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Desert Maps

dudly - 8-24-2016 at 08:06 AM

Hi,
Will be returning to San Felipe for the winter. Interested in exploring the desert by UTV. Any maps, books etc. perhaps with GPS points recommended. Thanks

David K - 8-24-2016 at 08:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by dudly

Hi,
Will be returning to San Felipe for the winter. Interested in exploring the desert by UTV. Any maps, books etc. perhaps with GPS points recommended. Thanks

Oh boy, sure are but none are very recent. However, with the older maps you can still find cool roads and arroyos to explore.

Use Google Earth to "fly-over" an area of interest and see tracks you might take into the hills.

Here is a selection of maps I have made and others... San Felipe South region...

1978:

1980:

1982:

1988:

2004:

Nat Geo 2008 Map:

2003 Baja Almanac, with notes added:

David K - 8-24-2016 at 09:05 AM

If you want to see some photos of the canyons and area near the mountains, south of San Felipe... here are some of my trip web pages:

2006: Arroyo Matomi & Canyon: http://vivabaja.com/618/page4.html

2006: Sulfur Mine, Cañada el Parral, El Berrendo Canyon: http://vivabaja.com/106/page2.html

Exotic Canyons along Valle Chico, 2004: http://www.vivabaja.com/404/

2004 Nomad Group trip to Matomi Canyon: http://www.vivabaja.com/204/

2001 Amigos Group trip to Matomi Canyon: http://www.vivabaja.com/matomi/index.html

BigBearRider - 8-24-2016 at 09:57 AM

Nice maps, DK! I didn't know you like maps?

David K - 8-24-2016 at 10:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider

Nice maps, DK! I didn't know you like maps?

Been drawing maps since I was a little Baja traveler!

Here is the oldest Baja map I made when I was 9 or 10 (1967)... about when Agua de Chale got renamed Nuevo Mazatlan...

The Lemke (or Lenke) shack is today's El Sahuaro and the Lagoon/ fisherman's shack is today's Bahía Santa María.

When I was 14... more campos had sprung up:

[Edited on 8-24-2016 by David K]

PaulW - 8-24-2016 at 05:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by dudly

Hi,
Will be returning to San Felipe for the winter. Interested in exploring the desert by UTV. Any maps, books etc. perhaps with GPS points recommended. Thanks

======
Minimal requirement would be the Almanc
Since you have a gps search around and buy a background map for it.
Join up with one of the buggy or ATV clubs and ride along.
Going out by yourself then invest in SPOT or InReach so your contacts can find you when you screw up. Lots of threads on both systems.
Bruce Barber's book is a good entry level starter that discusses all the popular destinations around SF. I see them being sold at the swap meet frequently. I bet you can get the book off the web.

David K - 8-24-2016 at 08:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Quote: Originally posted by dudly

Hi,
Will be returning to San Felipe for the winter. Interested in exploring the desert by UTV. Any maps, books etc. perhaps with GPS points recommended. Thanks

Bruce Barber's book:

Baja Almanac (2003 and 2009 editions):

AKgringo - 8-25-2016 at 08:34 AM

Quote:

xxxx

I have been pricing a Baja Almanac online. Sixty dollars and up for a 2009 edition! It looks like that is the most recent issue, any one know how current the road info was when it was published?

Edited again for content

[Edited on 8-25-2016 by BajaNomad]

[Edited on 8-25-2016 by AKgringo]

TMW - 8-25-2016 at 09:36 AM

When you say something off the subject line, especially not in a good way, it brings all the DK haters out in force. Then the topic goes down hill really fast. He said she said us verses them thing.

AKgringo - 8-25-2016 at 09:46 AM

I took Howard's comment as good natured kidding, and I'll bet DK has a sense of humor about the post as well.

TMW - 8-25-2016 at 09:51 AM

He said he meant it as a joke and I accept that.

David K - 8-25-2016 at 12:15 PM

Doug usually deletes things that are not PG13 or G rated.

I accept Howard's statement. Let's have fun and be nice, always.

PaulW - 8-26-2016 at 12:42 PM

[rquote
I have been pricing a Baja Almanac online. Sixty dollars and up for a 2009 edition! It looks like that is the most recent issue, any one know how current the road info was when it was published?
======
The thing was never cheap even when in production.
Something like $20 or more (nothing like $60). Keep searching.
Now I see on line for just a bit more than the original price.
The 2009 version is the latest. Very few changes have been made over the early editions. The reason is the publisher makes the Almanac from the official INEGI topo maps and they have not changed for decades.
In spite of my comments I find the Almanac to be a valuable tool and I very seldom go in the back country without it.
Maybe some day the publisher will start selling a new version with an up to date Datum so we can compare Google earth with the Almanc.

AKgringo - 8-26-2016 at 01:02 PM

Thanks PaulW! I suppose the old trails and terrain features would be the same, and my GPS should be adequate for the main roads anyway. I will shop around for a better price!

