4x4abc
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high altitude ranchos
what do you think is the highest altitude for a rancho in Baja?
Harald Pietschmann
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KasloKid
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I figure it would have to be in the San Pedro Martir area. I found Rancho Los Manzanos at 5800 feet on an old Mexico GPS Atlas map.
Coordinates: 30°57' 47.26"N 115°36' 09.78"W
Google Earth shows some buildings in the area, so could be a bona fide rancho.
[Edited on 7-17-2019 by KasloKid]
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4x4abc
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Los Manzanos is a good one
Harald Pietschmann
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Maderita
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Good chance that the highest elevation rancho is in the Sierra San Pedro Martir. Although the higher elevation areas tend to be either in the National
Park or inaccessible by road.
This area has some development at the 6,000'+ elev.
30°52'57.06"N 115°34'20.00"W
IMHO, a rancho should be defined as having no less than year-round occupancy, livestock, a corral, and at least one rusting derelict pickup truck.
I don't see aerial view evidence of that in this location or at Los Manzanos.
The Sierra de Juarez has several working cattle ranches at elevations 5,000' to 5,400' (approx.) which meet my criteria.
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David K
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Los Manzanos was abandoned when visited in 2017. In 2000, I camped there. It was a mini RV park with showers, apple trees, spring water. Some maps
call it Oak Grove. The observatory staff got their water there.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | Los Manzanos was abandoned when visited in 2017. In 2000, I camped there. It was a mini RV park with showers, apple trees, spring
water. Some maps call it Oak Grove. The observatory staff got their water there. |
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David K
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They were many small to medium apple trees when we camped there in 2000. Things didn't look too well when I drove in 2 years ago while researching for
the road guide. Very sad when such a promising location doesn't stay in business.
The RV Park and campground (Los Manzanos) is mentioned in the 1998 Walt Peterson's Baja Adventure Book, but not the 1987 or 1992 editions. It is also
not mentioned in the 1996 Peterson book, Exploring Baja by RV.
I found nothing in the AAA, Moon, or Lonely Planet guidebooks, either, but I do not have every edition of them.
It is listed in Church's 2006 Camping Mexico's Baja but not in the 2017 edition.
So, based on some elimination, it seems Los Manzanos started up around 1997, lasted 10-19 years, and closed?
The driveway is just before Km. 74, at the white gate on the right. 1 km. past is La Cienega de Soto, on the left... a rental cabin www.facebook.com/lacienegadesoto
[Edited on 7-17-2019 by David K]
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Nikno
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In May I spent a night at Rancho Cienega Redonda in the Sierra Juarez. Altitude of the ranch is 5,424 feet. Still an active ranch and occupied year
round. No doubt there are higher ones out there but that's the highest active ranch I've encountered so far.
31.85773, -115.88611
  
[Edited on 7-18-2019 by Nikno]
[Edited on 7-18-2019 by Nikno]
[Edited on 7-18-2019 by Nikno]
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4x4abc
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the highest (non working) rancho I have found so far is Rancho Encantada
30°55'35.24"N, 115°24'37.06"W - 2164 meters
highest working rancho seems to be Los Manzanos
Harald Pietschmann
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | the highest (non working) rancho I have found so far is Rancho Encantada
30°55'35.24"N, 115°24'37.06"W - 2164 meters
highest working rancho seems to be Los Manzanos |
i dont think encantada ever had a full time ranch, i think it was only occupied in warm season, and cattle/people left for lower elevations in the
cold season, so the story goes.... the ruins i have seen in SPM meadows, all the ruins look like just cabins for temporary stays.
there are a couple corrals/cabins south of SPM nat park (outside of park), they are pretty high elev., but have not been to them to see if they are
permanent of temp occupancy.
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David K
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Harald: As I said to lencho above, Los Manzanos is abandoned... unless you mean a different Los Manzanos.
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Maderita
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My understanding of the high meadows in the the Sierra San Pedro Martir (La Grulla, La Encantada, Vallecitos) is as Mtgoat reported -
seasonal/temporary cattle camps. The main rancho was either solely, or mostly, Rancho Meling at a much lower elevation.
So far, we have not found a high elevation permanent working ranch in the SPM.
The place mentioned by Nikno, "Rancho Cienega Redonda" appears to be surpassed in elevation by a ranch north of Laguna Hanson at 5458'.
32° 6'20.10"N 115°55'41.17"W
I don't know the name of that ranch.
There are several ranches in that area, the drainage above and north of Laguna Hanson. Rancho Rodeo del Rey, elev. 5426' tourist hotel is a burnt
derelict (interesting rumors among the locals). In the general area are Rancho Bethel, Rancho Ojo de Leon, Rancho Pantalones. Rancho Sauzalito to the
east may be high in elevation. Rancho San Luis farther east is lower in elevation. Rancho La Mora (also burned out, interesting rumors) is probably
lower in elevation. Rancho Alamar, SE of Laguna Hanson, is a few hundred feet lower in elevation.
Going north another 10 miles and over the hills is Rancho El Topo, 5100', Los Gavilanes just slightly lower downstream, and Las Margaritas.
I think the Sierra la Laguna in BCS is not a contender. While there is enough elevation, the mountains are steep and probably uninhabited.
This appears to be a farming operation at 5450' to 5600' well south of Laguna Hanson:
31°53'2.66"N 115°53'51.12"W
Houses and corrals 5465' a little to the east. If it is currently inhabited, this is the highest I have found, by a few feet.
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4x4abc
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| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita |
This appears to be a farming operation at 5450' to 5600' well south of Laguna Hanson:
31°53'2.66"N 115°53'51.12"W
Houses and corrals 5465' a little to the east. If it is currently inhabited, this is the highest I have found, by a few feet. |
La Vibora
Harald Pietschmann
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