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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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TheSquarecircle drives to La Turquesa mine!
Roy 'TheSquarecircle' drove his new Land Rover LR-3 to the green pools in La Turquesa Canyon, and with all the recent discussion of a possible shoert
cut to Hwy. 1 through there (see http://vivabaja.com/207 ), he drove as far as possible... from the east side (Hwy. 5 between Gonzaga and Coco's Corner).
Here, Roy parked after crossing over the lava ledge to photo his rig from the upper end of the green pools. The lava ledge is where most people assume
the road ends at the lower green pools... but the road continues over the lava to the turquoise mine!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Still on the south side of the arroyo, after crossing the lava ledge is this grade...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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The road crosses to the north side of the arroyo and ends at the turquoise mine...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Looking up to the mine...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Looking down from the mine...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Mine claim monument (you see these all over Baja!)...
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15938
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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is there any turquesa still around? how deep has anyone ventured into the mine, or is that just too foolish?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Driving back down from the mine, Roy stops where he sees the motorcycle tracks continue west in the arroyo to the La Turquesa Grade...
Roy hiked up the arroyo to where he could see the grade on the mountain side (as shown at http://vivabaja.com/207 ). TheSquarecircle reports that there is quite a bit of bushwacking and road building needed to clear the way for us four
wheelers to reach the bottom of the grade...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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TheSquarecircle's new rig is named 'Winston'...
More La Turquesa green pool and mine photos at http://vivabaja.com/wayno
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Thanks Roy and David for the post and info.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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" Not being able to see the bottom of the grade,
and traveling alone (one vehicle) we decided to drive back out to the highway and get to Gonzaga Bay the 'normal' way! . . . "
So the big ? is the 2 miles in between the bottom of the grade and the mine. What need to be cleared - are we talking about 10-foot diameter boulders
and 3-foot diameter trunks?
David, were you able to find out if there was a place to turn around at the end? Has any 4-wheeled vehicle been to the bottom of the grade?
Does anyone know how steep(%) the grade is toward the bottom?
I'm going that way soon and kind of "challenged" to push into there. Anyone out there who'd want to join me  ?
[Edited on 5-18-2007 by edm1]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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edm1, I am posting the photos for Squarecircle... he can respond...
(until he does, he did say clearing the arroyo could be done... maybe a couple trucks, some amigos, lots of beer... Squarecircle also drove to the top
end from Hwy. 1, as did I.... but he walked ALL the way to the bottom of the grade... there was one potential high center berm, but short wheel base
rigs won't have a problem... Going up the grade he advises lockers required... at least on the rear end like a Toyota TRD has).
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
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Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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Greetings edm1, >>>>> Thank you for your interest of the La turquesa 4-wheel challenge. Yes this is doable with at least a 3-wheel
drive rig. However, some rock c learing is needed to traverse the valley floor. The pull out at the base of the the mountain is steep (45 degree)
and loose traction wise. A rear locker is needed here and in other spots. I don't have a rear locker but I do have traction contol that is a poor
substitute. The LR 3 should be able to do it but it wouldn't hurt to have a more capable cage in front of me, just in case. Want to do this route
soon after the Baja 500. Join us in this trek, it should be fun. Let us know what you are driving!!!! Regards, sq.
| Quote: | Originally posted by edm1
" Not being able to see the bottom of the grade,
and traveling alone (one vehicle) we decided to drive back out to the highway and get to Gonzaga Bay the 'normal' way! . . . "
So the big ? is the 2 miles in between the bottom of the grade and the mine. What need to be cleared - are we talking about 10-foot diameter boulders
and 3-foot diameter trunks?
David, were you able to find out if there was a place to turn around at the end? Has any 4-wheeled vehicle been to the bottom of the grade?
Does anyone know how steep(%) the grade is toward the bottom?
I'm going that way soon and kind of "challenged" to push into there. Anyone out there who'd want to join me ;D?
[Edited on 5-18-2007 by edm1] |
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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SQ, 45 degrees! Holy cow. But other than that, judging from what you're saying, the path could be cleared. We could winch them rocks out of the way or
we could push them with a 6X4 attached to the frame/under-bumper (fabricated attachment required but easy to make).
I have a rear locker (ARB) that has always gotten me out of trouble, even though my rig is a quasi-4WD (I don't have a front-drive axle but I have
FOUR wheels in the rear - does that make it a 4-wheel drive when all 4
rear wheels are locked and shifted to a 2.71 underdrive crawl- mode? Yes, I have a transfer case in it but not connected (yet) to a front-drive axle.
My big worry would be:1) departure angle because of the 45-deg grade, 2) the loose traction because of my heavy front end. However, reverse gear has
ALWAYS gotten me out! and 3), my wheelbase, its 146 inches, my rig is BIG.
Here's what I'm driving:
[Edited on 5-19-2007 by edm1]
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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Mood: Tengo Flojera
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SQ.
How did Winton do overall??? and is Winston right out of the box or modified??
TT
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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SQ I'm interested in joining a trip there too. I'll be to the hwy1 section next weekend to look it over. But to do it I'll come down in my Toyota.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64587
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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TW, next weekend we will be driving to Mision Santa Maria... drop in for a cold one!  
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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David we just might do it. We'll be in the silver GMC Z71. I've been in there in my Toyota so it would be interesting to see how the GMC comes out
with the longer wheelbase.
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
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Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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Greetings edm1,
Rock displacement in the arroyo most likely not need winching just extra muscle and minor route planning for about one mile.
When you power-up your front-drive axle you will have 5 or 6 wheel drive. I think that is absolutly FANTISTIC!!!
Departure angle at the 45* grade can be modified by stacking rubble in front of your rear wheels. Two vehicles anchored in front of you will alow you
to winch up that loose traction 45* grade. There is a somewhat sharp brake-over about 75 yards up from the bottem that is going to present a
HI-center problem for you. Width size should not be a problem as i don't recall any narrows on this pathway. There are some tight switch-back turns
you will have to jockey around.
Wow! And I thought my cage was big!! >>>> You are driving a CASITA.
Rec'd your U2U ... Thanks
Best Regards, sq.
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The squarecircle
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 11-28-2004
Location: El Cajon
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Mood: 'Baja Feeling'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Tomas Tierra
SQ.
How did Winton do overall??? and is Winston right out of the box or modified??
TT |
Greetings Tomas Tierra
The pathway into Mina La Turquesa from Las Arrastras is of no challenge whatsoever to 'Winston'.
"Winston' is pretty much straight out of the box. Tyres are up-sized to 33's but still all-train. Spare tyre now sits on rear bumper to make room for
extra gas tank underneath. Traction control on this beast is a big question mark for me. Only time will tell especially during and after up-comming
Santa Maria Mission trek,500 Race look/see and La Turquesa trip. Most rediculous engineering aspect of this ride is LACK of GROUND CLEARANCE! It is
heavy(6,000lbs.)and big and great on the street and light off-roading. You are invited on these and all treks to see 'Winston' fail or rail. If seen
stopped off-road somewhere please stop and give me a tug!!
Best Regards, sq.
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