David K - 8-26-2016 at 01:14 PM

The publisher, Landon Crumpton, died. No more Almanacs, from him anyway. Vaya con Dios!

bajaguy - 8-26-2016 at 01:27 PM

I purchased my last Almanacs from Bajabound, and last time I was in Guerrero Negro noticed there were a couple in the gift shop at Malarrimo's.

David K - 8-26-2016 at 02:29 PM

Baja Bound also had an inventory of them, so ask Geoff maybe?

TMW - 8-26-2016 at 06:30 PM

DK since you like to do maps why not get the rights to the almanac and update it. You know the various areas that need changed so go for it.

AKgringo - 8-26-2016 at 06:44 PM

The AAA Baja map also needs to be adopted by someone. I wonder if lack of demand, cost of updating, or some sort of liability issue caused them to discontinue it?

David K - 8-26-2016 at 06:52 PM

Thanks, Tom... Someone who was a friend of the family and went to Landon's funeral emailed me and knows there is interest in revised editions.

AKgringo, the Automobile Club of Southern California (who actually made the maps and guidebooks, going back forever, almost), fired their cartographers and writing staff. I am in regular communication with the author of their final Baja guidebook. With GPS, Google Earth, etc. plus the lack of travel to Baja compared to the last century, I guess it just didn't justify the effort any longer?

bajaguy - 8-26-2016 at 06:58 PM

Best places to find the AAA Baja maps are small rural offices.......I know for a fact that the AAA office in Susanville, CA has a stock

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

The AAA Baja map also needs to be adopted by someone. I wonder if lack of demand, cost of updating, or some sort of liability issue caused them to discontinue it?

TMW - 8-27-2016 at 09:37 AM

I just looked at Amazon and they have a 2009 almanac for $77.95.
2003 for $77.95 and for $180.86.
1997 Baja Norte for 350.36 and the Baja Sur for $352.76.

TMW - 8-27-2016 at 09:40 AM

Bajabound has the 2009 for $39.95 + $7.95 shipping. Order on line.

https://www.bajabound.com/before/aboutmex/bajaalmanac.php

Barry A. - 8-27-2016 at 09:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Best places to find the AAA Baja maps are small rural offices.......I know for a fact that the AAA office in Susanville, CA has a stock

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

The AAA Baja map also needs to be adopted by someone. I wonder if lack of demand, cost of updating, or some sort of liability issue caused them to discontinue it?

I talked to AAA in Redding, CA about that many months ago, and the clerk said that the "mapping division" of AAA had been disbanded, and that all maps were now contracted out. She believed that the Baja Map was not included in that contract, but she did appear to be not to sure on all that.

dudly - 10-7-2016 at 07:35 AM

Thanks everyone for your input. Picked up the almanac through BajaBound, will start from there.

2009 Baja Almanac Errors

David K - 10-7-2016 at 08:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by dudly

Thanks everyone for your input. Picked up the almanac through BajaBound, will start from there.

Remember, most all maps can have errors and some even on purpose (for copyright evidence).

The 2009 Almanac has many errors, with the latitude figures wrong on several pages being the big one found after we got them in 2009. The other errors are those from INEGI (Mexico's topo map people) with the wrong names for some arroyos and bays, as an example.

2009 Almanac latitude corrections to pencil in:

On Maps 5 & 6, the latitude changes to make: All the 31º figures needs to be 30º (the minutes are fine).

On Map 7: All the 31º figures need to be changed to 29º and the one 30º figure needs to be 28º.

Map 12 [RIGHT side only] latitude figures are wrong, they should be the same numbers as on the left side.

Map 18 degree figures on both sides are wrong: the 25º figures should all be 24º, and the 26º figures should all be 25º.

PaulW - 10-7-2016 at 08:40 AM

And don't forget that the Almanac used the mexico datum with is different that Google Earth. This is only an issue if you are plotting waypoints. Most of us just ignore the differences, but if you drive to a place with the wrong coordinates you could be off by a distance that you could not find the place.

MulegeAL - 10-7-2016 at 09:01 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

[rquote
I have been pricing a Baja Almanac online. Sixty dollars and up for a 2009 edition! It looks like that is the most recent issue, any one know how current the road info was when it was published?

There have been around 4 major hurricanes across the peninsula since the data date for the Almanac. Those storms closed a few high passes in my area, they are now trails or impassable. And low roads in arroyos get moved around by low level floods. New rock fields to cross, no big deal if you are prepared, but not easy on equipment either.

The "passability" of remote places is difficult to ascertain from satellite, you can't always see the roughness, washouts and boulders that are really there. That can be part of the baja adventure, so long as you can turn around/back up!

It's just a map, its not "real." So, inquire locally. Rancho kids always give good advice as to whether the camino es bueno/muy mal! But often they are away in school and not around to ask!

shari - 10-7-2016 at 09:09 AM

Al hit it...while maps are fine, please talk to the locals before doing back country trips. I hear people all the time say I see there is a road to **** and I am glad they mentioned they were going because I can let them know if it isnt passable or if there is a locked gate or other issues.