David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Past the mission, mi. 16.1 (from Sta.Ynez)
The tracks in the arroyo end here. Arroyo continues to Gonzaga Bay (between Alfonsina's and Punta Final) via a waterfall and rocky canyon.
At Mile 15.8 (1.3 from the mission) tracks climb north out of the arroyo and was the route of road construction (attempt) to go on to Gonzaga! It was
possible to only go 0.3 mi. before deep erosion and boulders stopped our rigs. We hiked to the end of the bulldozed roadbed (1/4 mi.) for the view
down the canyon...and to see petroglyphs...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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An Indian trail (also the early El Camino Real) continues on, dropping into the canyon...
The newer Camino Real heads north, up the mountain at approx. the vehicle end of road point, then goes east and stays above, out of the big canyon.
See http://www.southcoastfarms.com/gonzaga_to_mission_santa_mari... for details!
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gringette
Junior Nomad
Posts: 60
Registered: 6-16-2005
Location: san pedro ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
An Indian trail (also the early El Camino Real) continues on, dropping into the canyon...
The newer Camino Real heads north, up the mountain at approx. the vehicle end of road point, then goes east and stays above, out of the big canyon.
See http://www.southcoastfarms.com/gonzaga_to_mission_santa_mari... for details! |
wow, i want to go!!!! 
setting sun deals bands of gold; there\'s velvet in eyes in mexico.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You should!!! Look at all the photos... You do need a good 4WD rig (Jeep,Toyota,Isuzu)
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gringette
Junior Nomad
Posts: 60
Registered: 6-16-2005
Location: san pedro ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
You should!!! Look at all the photos... You do need a good 4WD rig (Jeep,Toyota,Isuzu) |
ah - I'm not near experienced enough yet in Baja travel to risk it, tho i really think my 87 Pathfinder 4x would LOVE it - more so than the LA stop n
go. he hates that.
cars have souls, too? right 
but, that brings up a thought - what do you all recommend to make car baja "worthy"? i'm a gal and i know as much about mexico as i do about cars.
how did you first drive down to baja - ?
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gringette
Junior Nomad
Posts: 60
Registered: 6-16-2005
Location: san pedro ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy!
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oh, and do you have a special 'rig' you drive to baja, or is it your regular vehicle or what?
setting sun deals bands of gold; there\'s velvet in eyes in mexico.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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gringette,
In order of bang for the buck:
1.The biggest B. F. Goodrich All Terrain Light Truck T/A KO tires that will fit in your wheelwells.
2. New off-road shocks
3. A lift kit or lift springs to raise you up to clear the rocks.
4. A locking differential.
[Edited on 6-28-2005 by Neal Johns]
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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There is a lot of good prep info. already posted on Nomad... if you search for it. Good tires are important, for sure. A locking rear differential can
make climbing the Widow Maker easier. As Fishuntr mentioned, when we were camping at the mission, a Jeep club arrived... took an hour or so for all of
them to enter the valley. They camped in the palm grove past the mission. Among them were Jeep Cherokees, so a Pathfinder or 4runner should make it..
just go real slow in the rough, and don't freak if you get some underside body damage. got a dent under my Toyota Tacoma, and it has over 9" min.
ground clearance.
Yes, the Tacoma is my only vehicle... work, play, daily driving.
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