BajaNomad

Laguna Hanson safety question via La Rumorosa (north access) and Highway 3 (south access)

borregodude - 7-7-2022 at 12:51 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this thread as of today, I am looking forward to learning a lot!

For a long time I've wanted to check out the Sierra Juarez (Cañon El Tajo, Parque Constitucion, etc.) as well as the tabletop-looking mesas northeast of the town called Heroes de La Independencia (see attached photo), but I don't really know where to start or what to expect.

It appears that many people have been out there with no issue while on the other hand there are reports of abductions, kidnappings, and drug smuggling. Does anyone have any information regarding the current safety of the area (including for the area in the attached photo) that they could pass down to me? I'd prefer information from people who frequent the area pretty regularly.

I'd also be down to make connections with people in the San Diego/Baja area where we could meet up and explore the area.

Thanks!


Area interested in exploring.JPG - 266kB

Maderita - 7-7-2022 at 01:29 PM

Hola borregodude, I'd be happy to provide info related to the northern area between The Parque Nacional/Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa. I get much of the news from that area and have many local contacts. Also for Laguna Salada and the eastside canyons as far south as Palomar. Rock climbing on the plateau above Tajo has been my main activity since the early 1970s. I've been the unofficial steward and keeper of historical archives. Hosted a group of 8 last weekend at a ranch near Tajo, with activities of motos, outdoor climbing wall, horseback riding, and rock climbing and a hike/scramble at Tajo. I'd be glad to show you around that area sometime.

David K - 7-7-2022 at 01:37 PM

Welcome to Baja Nomad!

In my trip report from 2018, I visited the mission site of Santa Catalina (next to the village of Santa Catarina). This is 5 miles from Independencia a half mile after the concrete paving ends.

I also drove the Laguna Hanson road from Hwy. 3 to Hwy. 2, passing the access to Canyon Tajo overlook.

My web page covering that trip: https://vivabaja.com/p818/


Maderita - 7-7-2022 at 01:42 PM

You may have seen my post about the kidnapping for ransom between Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa in April. Rumor is that there have been arrests, but no confessions. His refusal to cooperate with mafia may have resulted in retaliation. (Not wise to be more specific than that here). To my knowledge, tourists have not been targeted anytime recently.
From time to time, I get hushed words of caution to avoid certain areas. I am vigilant for tale-tale signs of growing operations near water sources. Send a U2U with your e-mail address if you want info on places to visit and activities.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=97465#pid1234...

Mateo-Feo - 7-7-2022 at 02:23 PM

I have heard of some nefarious activity in the area but mostly from dirt bikers going off onto trails they probably shouldn't be anyway. I saw a military checkpoint one of the last times I went down the road which is always welcome. West of the Laguna Hanson road is where most of the weed is grown in some tough to get to areas. I ride the area and drive the road quite often with no issues at all.

Copacetico1 - 7-7-2022 at 03:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
You may have seen my post about the kidnapping for ransom between Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa in April. Rumor is that there have been arrests, but no confessions. His refusal to cooperate with mafia may have resulted in retaliation. (Not wise to be more specific than that here). To my knowledge, tourists have not been targeted anytime recently.
From time to time, I get hushed words of caution to avoid certain areas. I am vigilant for tale-tale signs of growing operations near water sources. Send a U2U with your e-mail address if you want info on places to visit and activities.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=97465#pid1234...


Your information is mostly incorrect. Dukes was kidnapped by a gang dedicated to kidnapping and drug running. One of the kidnappers was killed in Maneadero when police tried to arrest him, The other is in jail awaiting trial. The kidnappers demanded a $30,000 ransom, which the victim's family paid. But they killed Dukes anyway.

That whole area is very sketchy. My wife's cousin is a paraplegic after being shot during a robbery while traveling on Hwy 3 in broad daylight.

Maderita - 7-7-2022 at 06:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Copacetico1  
Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
You may have seen my post about the kidnapping for ransom between Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa in April. Rumor is that there have been arrests, but no confessions. His refusal to cooperate with mafia may have resulted in retaliation. (Not wise to be more specific than that here). To my knowledge, tourists have not been targeted anytime recently.
From time to time, I get hushed words of caution to avoid certain areas. I am vigilant for tale-tale signs of growing operations near water sources. Send a U2U with your e-mail address if you want info on places to visit and activities.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=97465#pid1234...


