wanting to show me Los Corrales and I have yet to see the coast between San Francisquito and Santa Rosalia.

I'd like to check this area out, too. I didn't find El Barril interesting, but I am sure there are some good Jeeping opportunities in this region. I plan on upgrading my tires soon, so maybe I can keep up with you guys.

Fernweh - 12-12-2011 at 08:55 PM

This is how my set-up with Google Earth, my tiny GPS receiver and that GPS for GE looks like.

Very nice and sharp GE satellite map, my earlier traced (in Los Angeles) route and my realtime position (circle).

Too bad, my route ended at the chicken cube of Rancho San Carlos and didn't continue to Playa Santa Ana - I had to turn around.

1. Nav View

2. Real View

Ken Cooke - 12-12-2011 at 09:10 PM

That's good to have in the backcountry where no streetsigns exist. Thanks for the information, because I am always thinking about upgrading to GPS technology while out in the Baja desert.

wessongroup - 12-12-2011 at 09:21 PM

Thanks for the cool input Fernweh ...

Roberto - 12-12-2011 at 10:06 PM

Good tip. Just curious, why use this method over GPS and a map? Much easier, though a little more expensive. The days of no Baja Maps are long gone. I even made my own Garmin topo map based on the INEGI information, and for a long time was the best thing out there. Now, there are several good ones out there, that will give you real-time information.

Just askin'.

[Edited on 12-13-2011 by Roberto]

Fernweh - 12-12-2011 at 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto
Good tip. Just curious, why use this method over GPS and a map? Much easier, though a little more expensive. The days of no Baja Maps are long gone. I even made my own Garmin topo map based on the INEGI information, and for a long time was the best thing out there. Now, there are several good ones out there, that will give you real-time information.

Just askin'.

[Edited on 12-13-2011 by Roberto]

Roberto,

we do search the Google Earth images for weeks at a time and find interesting places, long before we even go out there and try to drive the trails. A map will only give you the published info, while we look at the topo formations and then zoom in or turn our view points in different angles and have found tracks and trails worth further exploration.

I do carry a number of Baja maps, like different issues of the almanac or the Bici maps on my Garmin handheld GPS with me - plus always a compass, but most important, a joyful pain in my chest for adventurous travel to far away places - Fernweh

Karl

David K - 12-13-2011 at 11:56 AM

That is what I enjoy... and when you come to a fork in the road... you take it! :lol:

Barry A. - 12-13-2011 at 01:09 PM

Fernweh------------I am totally blown away!!! You say you traversed the coastal country between El Barril and the paved highway into Santa Rosalia/San Ignacio in a 4-wheel drive????? I explored that Country south of El Barril several years ago, trying to get to Los Corrales in our F-250 pickup and gave up. In talking to the local Rancheros we were lead to believe that motorcycles could get thru south of Los Corrales, but it was very difficult for them. Here you say you drove your Mecedes 4x4 thru--------that is incredible. Never heard of that being accomplished before. I sure would like to hear some of the reports from THAT trip--------I really did not think it possible, based on what I had been told.

I applaud you---------the area south of El Barril is some of the most beautiful and remote left in all of Baja--------we spent a week prowling around down there years ago with our Baja camper, and a Isuzu Trooper. Bravo!!!! to you. :yes:

Barry

Fernweh - 12-13-2011 at 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
Fernweh------------I am totally blown away!!! You say you traversed the coastal country between El Barril and the paved highway into Santa Rosalia/San Ignacio in a 4-wheel drive????? I explored that Country south of El Barril several years ago, trying to get to Los Corrales in our F-250 pickup and gave up. In talking to the local Rancheros we were lead to believe that motorcycles could get thru south of Los Corrales, but it was very difficult for them. Here you say you drove your Mecedes 4x4 thru--------that is incredible. Never heard of that being accomplished before. I sure would like to hear some of the reports from THAT trip--------I really did not think it possible, based on what I had been told.

I applaud you---------the area south of El Barril is some of the most beautiful and remote left in all of Baja--------we spent a week prowling around down there years ago with our Baja camper, and a Isuzu Trooper. Bravo!!!! to you. :yes:

Barry

Thank you Barry,

I had spend weeks looking on Google Earth, and then finally in 2010 after visiting a Longitude/Latitude confluence south of Chivato, a good friend and I started that adventure from the South (Hwy1). Unfortunately, I could not complete the trip and had to turn around, my copilot had to back at work.
A few weeks later - I just had to do it - after visiting Santa Gertrudis, I drove the entire route South from El Barril to the Hwy1.

I'm a bit hesitant with a trip report.....
>the area south of El Barril is some of the most beautiful and remote left in all of Baja<

I rather meet a small group of folks and take them there.

