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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Driving the beach in Baja
Ok, this IS a controversial subject. It would be a lie if I said I don't because I do. There is an area of beach that rejuvenates itself with the
tides, hence no damage.
With that said I must remark that the beach in some places IS the road. Why would it be illegal to ply those disappearing tracks.
One particular afternoon I took the dog for his run along the beach. I was parallel and in some deep tire ruts with 60 lbs in the tires. I was
thinking...."what if there were no tracks all over the beach to keep me from falling into them". No prob just go faster. The next day the beach had
been erased. It's a whole lotta fun and being aware and conscientious of other people I make xtra wide berths or slow way down..
How many are opposed to thoughtful travel on the shores of Baja. I would like to iterrate to include all types of vehicles not just trucks and 4bys.
Quite frankly though from what I've seen, it's mostly quads that leave the most scars. I have found it disappointing to hike in somewhere just to see
the quads have already been there.
I have mixed feelings.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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You are asking for trouble here.....
What's that song?...."Who let the dogs out"....better run ...NOW!
Correct answer....It is OK to drive beach if nobody there.....
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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So..... aren't I always.
Drivers correct!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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The Sculpin
Nomad
Posts: 401
Registered: 9-3-2002
Location: Back in the Saddle
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Mood: Riding into the Sunset, looking for a sunrise.
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I have no problem driving on thebeach. In some instances, it's clearly the preferred alternative. Unfortunately, the more people around doing this,
the more difficult it is to continue - no matter how thoughtful you are, cuz there's always some idiot who isn't - and that idiot is most likely a
gringo - with a big truck or a high powered rail - and is from orange county - hey, I'm not profiling or anything...
Whoa there, Cowboy - pull back on those reins!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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just last week i asked a Profepa lawyer if it was legal to drive on the beach...
he said it was illegal to drive on the beaches but...
Profepa was not staffed with enough people to enforce the law...
maybe later....
walking is OK
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
just last week i asked a Profepa lawyer if it was legal to drive on the beach...
he said it was illegal to drive on the beaches but...
Profepa was not staffed with enough people to enforce the law...
maybe later....
walking is OK |
Walking is Nice. 
- CaboRon
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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heres my two cents. i have been driveing the beaches for 25 years down there and it has never been a problem with the mexicans, only the gringos do
once they have built there big homes on the bluffs and dont want to see anybody on (there )beutifull beach. i have allso been told by those same
gringos that they didnt like dogs on the beach, thats when i just give them the finger. quads are less destructive then heavy trucks as they only
penetrate the sand very little and as sharks says the tide will remove all prints. i try not to drive on the beach now if theres gringos around but
out in the middle of nowere you bet. see you on the beach.
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
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Good subject......and this will appeal to all different type of people. And...all sorts of people will defend what their particular opinion is.
But.... sorry boys and girls....... driving a vehicle on the beach is an extreemly destructive act. This becomes very complicated and each beach is
different and has many different geologic features.Living organisms. Amount and depth of sand ,rocks, shells and clay, etc.,etc. Beaches are a
constantly changing landscape/seascape just like the clouds and sky. Wind and sea conditions are the most dominating forces.The size and location of
the beach makes the biggest difference. Some of the large Pacific coast beaches can absorb alot more human impact than the much more fragile Sea Of
Cortez side. After spending years and years searching out and camping on alot of remote Baja beaches and watching the change that is coming with mass
people migration to Baja in the last 15 years one can only conclude that the Mexican Govt. will have to start enforcing some laws to help keep people
from driving on their pristine braches.There needs to be specific vehicle friendly driving areas, for those who choose this type of recreation.Then
start a permitting system for fisherman for launching etc. etc.. and force it with a will. From heavy vehicle traffic ( sand rails, quads and 4x4s
and dirt bikes)in some of the more populated areas such as the Cabo area and around Los Barriles I have wittnessed a pristine sand beach turn into
hard pan dirt freeway from excessive vehicle traffic and listened to hundreds of dissatisfied beach front home owners rag on and on about the noise
exhaust smell etc, etc.. It will take years and years if ever.... for these beaches to return to their natural state.Usually the summer huricanes and
winter wind forces do a good job of shoreline rejuvination. Mankind does not!! Silence is getting to be a rare commodity these days and people that
have loud vehicles that are roaring up and down the beaches for fun should have their own specific areas they can destroy for themselves, and need to
learn to respect the rights of others and the small living things they are driving over and crushing and not even realizing it. The State of
California formed a Coastal Commission, and I believe it was in the 1930s, just to protect what they had. Thank God!!!!!!! Thats my 3 cents
Thanks. ++C++
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Sharks, right now the moon/tides must be just right on our beaches for the turtles. Signs of turtles laying eggs are everywhere. They sniff the sand
as they crawl higher and higher to find a place above the high water mark so their nests will be dry for the incubation period. Some do this on the
berms between big pools of brackish water at the ends of long arroyos. In any case the turtle huggers say vehicle tracks can and do trap the tiny
hatchlings keeping them from reaching the water. Beach drivers say they stay "on the wet" and leave no tracks. Hurricanes all over the globe kill
millions of eggs/hatchlings -- the mother turtles cannot know about the danger of the pools or the hurricanes. They are stuck with the consistancy of
the sand, the salt/smell test. I think the conservationists have a hard time proving how much damage vehicles do to the hatch but I understand their
zeal at trying to do all they can to help the hatch. For me personally, I don't want to get a ticket but when/if I have to drive on the beach I try
to stay in the wet. Lots of sides to the thing -- for example we hardly see any flyguys around on their quads anymore -- they were all catch and
release people and many do what they can to help turtle conservators. Might be a very enlightening thread if people will be fair and candid, leave
the rancor for the Off Topic.