Your information is mostly incorrect. Dukes was kidnapped by a gang dedicated to kidnapping and drug running. One of the kidnappers was killed in Maneadero when police tried to arrest him, The other is in jail awaiting trial. The kidnappers demanded a $30,000 ransom, which the victim's family paid. But they killed Dukes anyway.

That whole area is very sketchy. My wife's cousin is a paraplegic after being shot during a robbery while traveling on Hwy 3 in broad daylight.


Interesting that you think my information is "mostly incorrect". Which part of it? Please elaborate if you are not simply describing what you read in a newspaper.
It could be that "arrests" should not have been plural, but I heard that there is more than one person in jail. I was with Sr. Dukes' son on the promised day to be released, as we waited for some news. I have secondhand info on the reason for Jose being specifically targeted. A cause was provided as to it being retaliatory. And also an explanation as to why it was exactly $30k USD ransom. It would be unwise to discuss further details.
I agree with you that the whole area is sketchy. Always has been since the 1970s, and getting worse. Though the same can be said for most of BC, unfortunately.

Maderita - 7-7-2022 at 07:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Mateo-Feo  
West of the Laguna Hanson road is where most of the weed is grown in some tough to get to areas.

Is pot still a viable money crop down there? Unless they're growing strains competetive with the current generation of legally-grown U.S. product, I'm surprised that the market would make it cost-effective.


I have no idea about the quality of the marihuana grown in BC. But it must be a viable cash crop. The workers paid to tend the crops probably earn very little relative to the yield. The workers that I've seen around the east side canyons look dirt poor and are dressed in ragged clothing.
I've heard that there is a demand for USA grown quality product, being smuggled into Mexico. Seems ironic, doesn't it?
edited to add link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/08/mexico-marij...

[Edited on 7-8-2022 by Maderita]

mtgoat666 - 7-7-2022 at 07:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Mateo-Feo  
West of the Laguna Hanson road is where most of the weed is grown in some tough to get to areas.

Is pot still a viable money crop down there? Unless they're growing strains competetive with the current generation of legally-grown U.S. product, I'm surprised that the market would make it cost-effective.


Isn’t retail around $250/ounce in usa? Don’t know price in Mexico. Seems like it must pay OK if one plant can produce a pound of bud.
I smell a lot of weed in Baja… must be a pretty large domestic market for weed in Mexico, eh?

bajatrailrider - 7-7-2022 at 08:13 PM

All wrong again they ship the weed to Calif. at a lower cost.

bajaric - 7-8-2022 at 09:01 AM

In his book, The Baja Adventure Book, Peterson said that good boondocking sites could be found east of Hwy 3 in the area north of Heros de Independencia, but that info is 20 years old. Generally speaking you want to camp out of sight of smuggling routes that travel from south to north and places with hidden water sources. Some of the Ranchos in the Sierra welcome visitors, some do not --

[Edited on 7-8-2022 by bajaric]

[Edited on 7-8-2022 by bajaric]

Copacetico1 - 7-9-2022 at 11:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
Quote: Originally posted by Copacetico1  
Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
You may have seen my post about the kidnapping for ransom between Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa in April. Rumor is that there have been arrests, but no confessions. His refusal to cooperate with mafia may have resulted in retaliation. (Not wise to be more specific than that here). To my knowledge, tourists have not been targeted anytime recently.
From time to time, I get hushed words of caution to avoid certain areas. I am vigilant for tale-tale signs of growing operations near water sources. Send a U2U with your e-mail address if you want info on places to visit and activities.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=97465#pid1234...


Your information is mostly incorrect. Dukes was kidnapped by a gang dedicated to kidnapping and drug running. One of the kidnappers was killed in Maneadero when police tried to arrest him, The other is in jail awaiting trial. The kidnappers demanded a $30,000 ransom, which the victim's family paid. But they killed Dukes anyway.

That whole area is very sketchy. My wife's cousin is a paraplegic after being shot during a robbery while traveling on Hwy 3 in broad daylight.


