BajaNomad - San Ignacio to Mulege

San Ignacio to Mulege

leo_jb - 11-21-2017 at 10:07 AM

Taking a motorcycle trip to Baja in January with a few friends. We're all pretty decent riders with a fair amount of Baja experience, riding relatively small dual-sport bikes. I'm trying to put together an alternate route between San Ignacio and Mulege. Pieced one together using my 2017 Cartographia E-32 map, but I know enough not to rely on the map in out-of-the-way places. Anyone have any experience with the attached route? Or a recommended alternate?

David K - 11-21-2017 at 10:44 AM

Please let us know how you do if you do go!
I was up at Mission Guadalupe, three months ago, and noted where that road meets the mission road. It was unsigned and only ranches nearby may use it. It is just 1/2 mile from the Las Tunas & San Ignacio junction to the mission driveway. It should be seen if places built in 1720 interest you! Here's more:https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/mission_guadalupe.php

You might search Nomad for posts from 'TMW'. Here is a recent report on that road that goes via Rancho Las Tunas:
In May 2016: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=83006

[Edited on 11-21-2017 by David K]

motoged - 11-21-2017 at 10:54 AM

A bunch of us did it 6 years ago....take lots of water and travel light....there were some ridge passes consisting of grapefruit/ basketball-sized rocks as well as flood ravaged arroyo roads that were wicked....

I say go for it....others will perhaps have more current intel... :coolup:

DT Bushpilot and I were on 690's....next time I would take the 450....wouldn't touch it on a KLR or similar weight bike....

Good road up top (2011):

[Edited on 11-21-2017 by motoged]

woody with a view - 11-21-2017 at 11:19 AM

Where’s the basketball’s Ged?

motoged - 11-21-2017 at 11:34 AM

Woody,
I said that was the "good" road... :biggrin:

the killer pass came after the pics above....

Too busy sweating and grunting on the hard parts....

It's not like fishing where you are lounging on a boat drinking beer and holding up some smelly fish you just caught by surprise thinking it was having another snack.... :lol:

Do you have pics of the gnarliest wave you caught????

Huh....do ya????? :biggrin:

Desertbull - 11-21-2017 at 11:53 AM

We did it last January but from San Juanico-Ballena Rd towards Mulege and left DOWNHILL route near Mision Guadelupe ... 15 hours for 4 A riders in top physical condition on 450's ... the trail is not just gone but massive size boulders have come off the mountain and blocked several different canyons .. a lot of hike-a-moto and building some rock bridges to push motos across ... gnarly to say the least. We had the chase truck move from Mision Guadelupe turn and go to the other side at El Patrocinio and we still beat them there ... got to El Patracinio at 10 pm and onto San Ignacio.

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mtgoat666 - 11-21-2017 at 12:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Desertbull

We did it last January but from San Juanico-Ballena Rd towards Mulege and left DOWNHILL route near Mision Guadelupe ... 15 hours for 4 A riders in top physical condition on 450's ... the trail is not just gone but massive size boulders have come off the mountain and blocked several different canyons .. a lot of hike-a-moto and building some rock bridges to push motos across ... gnarly to say the least. We had the chase truck move from Mision Guadelupe turn and go to the other side at El Patrocinio and we still beat them there ... got to El Patracinio at 10 pm and onto San Ignacio.

Every picture is you guys flipping the bird.
Classy!

Thank you for confirming our prejudices about knuckledraggers :lol:

TMW - 11-21-2017 at 12:09 PM

I had originally put together a route based on info that BajaBlanca got from the rancher at Las Tunas just west of the Mission Guadalupe ruins. According to the rancher only horses could get thru from his ranch to where the road is good.

Having said that, Cameron Steele has went thru on one of his motorcycle rides to Cabo, the one where the bikes fell out of the boat into the sea at Mulege. Also Desert Bull ran chase for 3 or 4 motorcycle guys a couple of years ago and posted some pictures here on Nomads where they got thru, pretty rough. They went thru at Rancho San Juan de la Pila and I believe the really rough part was from La Pila to Rancho San Marcos where they had to carry the bikes over rocks.

The route I wanted to follow went down to El Patrocino then east picking up BajaBlancas route at Los Patos and Santa Ana as shown on the almanac.

I'll look thru and see what I have. John M also had the route by BajaBlanca traced on the almanac. He may be able to post it.

TMW - 11-21-2017 at 12:12 PM

I see Desert Bull already posted his trip info, thanks Tim.

motoged - 11-21-2017 at 12:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Every picture is you guys flipping the bird.
Classy!

Thank you for confirming our prejudices about knuckledraggers :lol:

Goat,
Don't take the finger personally....unless it fits :biggrin:

....for the inner crowd, it is the ADVRider salute....

TMW - 11-21-2017 at 12:51 PM

Here is the route that BajaBlanca took to Rancho Las Tunas in 2014.

Her description of the route is at the top. Note this route bypasses Rancho San Juan de la Pila. I think it would be easier to go to El Patrocino then east and pick up her route. I believe they were visiting ranches as they went along and that is why they started where they did. She can better answer that.

woody with a view - 11-21-2017 at 12:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Woody,

Do you have pics of the gnarliest wave you caught????

Huh....do ya????? :biggrin:

Funny you should ask!
http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/MasOlas/media/Salsi312-10-...

TMW - 11-21-2017 at 01:02 PM

Here is a Google Earth image of the area she mentions of a pass. R. San Marcos would be somewhere between Jct RR and J-5.

[Edited on 11-21-2017 by TMW]

motoged - 11-21-2017 at 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Woody,

Do you have pics of the gnarliest wave you caught????

Huh....do ya????? :biggrin:

Funny you should ask!
http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/MasOlas/media/Salsi312-10-...

No pic....pay yer bills.... :coolup:

woody with a view - 11-21-2017 at 03:12 PM

I’m the ant! Only guy in the water @ Salsipuedes 1983 or 84. The shark wouldnt bite and the bee wouldnt sting.

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9EC6C9AF-88EE-4D7F-83B2-A798F69282B1.jpeg - 72kB

4x4abc - 11-21-2017 at 03:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Here is a Google Earth image of the area she mentions of a pass. R. San Marcos would be somewhere between Jct RR and J-5.

[Edited on 11-21-2017 by TMW]

Tom,

what you have marked as San Pedro is actually San marcos

BajaBlanca - 11-21-2017 at 03:51 PM

Desertbull -those pics make my stomach turn! Those are some nasty boulders.

Our trip was amazing and scary and if you want a guide, my student Alexis with his family is heading out there sometime like Dec. 20th - one day after my xmas party for the college scholarship kids which he is coming to.

BajaBlanca - 11-21-2017 at 03:53 PM

Alexis's family lives at Las Tunas, the last or almost last rancho.

David K - 11-21-2017 at 05:36 PM

The boulders in Tim's photos is the road between Guadalupe and San José de Magdalena. That was the 'good' road to the mission before the storms of 2014 or so took it out.

TMW - 11-21-2017 at 07:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Here is a Google Earth image of the area she mentions of a pass. R. San Marcos would be somewhere between Jct RR and J-5.

[Edited on 11-21-2017 by TMW]

Tom,

what you have marked as San Pedro is actually San marcos

Thanks Harald, when I did that image I think I was following the almanac and GE and trying to match the ranches along the way. I would like to do that route just to see it and what the bad area past R. Las Tunas looks like now.

Three or four years ago Rudy and a few of us went to San Juan de la Pila and stayed the night. The couple there were very friendly and the man took us to see the paintings in two locations. He said there was more to see but we were limited in time. The road past their place was wiped out a couple of years before we went there.

MulegeAL - 11-21-2017 at 08:18 PM

I hope to check out the "southerly" route east from El Datil this winter.
Will update assuming I come back alive. May need a co-rider, not really any one else here in Mulege crazy enough to go try these blown out pasos anymore, 'cept me.

BajaBlanca - 11-22-2017 at 08:17 AM

Go with Alexis and his family. If you want to coordinate, I can get details on when they are heading over. I am pretty sure it will be the 20th Dec. or next day.

Desertbull - 11-22-2017 at 08:50 AM

Ya Baja Blanca, we used to drive trucks through all those roads before that massive storm wiped it all out, we always brought goodies (food, drinks, tools, leather, kitchen utensils, etc. for the ranches, I've had some of my most amazing nights camped with families sharing everything we had in our trucks with them. Truly the most amazing people I've met are the families in the backcountry. luv luv luv

David K - 11-22-2017 at 08:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Desertbull

Ya Baja Blanca, we used to drive trucks through all those roads before that massive storm wiped it all out, we always brought goodies (food, drinks, tools, leather, kitchen utensils, etc. for the ranches, I've had some of my most amazing nights camped with families sharing everything we had in our trucks with them. Truly the most amazing people I've met are the families in the backcountry. luv luv luv

So very cool!

PaulW - 11-22-2017 at 10:29 AM

Yup. Back in the day we drove an F350 with camper following that general route. Even then it was a very big deal. Barely passable. Had a nice visit with a local rancher along the way.

motoged - 11-22-2017 at 11:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by MulegeAL

I hope to check out the "southerly" route east from El Datil this winter.
Will update assuming I come back alive. May need a co-rider, not really any one else here in Mulege crazy enough to go try these blown out pasos anymore, 'cept me.

Hola, Al....

I am weathering the frozen wastelands up north this winter....but hope to be down next year with my 450 for several months....Dec-Feb.

If you survive your scouting this year, I would do some exploring with you....

Day rides or a loop? :cool:

MulegeAL - 11-23-2017 at 09:35 AM

BB, thanks for the info, it will be decided by the calendar next month as I'm pretty sure I'll be crossing back in on the 16th or 17th with a big slow load in tow. But my moto stuff is staged and ready: lube thy chain, load and go.

Given schedule, timing, communication hassles, may be best for me to try east to west over the pass at mission guadelupe, I haven't done that climb for a couple of hurricanes, roll a few rocks out of the way. And meet up there somewhere, double back to Mulege. I think the worst of it is east of El Datil, was really tough to ride through there. Locals stopped driving the pass road after storm Paul, I only see mule/burro tracks now.

September storm did the area no favors whatsoever, some ranchers just N/NE of there are bailing because the roads are so bad, gas mucho pesos, hard to make a living, kids don't want to live there when they grow up, etc.

Ged,
I thought global warming had eased your situation by now! Bring a light bike with sticky tires for our blown out paso punishment rides down here!

captain.olives - 11-23-2017 at 11:17 AM

Thanks Bajabull, Bajablanca and everyone else for the great info. Leo, I am sure you are thinking the same as I right now. If it took some young A guys on 450s as long as it did to make it through, I think we should route even our younger fast guys down through Arroyo San Raymundo. I know I am not attempting that with bags strapped to my bike if I have to ride the rest of the week.

There is fun and a challenge, then there is trip killing energy drain days even if we could make it before dark (doubtful as we are older and moving slower than young guys like BajaBull). Maybe we head up to San Marcos from Mulege on the rest day to check it out.

Are any of the paths SE of El Patrocino rideable all the way to San Jose de Gracia? Thinking of alternative fun routes for average experienced riders From San Ignacio over the mesas to Arroyo San Raymundo (La Balena - Muluge route). Something more challenging than the high road to Scorpion Bay.

Al and others, come have a beer or two with us in Mulege. Just walk up to anyone and tell them CJ said you would buy me a beer. Thanks for everyones input thus far.

TMW - 11-23-2017 at 12:04 PM

In 2010 and 2012 during the Baja 1000 SCORE ran a section from just north of El Patrocino to Rancho El Cuarenta. I ran it in my GMC and I think it follows along Arroyo el Quemado as shown in the almanac.

Here is a Google Earth image with the 2017 1000 on the left and the 2010 1000 in the middle. The right yellow line is a route I traced on GE from San Jose de Gracia to El Patrocino and on to the hwy.

motoged - 11-23-2017 at 12:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MulegeAL

.......
Ged,
I thought global warming had eased your situation by now! Bring a light bike with sticky tires for our blown out paso punishment rides down here!

Al,
I use double-sided Gorilla tape for back tire for Guadalupe Canyon type terrain.....will you have your drone pilot along to make sure the events are kept for posterity

Global warming just hit here today....11' C. here today....so I am out on the 690 for a ride before the second wave of snowstorms are upon us.....the Pineapple Express is bringing Hawaiian warmth and moisture up this way....

