David K
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There is also a second road to the San Antonio route that turns west off Hwy. 1 just south of the original L.A. Bay road. You can see it on Google
satellite.
Another road not yet on maps, goes from Laguna Chapala to the coast just north of Punta Blanca... it would be a shorter drive than the San Antonio
road.
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PabloS
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I've driven to Punta Blanca several times in the last 15 years using 3/4 ton Chevy and Ford pick-ups and every route I could find, no trips in the
last 5 years though. I don't recall any boulder hopping but some rocky stair steps that we used 4wd low range to climb, some bad deep powder areas and
low tide beach runs that look super but will suck you down to the frame.
This a very desolate area and we seldom saw anyone so be prepared and you will have a great time. No fuel, parts, tires, wood, or anything to buy once
you leave the pavement so be self contained and able to do repairs.
Your truck should do fine. Have a great time!
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TMW
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I have driven both routes to the Pacific. The regular road thru San Antonio is one of my favorites. I've been both ways several times on it. There are
two roads from hwy1 to San Antonio, both about the same. One at hwy K251/252 look for three mounts of dirt. The other further south at I think K272, I
would have to check my almanac to be sure.
The route from Chapala was going to be used in the 2003 Baja 1000, we preran the section. It was not because just after turning east from the ocean
there is a large silt bed and the racers didn't like it so Sal changed the course. You wouldn't have any problems now, the silt was bad from all the
prerunning then. The lake beds were dry when I was there and I'm sure they are now too. There a valcano not too far from Chapala, David K found it
using google.
If you go thru San Antonio I'd recommend a 4x4 or rear wheel buggy because when you drop down the mtn you'll be in a wash for a while and some times
the sand is pretty soft. Going down the mtn can be rough depending on the rains but not too bad. There are three ranches on the road from my last
count. May or may not have people in them. A new home was being built last Oct on the mtn side before San Antonio near where the two roads from hwy 1
meet. Next time I'm down there I want to go in one way and out the other.
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Skamper
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Right on TW, thanks for the great tips. I'm thinking the same thing--go in one route and out another...way more fun than back tracking.
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David K
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Here is the juction of the two roads to San Antonio and Punta Blanca from Hwy. 1... To the northeast is the original, mapped route to Hwy. 1 between
Laguna Chapala and El Crucero... and to the southeast is the unmapped route to Hwy. 1 between El Crucero and Parador Punta Prieta (just south of the
old L.A. Bay road junction).
Junction of roads to San Antonio from Hwy. 1
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TMW
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The road into San Antonio from hwy 1 is at K252 and the other at K271. They join at 29-11-44x114-16-55 (hr-min-sec NAD27). a new house can be seen to
the north on the mtn side.
On the ocean the road to Chapala turn east at 29-10-49x114-44-20. Depending on the recent traffic it may be hard to see a road but it is there. Once
you start to climb it is obvious. There are two dry lake beds at 29-15-07x114-33-43 @1188ft and 29-20-54x 114-26-52@2139FT. They are on the north
side.
Have fun. I'll be in the area over labor day weekend.
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David K
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A second road to Chapala from the Pacific coast road is 1.6 miles south of the one I think TW waypointed coming south... it seemed to have more
traffic and no doubt soon joined the road TW used.
The second route would be the one used to head southbound to Bahia Blanca, etc. The waypoint for it is 29-09.845', 114-43.365' (NAD27) (degrees and
decimal minutes)
[Edited on 8-17-2007 by David K]
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TMW
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David I wonder if it may be a better route for SCORE to check out. The one I was on for the SCORE race course was heavy silt by race day. I'm going to
check it out over Labor Day.
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Skamper
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I vote we all delete our posts on this thread for the sake of wilderness.
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by PabloS
We've seen SCORE ruin a lot of GOOD routes over the years, I guess I'd rather share secret spots with surfers than pro racers who tear everything
up. |
nuff said!
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TMW
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I don't think it is a secret to SCORE on any route in Baja. They've been running up and down and across Baja and Baja Sur for 40 years. The route
coordinates I posted for the turn to Chapala was the proposed route run in the 2003 Baja 1000. Courses that are damaged are from running over the same
section over and over and over and they never have a chance to recover such as the old road south out of San Felipe and they won't grade it because
only off roaders use it. I would think a surfer would like the road into their secret spot be really bad so no others would find it.
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David K
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What happened to Skamper's opening post?
Goot point TW!
Have a great weekend!
[Edited on 8-18-2007 by David K]
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TMW
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I think he deleted it. David, I used Google Earth and followed your route and it joins a north south trail. Going north it joins my route back to
Chapala. However if you go further north it joins the trail shown on page 18 of the almanac at F6. If you follow it south it rejoins the costal road.
Skamper don't go away. Everyones opinion is welcome.
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Skamper
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I deleted my post in hopes that others would follow suit. After receiveing so much detailed info, I go the uh-oh feeling, realizing that the info is
so accessible to anyone Googling with the right key words. What was I thinking??? If anyone understands the Tragedy of the Commons, it should be us
Baja wilderness wanderers.
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TMW
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Googling the trails in Baja can be a lot of fun but the satellite images don't tell you what the trail is really like on the ground. Only those who
have passed over it can do that. Some areas the image is so bad ( low resolution) you can't make it out.
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bajalou
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
Googling the trails in Baja can be a lot of fun but the satellite images don't tell you what the trail is really like on the ground. Only those who
have passed over it can do that. Some areas the image is so bad ( low resolution) you can't make it out. |
As evidenced by the El Canelo to the Pacific route.
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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