Karl

David K - 12-13-2011 at 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fernweh

Quote:

Barry

I would be game for that! If things work out, could be at San Rafael, San Francisquito or El Barril on Jan. 2 or 3! :bounce:

One of your photos almost appears to be the El Camino Real north of Rancho Rosarito (north of the Santa Marta road)? In following Kacey Smith motorcycle route between El Barril and San Ignacio, she did use some of the Jesuit road... and other motorcycle riders have as well (between Santa Gertrudis and San Ignacio).

Great stuff!! :bounce:

Fernweh - 12-13-2011 at 06:13 PM

David,

you are correct. The picture is from the road to Rancho San Carlos. When I drove it, I had the feeling it was part of the ECR network. The large rocks nicely stacked to both sides, not too wide - well built. I'm happy that you were able to confirm that.

January is not good for me, even I'm leaving for the area below the Tres Virgines this coming Saturday. Not taking my Adventurewagen but a lesser minivan this time, and plan to continue further South to La Paz after that.

The screenshot is the Santa Martha road north of Rancho Rosarito, where I turned towards San Carlos.

David K - 12-13-2011 at 07:52 PM

Great. I look forward to reading more from you and photos too! Felix Navidad.

TMW - 12-17-2011 at 12:43 PM

The squarecircle needs to grease his wheel bearings and make plans.

Barry A. - 12-18-2011 at 08:42 PM

Fernweh (and David K etc.)-------
Just to clear up my confused mind-----after doing some research, and consultation with other NOMADS, I am thinking that you couldn't possibly of navigated with a 4-wheel drive the "coast" south of El Barril. I know you CAN go inland from El Barril in a SW direction, and then southeast across Mesa El Alambrado and down La Fortuna Canyon to "Rancho" San Miguel, and on to Los Corrales on the coast (tho I never quite made it to Los Corrales). South of Los Corrales directly along the coast is (I understand) impassable to 4-wheel drives because of headlands, mountains, cliffs, etc... Correct me if I am wrong-----

I am really curious as to just where you DID go south of El Barril??? I know that you can come up north from Hyway 1 on the Santa Marta road to Santa Marta, and beyond to the north, and then east to Ensenada La Trinidad on the coast. I have seen pictures of campers at Ensenada La Trinidad taken from the sea, so it is doable. I don't know if you can actually drive east and reach the coast at Boca San Carlos (south of Ensenada La Trinidad) in any 4-wheel drive tho-----apparently you have tried, but turned around at "Rancho" San Carlos when you ran out of time????

Any further illumination you could provide would be very helpful. :spingrin:

Barry

(by the way, El Barril is a very interesting and historic place despite what Ken Cooke's impressions were, both Rancho El Barril and the stone buildings further SE a little way right on the coast------all very neat and connected with the Villavicencio family)

TacoFeliz - 12-19-2011 at 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
Fernweh (and David K etc.)-------
Just to clear up my confused mind-----after doing some research, and consultation with other NOMADS, I am thinking that you couldn't possibly of navigated with a 4-wheel drive the "coast" south of El Barril. I know you CAN go inland from El Barril in a SW direction, and then southeast across Mesa El Alambrado and down La Fortuna Canyon to "Rancho" San Miguel, and on to Los Corrales on the coast (tho I never quite made it to Los Corrales). South of Los Corrales directly along the coast is (I understand) impassable to 4-wheel drives because of headlands, mountains, cliffs, etc... Correct me if I am wrong-----

I am really curious as to just where you DID go south of El Barril??? I know that you can come up north from Hyway 1 on the Santa Marta road to Santa Marta, and beyond to the north, and then east to Ensenada La Trinidad on the coast. I have seen pictures of campers at Ensenada La Trinidad taken from the sea, so it is doable. I don't know if you can actually drive east and reach the coast at Boca San Carlos (south of Ensenada La Trinidad) in any 4-wheel drive tho-----apparently you have tried, but turned around at "Rancho" San Carlos when you ran out of time????

Any further illumination you could provide would be very helpful. :spingrin:

Yes, inquiring minds want to know.

David K --- anything to share on this question? :?:

David K - 12-19-2011 at 11:07 AM

My lips are sealed :biggrin:

woody with a view - 12-19-2011 at 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
My lips are sealed :biggrin:

WOW! that's the news of the day..... :lol:

baitcast - 12-20-2011 at 07:33 AM

But Igor where are the fishing poles? Did you ever check out the posting on the Bonefish ?

Just where are you going?or are you already there?
Rob

David K - 12-20-2011 at 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
My lips are sealed :biggrin:

WOW! that's the news of the day..... :lol: