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bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Airport Bum
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Mex 5 "road" from Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay
We just got back from an in and out trip to Alfonsina's from Mexicali via Mex 5.
The road south or Puertecitos is worse than it has been in 20 years. It has not been graded in at least 4 years and in that time there have been two
Baja 1000 races over it. There are "stair step" grades all through the Tres Marias (the first three mountains south of Peurtecitos) and washouts the
size of half your truck in the middle of them. That part of the road is potentially lethal. The washboard south of the Tres Marias is worse than it
has been in years.
It took us 2.5 hours from Puertecitos to Gonzaga Bay going south (51 miles) because we were not up to speed on the road...thought it was like it was a
year ago on our last driving trip..we usually fly. Coming back north we took 3 hours +. We drive a Toyota Tundra TRD 4X4 that is made for this stuff
and the truck did a good job. But there are spots where I don't think an Abrahms tank would have a decent ride. I would not drive a passenger car
over that road as it is now.
I don't think they are gonna grade it in the future because they are at work on paving the entire route. If history is a guide that will take a
couple of lifetimes and the road that we have been using will get worse and worse.
The road from San Felipe to Puertecitos is freshly paved and can be driven at about 30 MPH....can't go faster because the vados are steep and hitting
one faster would put you airborne.
Anyone interested in a fast trip down there is gonna turn around if he has a brain or get wrecked if he doesn't. Us old desert rats and bush pilots
are safe from the week end warriors in their campers a little while longer.
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gringorio
Senior Nomad
Posts: 812
Registered: 4-10-2004
Location: Tucson, Arizona
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We did that drive just last month in my brothers Nissan Titan and sometime between Puertecitos and Gonzaga were were passed by Subaru Outback loaded
to the gills with 4 people and gear. My brother tried hopelessly to keep up but were were getting rattled to bits - its a tough road indeed!
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Haa I love Baja, I will be on that road on late may, for the firts time. I can wait. thanks for the report ...
[Edited on 4-21-2007 by BAJACAT]
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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jimgrms
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 9-30-2005
Location: oceanside ca
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Mood: its always good
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Bad roads make good people ,, should have done it in 63 it was really bad
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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If any grading is to be done they will surely wait until after the 1000 as it most likely will go thru there this year on it way to Cabo.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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I guess it is just a matter of expectations. We were on that road at the end of Feburary, and yes it was not as good as in the past, but we didn't
think it was that bad----just went slower.
Also there were two old VW camper vans traveling that road and doing fine---just slow.
We arrived at Gonzaga on the road from Highway 1 and that one was a lot worse that last time----very washboardy, even the side roads. Again, just
slow---besides, in 2003 we were on it right after they paved it, drove too fast, and a rock ate a sidewall.
Guess it is easier being retired---can just take it slow and easy and not worry about getting anywhere quickly.
Diane
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Photo taken 2 months ago (Feb. 07) of a place where the rocks in the roadbed are exposed south of Puertecitos.
Just go slow, 4WD not needed but you could engage it if you want to avoid some tire spin/ wear. In ' 05 we zipped over it easily... then the storms of
summer/ fall '06 washed away base dirt exposing rockbed and the '06 Baja 1000 in November added some wear from the traffic... So the 1.5 hour drive in
'05 changed to a 3 hour drive in '07.
It is really a special route with the view of the islands, etc.
However, no low cars or motorhomes/ big campers...
Thanks for the new report Bonanza... the longer it stays dirt and 'bad', the more time will pass before Gonzaga Bay is ruined any more by development!
Bad roads = Good people!
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
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Mood: good
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I do this everytime one of these posts pop up,but I can,t help it,what we are talking about is the new road! and how tough it is
Alot of the old timers can tell tails of the climbs,and the problems incountered on the old road,the run from San Felipe to Puertecitos was
time consuming enough,To do SF to Gonzaga in a day was hellish,so we spent the nite in Puertecitos and made the run in the next day,We made 2 or 3
trips a year and always took 6 hrs or more in the early 60,s ,one year after a bunch of storms it took a bit over 8 hrs
It sames a bit insane to abuse ones body as well as ones equipment and call it fun.
When we would get to the top of the last hill I would stop the truck and we get out and cheer my girls would dance and be silly and I would
feel like Daniel Boone 
BAITCAST
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larry
Nomad
Posts: 233
Registered: 8-22-2005
Location: Orinda, CA
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That stretch of road is my favorite driving experience. I have done it north (Dec 2005) and south (last Dec). The first time was in a 2WD Dodge
Caravan and last year in a Suburban. Having made it in the minivan, I think most any vehicle can get through if driven with a lot of care, but that
road feels like a small adventure for us city folks. And because of that, it preserves the beauty and isolation of
Gonzaga Bay---what a beautiful place.
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jimgrms
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 9-30-2005
Location: oceanside ca
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Mood: its always good
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I took my 57 international there in 63 and had to ouload going up the the 3 b-tches and pack the gear on foot. had a 4 speed with coumpond low
that diddn't work plus no horse power. remember they would patch the road by throwing bags of redimix in the potholes
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Looking like an adventure to be had. 
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
If any grading is to be done they will surely wait until after the 1000 as it most likely will go thru there this year on it way to Cabo.
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That would imply that there will be no issues with the Ejido - and I wouldn't necessarily count on that.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8965
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Photo taken 2 months ago (Feb. 07) of a place where the rocks in the roadbed are exposed south of Puertecitos.
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Rocks in the roadbed are still exposed as of 1 week ago. Very rough and demanding stretch of road. Use caution.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Last time I drove it before the new road construction (of '85-'86) was in November of 1979... almost impassable! Here's a couple shots when I took the
time to stop and photograph the road south of Puertecitos... Muy steep!
[Edited on 4-23-2007 by David K]
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
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Mood: good
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Muy steep
For sure,I can remember like it was yesterday making my first run at the third b-tch and nearly getting hung up on the dreaded ledge,sliding back down
with the brakes locked up and my kids screaming in my ears
Not a good way to start your vacation
BAITCAST
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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That was the way it was!!! If those grades weren't so long, I think most passengers would get out and walk!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Cliff Cross in his 1970 Baja Guide showed the grades well, and had this map to describe them:
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here is a zoom in on the road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga Bay:
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SoCalAl
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 6-8-2004
Location: Punta Banda, Ca
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Mood: Hungry
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My pal Juan,
Was there in March and then again on Tuesday of last week. He took about 2 to 3 hours this time around but the crazy guy and his cousin Frank
did it on quads. There nuts these, guys on the wa back they drove over an 1 1/2 at night from Alfonsina's to Puertecitos. In March he did it in his
97 Bronco and mangaed to make it back in 2 1/2 hours again from Alfonsina's to Puertecitos. I plan (God willing) on going with him in May and hope to
have something to say about it then.. 
SoCalAl
Ahh Baja.... Where you can hear yourself think & commingling with the locals will humble you.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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People who b-tch about rough roads in Baja should stick to their neighborhood Costco parking lots....
Seriously, the first time I drove that route was pre-running for the '72 500, and we were running it Northbound.
Darn near went home and stopped building the truck, figured if all of Baja racin' was like that then there was no point to keep at it.
(Ah, but we did come to love those kinds of roads, didn't we?!!!)
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