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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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Quads just make it easy for lazy people to be where they don't need to be in the first place. The last time I drove one of 'em it caught on fire.
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
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Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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Being a motorcycle person I don't think much of the quad crowd. They always seem to be the ones the are challenged by balance and bad decisions. I
do my fair share of off road travel in Baja and try to obey the law when I do. I generally don't think it is a problem to drive on most beaches,
however, in the wrong hands a quad can be quite destructive. Especially since most of them seem as though they have nothing better to do, than well.
act destructive. They are like jet skiis. They don't seem to have anywhere to go but in circles.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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Shame on You
| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Quads just make it easy for lazy people to be where they don't need to be in the first place. The last time I drove one of 'em it caught on fire.
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I couldn't agree more....
Shame on you for showing no concern for the extreemly fraglie beaches .... and for your information ... quads and other vehicles are also extremly
destructive to desert areas.
Gaia is a living breathing entity .... let's all protect and nourish her ......
- CaboRon
[Edited on 8-16-2007 by CaboRon]
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oldhippie
Banned
Posts: 742
Registered: 6-25-2006
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Mood: muted
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Last Sunday my wife and I were walking the beach here in TJ in the early morning. Two guys in an old Ford Bronco were buzzing the beach and as they
got close to us did a series of doughnuts. I gave them a round of applause. As they drove off a pistol came out the window and three shots were fired
in the air, then the empty cane alcohol plastic bottles were thrown on the beach.
Oh Mexico, I've never really been there but I'd sure like to go. Oh Mexico.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20023
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
There is an area of beach that rejuvenates itself with the tides, hence no damage.
I have found it disappointing to hike in somewhere just to see the quads have already been there.
I have mixed feelings. |
The creatures that live on the beaches may find it dissappointing too, as the wheeels crush them. The walkers on the beach may find it dissapoointing
to find vehicles wrecking the solitude.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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4Baja, I also like to surf fish and there a a lot of beaches to explore here. today. Out on the dirt roads I found my poles stay far cleaner mounted
in front. Yes, I too get pi$$ed of at the ATVs and others that ripe up the beaches and desert. "Tread Lightly"
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65303
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Footprints can go deeper than tires tracks... better not walk on the beach either!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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I think that in some cases a street is required close to the water since no other passage exists, and in those cases one might legally drive on the
beach unless other passage exists. But one should consider the issue of of destruction seriously.
I have been converted to a non-beach driver after many lessons from Mexicans albeit beautiful women, who taught me simply by sitting down and watching
the sand and shore for hours until you begin to see the massive amount of life. And I've seen turtles laying eggs under cars even! Thats when I found
myself asking the guy whose been driving the quad on the beach for 25 years to take it up the beach away from the shore.
Those who might, please don't try to sideline this topic as gringos versus mexicans as that is not a relevant point to the subject.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Moving the vehicles up the beach, away from the shore line is trickier than it sounds. How high is high enough? Where will the mama turtle no longer
smell the salt from the highest tide? Was the high tide on that beach thrown way, way up by big waves? How has the beach changed in the last 60 to
90 days (the incubation period)? Do quad tires crush eggs? Anybody know for sure?
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Footprints can go deeper than tires tracks... better not walk on the beach either! |
Simply walk gently on the earth and observe the life that
surrounds you.... 
- CaboRon
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Moving the vehicles up the beach, away from the shore line is trickier than it sounds. How high is high enough? Where will the mama turtle no longer
smell the salt from the highest tide? Was the high tide on that beach thrown way, way up by big waves? How has the beach changed in the last 60 to
90 days (the incubation period)? Do quad tires crush eggs? Anybody know for sure? |
If you don't know where they are.... do not enter their
nesting area ..... it is their beach .... not ours.
-CaboRon
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