Baja roads and Baja ranchos

to understand the conflict of ranchers vs today's travelers
we have to look back in history
in the old days the trail/road would lead in and out of a rancho
just like in villages and towns

in the old days visitors were a welcome event for ranchers
they would bring news and pesos
the ranchos were a welcome sight for visitors
they provided water and food (sometimes gas) for a few pesos
they would provide information

then everything went into mega drive on this planet
a few visiting vehicles turned into traffic
hordes of tourists in a hurry created dust and noise
there was no more exchange

you probably noticed that few ranchos are on the new roads
they go around the ranchos (same as in towns and cities with ring roads)
but in some cases a bypass wasn't possible or has not been done yet
so the annoyed ranchers lock their formerly open gates
in effect blocking access to wide regions
the ranchers beyond the first rancho with locked gates love that

once the early racetrack got paved and the fast crowd started using ranch roads ranchers started putting up gates that blocked more than just a ranch
and when the UTVs started playing race, the ranchers had it
they put padlocks on the gates

below is an example of the original road (red) going through a ranch (Los Sauces)
I got an earful when I opened the gate 20 years ago - the rancher was angry
then a bypass road was built
still close to the rancho and he comes out swearing every time I pass
he would fit well in this forum

in areas where the ranchers are still friendly, I make an effort and leave the fast new road and visit
bringing gifts like lighters, brushes and cloth for embroidering
they are the kindest, sweetest people in all of Baja


bypass around Rancho Los Sauces (yellow) old road in red


strong gates are visible on both ends of the rancho


ranchers still love to be visited - bring simple gifts
Señor Amador did not let go of his new brush

[Edited on 3-27-2022 by 4x4abc]

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat

Thanks 4b4 for your perspective. For some reason a thought came to mind after reading your insights. A few years ago on a trip to Cuevas del Carmen with my favorite cave painting guide Zihul from GN., we came across a bunch of Orange County fireman at the base of the mountain that we had just explored. One of my friends and his wife was a retired fireman from my north SD county area and they instantly had shared experiences that made them brothers in arms, so to speak. On our drive back to GN, there was these same fireman's trash thrown out all over the washboard road that was not there when we drove in. It was difficult to not want to stop and pick up every beer bottle and plastic trash that they left behind. If I had been the driver, I would have retrieved as much as I could. There was hardly a stretch of that washboard road that did not have their stuff tossed out without a care. BTW, there were no other visitors on the road that morning other than these fireman in their rented fun vehicles. ATV's and dune buggies. It was almost painful to come across their tossed out trash for most of the road back to the paved highway. How easy would it have been for them to not leave a trace of their visit? I don't get why some have such a disrespect of the environment. Leaving no trace has always been my motto. Pack your trash! Rant over.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Given the general good nature of first responders, was there any chance a trash bag fell out of their vehicle and was spread by the wind? I would hate to think these (or any) tourists would do what I have seen some 'locals' do to the desert, at off road races or beach holidays... shame shame.

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat   Thanks 4b4 for your perspective. For some reason a thought came to mind after reading your insights. A few years ago on a trip to Cuevas del Carmen with my favorite cave painting guide Zihul from GN., we came across a bunch of Orange County fireman at the base of the mountain that we had just explored. One of my friends and his wife was a retired fireman from my north SD county area and they instantly had shared experiences that made them brothers in arms, so to speak. On our drive back to GN, there was these same fireman's trash thrown out all over the washboard road that was not there when we drove in. It was difficult to not want to stop and pick up every beer bottle and plastic trash that they left behind. If I had been the driver, I would have retrieved as much as I could. There was hardly a stretch of that washboard road that did not have their stuff tossed out without a care. BTW, there were no other visitors on the road that morning other than these fireman in their rented fun vehicles. ATV's and dune buggies. It was almost painful to come across their tossed out trash for most of the road back to the paved highway. How easy would it have been for them to not leave a trace of their visit? I don't get why some have such a disrespect of the environment. Leaving no trace has always been my motto. Pack your trash! Rant over. That is pretty rare to see. Definitely not close to the norm.

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

My first off road run Baja 1976 one of Melings lived next to me in Rancho Park (west LA). never seen a American throw trash out. Mexicans yes of course not all but mostly yes. My mex amigos right in front of me . Throw trash on beach I take bag out of truck pick it up. They feel bad start to help now they do not do it any more .I ride with many off road moto and buggy guys EX fireman . From So cal never every they throw out trash.

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone

You see the scars they've left - forever - on hillsides (coming off the 15 to the Adalanto 395 highway is a gruesome example).

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

to understand the conflict of ranchers vs today's travelers we have to look back in history in the old days the trail/road would lead in and out of a rancho just like in villages and towns in the old days visitors were a welcome event for ranchers they would bring news and pesos the ranchos were a welcome sight for visitors they provided water and food (sometimes gas) for a few pesos they would provide information then everything went into mega drive on this planet a few visiting vehicles turned into traffic hordes of tourists in a hurry created dust and noise there was no more exchange you probably noticed that few ranchos are on the new roads they go around the ranchos (same as in towns and cities with ring roads) but in some cases a bypass wasn't possible or has not been done yet so the annoyed ranchers lock their formerly open gates in effect blocking access to wide regions the ranchers beyond the first rancho with locked gates love that once the early racetrack got paved and the fast crowd started using ranch roads ranchers started putting up gates that blocked more than just a ranch and when the UTVs started playing race, the ranchers had it they put padlocks on the gates below is an example of the original road (red) going through a ranch (Los Sauces) I got an earful when I opened the gate 20 years ago - the rancher was angry then a bypass road was built still close to the rancho and he comes out swearing every time I pass he would fit well in this forum in areas where the ranchers are still friendly, I make an effort and leave the fast new road and visit bringing gifts like lighters, brushes and cloth for embroidering they are the kindest, sweetest people in all of Baja bypass around Rancho Los Sauces (yellow) old road in red strong gates are visible on both ends of the rancho ranchers still love to be visited - bring simple gifts Señor Amador did not let go of his new brush [Edited on 3-27-2022 by 4x4abc]