As I have promised in a previous post, here is my short trip report. We left SD on Thursday night ~8pm. Even thought it’s not recommended I prefer
driving baja at night due to the lack of cars and trucks. You do have to watch out for cows (already hit one several years ago), but if you take it
easy it will still be faster than during the day. It was smooth sailing until El Rosario where we decided to take a nap in Baja Cactus around 1-2am.
I usually camp out, but since we had our bikes, etc…and it was pretty cheap we decided on the motel. The place was clean, hot shower, security and
for the money I could not ask for anything more. Next morning we got up around 7am and everybody else was already gone….he.he, so we packed and hit
the road to Catavina. There, I talked with the desert in hotel management and we were able to leave the car until Sunday while enjoying our
excursions on our bikes. At the end of the trip I ended up tipping the security guard 10 bucks, saying ‘perfecto’ while he answered, my name is
Perfecto….he.he, funny coincidence.
We both drive dual sports. I have a Suzi DR650 and my buddy has a Kawa KLR650. The goal of the trip was to visit Mission Santa Maria de Los Angeles
and then hit the ‘Torquesa Grade’ to Punta Final and then back to Catavina.
On Friday morning we hit the Santa Maria trail and did not take any camping gear since the idea was to get back to the car for the night. Let me tell
you this, this is one tough trail, especially on heavy bikes like ours. During the whole trip to MSM we met two guys on lighter, properly set up
off-road bikes and the first thing that they said is that we were crazy and they wanted to take a picture with us….he.he. Besides the fact that I
dropped the bike at least 10 times we almost got to the oasis. We decided to walk the last part, I assume just before the ‘widowmaker grade’. We
would have been really struggling to get up on that thing on the way back. Anyways, took us 15 min to walk to the mission and the canyon is
definitely spectacular. Will need to hike that thing from the other side and spend some more time there next time. Saw the two guys on their bikes
again and they were trying to find another road back. My map shows a second road (to Santa Ines) coming back but neither on google earth or visually
they or us could find that road. Does it exist?
We got back to the car in one piece but it was already 9pm…..this thing took us all day. On the way back my buddy trashed his fan on the radiator so
it was stop and go for the last 3 hours. We were able to buy JB weld at the catavina store and fixed the fan….amazing. We ate by the car and jumped
off to a near canyon to get some sleep.
Next morning we promised our self that we will take it easy today and hopefully hit a lighter trail….well….that really wasn't so. Not only did it
turn out that I left my camera right before the widowmaker grade, which we had to go back for (only took 3 hours both ways – getting better), it turns
out that the torquesa crossing is pretty difficult especially down the grade and then through the ~1-2 mile wash. Somehow both our bikes and us
survived the beating. The last section after the mine the road becomes much nicer with fresh water flowing and nice scenery. Definitely a place that
I have to explore further. We stopped by the store in Gonzaga, got a couple of beers and headed to Punta Final. That place is really special, and a
cold beer on the beach defiantly took all of the sores away.
Next day we headed back to the car passing by Coco. We met quite a few motorcycle groups. Some Dual sport guys heading to Cabo, and others doing
typical off-road stuff.
It was a great trip, and thank you guys for giving me pointers on the MSM status and tips that I pick up reading the forum. I don’t post much but
check posts religiously. Now, I can’t wait to go back. Planning Picacho del Diablo hike this early summer.
Some maps... show a 'road' from the mission west to Hwy. 1 by San Ignacito. That is a hiking trail!!! No bikes/ autos.
Other than that there is only one auto road between Santa Ynez (Ines) and the mission... The Almanac shows a parallel trail in the arroyo below, but
that is not passable to vehicles due to boulders.
Thanks for the report!
Still have not heard of a nother four wheeled vehicle getting through the Turquesa Grade and Canyon since our own Roy 'The squarecircle' did in his
Land Rover with help from TW and friends!
Some of those spots down the Turquesa Grade are pretty narrow with a nice dropoff. I don't see myself doing that on my bike going the other way. The
wash trail is a motorcycle type of a trail, pretty narrow so Roy and those guys had to navigate other routes or just plow through...he.he.