Interesting that you think my information is "mostly incorrect". Which part of it? Please elaborate if you are not simply describing what you read in a newspaper.
It could be that "arrests" should not have been plural, but I heard that there is more than one person in jail. I was with Sr. Dukes' son on the promised day to be released, as we waited for some news. I have secondhand info on the reason for Jose being specifically targeted. A cause was provided as to it being retaliatory. And also an explanation as to why it was exactly $30k USD ransom. It would be unwise to discuss further details.
I agree with you that the whole area is sketchy. Always has been since the 1970s, and getting worse. Though the same can be said for most of BC, unfortunately.


https://www.ensenada.net/noticias/nota.php?id=68167

AKgringo - 7-9-2022 at 03:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Mateo-Feo  
West of the Laguna Hanson road is where most of the weed is grown in some tough to get to areas.

Is pot still a viable money crop down there? Unless they're growing strains competetive with the current generation of legally-grown U.S. product, I'm surprised that the market would make it cost-effective.


Isn’t retail around $250/ounce in usa? Don’t know price in Mexico. Seems like it must pay OK if one plant can produce a pound of bud.
I smell a lot of weed in Baja… must be a pretty large domestic market for weed in Mexico, eh?


I don't know what the retail price of pot is, but the wholesale market in Northern CA is in the toilet! I am surrounded by growers where my property is, and one of them that I share a property line with is not growing anything this season.

His last crop only brought $450 per pound! That is for a trimmed product, and considering the other players you have to deal with in moving bulk weed, the risk outweighs the reward.

By the way, the legal crop is just a small shadow of the black market crop.

AKgringo - 7-9-2022 at 04:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
By the way, the legal crop is just a small shadow of the black market crop

You have any feeling of how much of that illegal cultivation in your area is Mexican cartel controlled?

I've heard rumors that they're growing on the U.S. side of the border to avoid importation hassles...



I don't see any evidence of cartel growing activity in my area, but there may be some ties in the wholesale buying end of the business.

During the harvest season in our county, there is an influx of "Trimmigrants" with a good number of them Spanish speakers.

bajatrailrider - 7-10-2022 at 07:42 AM

Getting back to laguna hanson many years ago . Would camp there with Mexicans ride motos. Never a problem riding up there years ago not camping . Twice heard gun shots in area riding things have changed in years. Many routes have fences across roads also mostly beat up . Roads of over use but still fun once in a while

Maderita - 1-10-2023 at 04:52 PM

On January 7, 2023 a guided group of hikers was shot at with a fully automatic rifle. The group was hiking/scrambling up Cerro Teta de la India (aka: Chichi de la India), south of La Rumorosa about 10 km. They reported bullets hitting the rocks around them. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Several trucks were observed at the time, in the remote wilderness below the peak. The hikers called for assistance, and the military arrived to escort the hikers. Several military vehicles and a helicopter searched the area for the bad guys. The search was unproductive.

It is increasingly dangerous to venture off the main routes through the Sierra de Juárez. In addition to the longstanding problem of marihuana growing, clandestine, camouflaged meth labs are springing up in the wilderness. That is also the situation in the desert of Laguna Salada.

elgatoloco - 1-10-2023 at 08:33 PM

Bummer :thumbdown:

mtgoat666 - 1-10-2023 at 08:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
On January 7, 2023 a guided group of hikers was shot at with a fully automatic rifle. The group was hiking/scrambling up Cerro Teta de la India (aka: Chichi de la India), south of La Rumorosa about 10 km. They reported bullets hitting the rocks around them. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Several trucks were observed at the time, in the remote wilderness below the peak. The hikers called for assistance, and the military arrived to escort the hikers. Several military vehicles and a helicopter searched the area for the bad guys. The search was unproductive.

It is increasingly dangerous to venture off the main routes through the Sierra de Juárez. In addition to the longstanding problem of marihuana growing, clandestine, camouflaged meth labs are springing up in the wilderness. That is also the situation in the desert of Laguna Salada.


I have heard of the problems in the Sierra for quite a few years. Was not aware of Laguna salada area being a problem, is all of Laguna salada area a no-go zone now?

Does not make much sense for narcos to shoot at tourists/hikers from the city,… would seem to just be an act that draws military scrutiny.