Have a Stinky Burger for me at El Candil.....and say hello to Richard (Willy Airstream) when you can.

MulegeAL - 11-23-2017 at 01:33 PM

CaptO, sounds good! La Ballena east to Mulege is still there, expect 30+ miles of rock and sand on the west end, and water in the vados. From therein is just bad road.

I may get only one chance to scam my drone driver into the mission area, doubtful for the drop in to the blown out pass towards San Jose de M. That has become a real tough out, with 50/50 chance of back!

[Edited on 11-23-2017 by MulegeAL]

leo_jb - 11-24-2017 at 04:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

Go with Alexis and his family. If you want to coordinate, I can get details on when they are heading over. I am pretty sure it will be the 20th Dec. or next day.

When are you planning on this? We will be riding the week of January 28.

leo_jb - 11-24-2017 at 04:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MulegeAL

CaptO, sounds good! La Ballena east to Mulege is still there, expect 30+ miles of rock and sand on the west end, and water in the vados. From therein is just bad road.

I may get only one chance to scam my drone driver into the mission area, doubtful for the drop in to the blown out pass towards San Jose de M. That has become a real tough out, with 50/50 chance of back!

[Edited on 11-23-2017 by MulegeAL]

Sounds like this is the route you are referring to (lower route in magenta)? You think it is still doable?

[Edited on 11-24-2017 by leo_jb]

leo_jb - 11-24-2017 at 04:57 PM

Belay that. Just realized that is more or less our "usual" route from Mulege to Scorpion Bay.

leo_jb - 11-24-2017 at 06:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Desertbull

DesertBull - sounds like I wouldn't want to retrace your route, but I can't figure out which way you went. Did you head north at Aguajito and try to connect around San juan de la Pila? E32 doesn't even show that road going through (Green route on attached)

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MulegeAL - 11-24-2017 at 07:54 PM

leo, correcto mundo on usual route, is OK.

PS: I tried to connect south from El Datil area to your green line route in '04 (5 or 6 hurricanes ago) and it was no go.

I think the only fighting chance is through El Datil, the box canyon above it, and whatever lies beyond that DesertBull hammered through on. Needs more daylight than December allows up there.

And I just want to add: motos make possible trips into these places and spaces that are next to impossible with any other form of mechanized travel.

It is not just the rugged challenging terrain that attracts, it is the amazing people who live in these remote areas, who are so generous with what little they have, and have been so good and friendly towards me and my travelling pals.

It is a vanishing way of life that I am lucky to be a small transient part of of. It is those amazing people that motivate me to return to these very remote ranchos, where almost nobody speaks any English, yet we seem to get along fine.

And that is why I will keep busting my butt to get in there, even if its for a short while, though I have seen them almost in tears when I said I must return to town and cannot stay the night. Remotest baja is still amazing, for a while longer.

[Edited on 11-25-2017 by MulegeAL]

Tomas Tierra - 11-25-2017 at 09:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Desertbull

Awesome!!!!!!!

David K - 11-26-2017 at 01:55 PM

Bump for Dmitriy.

leo_jb - 11-28-2017 at 06:22 PM

How about this one? SE out of San Ignacio to Santa Cruz, then NE through El Tajo and Los Brules to Hwy 1 just south of Santa Rosalia. Anyone have any current knowledge about this route?

gueribo - 3-6-2018 at 09:16 AM

I'm a bit late to the thread . . . curious if there have been any repairs to the road from San José de Magdalena to Mission Guadalupe. A friend will be traveling down this spring and hopes to do (what we call) the "Guadalupe Loop" (Mulegé to San Estanislao to Ex-Mission Guadalupe to San José de Magdalena and back to Hwy 1). Sounds like it may still be washed out.

There are so many beautiful places in Baja, but that wild winding stretch between Mission Guadalupe and San José de Magdalena ranks among my favorites. The terrain is rugged and beautiful--the canyons and wild fig...

David K - 3-6-2018 at 09:33 AM

No repairs as of last August. You can only get about a mile or two beyond the mission towards San José de Magdalena.

gueribo - 3-6-2018 at 09:36 AM

Good to know. Thanks.