Here are some of the photos from the trip:
One of the first side washes on the way to the mission:
This is where I left my camera...
Widowmaker.....not for my skills and my bike
Mission:
Mission:
Torquesa pass wash:
La turquesa water source:
La Turquesa:
La Turquesa pools:
Punta Final:
Punta Final:
Coco:
The Punta Final picture was a welcome sight for me this morning. We were catching pompano off the end of those rocks just a month ago. Wonder if we'll
ever be back again. It's a wonderful memory.
Yeah, I can see doing this in my 4runner which has taken me to many far out places in baja, but as a beginner on my dual sport I would have been
struggling up that grade. I am glad you guys enjoy the pictures......makes me want to go back there.
Great trip report and pic's. Don't feel bad about stopping at the widowmaker. It did the same thing to me last year. Left my bike at the top and
walked the rest. In MC boots as well. Better than hiking boots for rattlers I would think.
Also, congrats for getting through Turquesa. I'm curious if you found a good trail/s through the wash. Did you see Roy's Rover 2 track from last
Spring? It would have been along the North side of the wash, or on the ramp coming out of the wash. I'm sure he'd like to know if others have made it
thru since. Too much sand, rock and cactus for me on my XR600 loaded with gear. Maybe with a little more of a trail it wouldn't be so
stop-go-fall-lift up heavy bike-restart-burn clutch.
XRPhlang, the track through the wash was pretty much a single track starting at the center of the wash and then slowly creeping towards the north
side. There are some areas where it widens up but still tricky in a car. My skid plate definatelly saved my case several times at the wash. I just
had stock gearing so for the turquesa grade I got down most of it with the engine off breaking with the clutch in gear. I don't see myself going up
that thing too slippery and to steep.... at least not on my bike.
David K. (and any others?) reference the "widowmaker" grade-------I can't recall------does your Toyota have a "locker" in the back?? I assume
not------seems to me that a locker would make things considerably easier----es verdad?? (or have you never experienced a locker?)
Originally posted by Barry A.
David K. (and any others?) reference the "widowmaker" grade-------I can't recall------does your Toyota have a "locker" in the back?? I assume
not------seems to me that a locker would make things considerably easier----es verdad?? (or have you never experienced a locker?)
Barry
YES!!
The TOYOTA TACOMA TRD PACKAGE includes a locking rear differential (used on the Widowmaker, for sure!)
The Land Rover LR-3 has some kind of traction control device that helped Roy climb the thing, too.
The Widowmaker is just over one mile from the mission... and if it scares you... walk. However, after driving 2 1/2 hours to go 13 miles, you may want
to camp by the mission and enjoy one of the most special Baja places there is!
Still have not heard of a nother four wheeled vehicle getting through the Turquesa Grade and Canyon since our own Roy 'The squarecircle' did in his
Land Rover with help from TW and friends!
David -- there is a group of Jeeps and a couple of Toyotas itching to return to La Turquesa Mine Road in November for Baja Grande '09. We promise
photos of the whole thing.
cymeryss COCO'S pix is priceless, he has a unbreakable spirit, I guess thats what Baja does to you.....
Thanks for the report and pictures.., Mission Santa Maria another baja site that I haven't yet visit.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
Originally posted by Barry A.
It's not that I am "scared", David, it is just that I don't want to destroy my favorite vehicle----------not ready for that yet.
------and I do have a locker.
A nice couple from Northern California traveled this trail in their new 4Runner without a locking differential, and their stock 4Runner suffered no
damage. This trail isn't extreme - in November, a stock differentialed Ford Bronco also made the trip as well.
Originally posted by Barry A.
It's not that I am "scared", David, it is just that I don't want to destroy my favorite vehicle----------not ready for that yet.
------and I do have a locker.
A nice couple from Northern California traveled this trail in their new 4Runner without a locking differential, and their stock 4Runner suffered no
damage. This trail isn't extreme - in November, a stock differentialed Ford Bronco also made the trip as well.
In low range and going slow... crawl, to not break any parts!
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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Seriously, it is good to see him back home,
where he loves to be! "Legs, I don't need no stinkin' legs!"
