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steve5555
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Location: Jamul, CA
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Any way to drive 4x4 from Laguna Hanson to Laguna Salada?
All, Ive got a new little 4WD buggy and want to explore out of Tecate tomorrow. If I get up to Laguna Hanson is there any possibilities to get down
into the dessert other than the turn off almost at Ojos Negros?
thanks, steve
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David K
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Yes, down Mano Canyon. The Baja 1000 just used it to come up. It is very rough.
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=31.80783,-115.66569&z=15...
[Edited on 12-29-2019 by David K]
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KasloKid
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Take a set of chains with you.. a good chance you'll run into snow 
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Maderita
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Steve,
El Mano canyon is a long way around and will burn a lot of time and fuel. Daylight is short. Many miles beyond the frequently traveled routes. Would
not advise doing this with a solo vehicle. You could be tens of miles from help.
There were several inches of snow at La Rumorosa 2 days ago (4,000' elev). Most of that has probably melted off by now. South of La Rumorosa, the
plateau rises to over 5,000'. At that elevation, the road will be a mixture of snow and mud. 4x4 or rear locking diff required.
If you are solo, a more sane route is to take the dirt road SE from La Rumorosa, past the municipal dump (basurero municipal). The road is steep, but
2WD when unaffected by weather/erosion. It descends a canyon eastward to the desert.
Perhaps drive south from La Rumorosa toward Laguna Hanson. Turn westward just beyond the KM 35 sign to Rancho El Topo. Visit the ranch. Ask Beto (I
believe Ricardo is at Laguna Salada tending his livestock) to point you toward the "mirador" viewpoint. South of the main ranch buildings a 2 or 3
miles. 4x4 required to ascend the hill. There is also a 4x4 long hill to the NW, above Gavilanes, 3 or 4 miles from the ranch buildings.
Refuel back at La Rumorosa and decide if you want to take the dirt road to the desert/Laguna Salada. Or, have a good meal and a beer at La Cabana del
Abuelo nextdoor to the Pemex.
Feel free to call me with questions. I'm in those locations about two weekends per month, over several decades.
-John (edited to remove phone number)
[Edited on 12-29-2019 by Maderita]
[Edited on 12-29-2019 by Maderita]
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steve5555
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Location: Jamul, CA
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David, thanks for the link and at the risk of sounding like a green horn wow that topo is new to me and pretty outrageous!
John, thanks for the trip routing and detailed response. I hear you that I need to use some caution since El mano is far off the normal path. I may
pass that route for this trip. I will probs head down the compadre trail and see how the conditions are. I usually turn left at that rancho (Beyond
rancho santa veronica-with the big oaks and that little stream that crosses the road)and wind my way up to the lake. I may stop by Ricardo's place
and then out the back way as you suggest. Ive been through there a few times on my dirt bike. I might do that. Anyway, Ive got my camping gear for
and overnighter and I will see how it plays out. I will report back!
Thanks again, steve
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advrider
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Make sure you have some recovery gear. I've taken compadre trail many times on my bike, last year we were on our 500's when it rained on us all day.
That road became a real challenge and super slick. 4wd would have been ok but there were some spots that could have been a challenge and you might
have had to self recover out of a couple of ditches.
I'm sure while you were getting unstuck some local would drive by in a 2wd car on bald tires.... LOL.
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David K
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Steve, as John said, it is a long way around, but the only road from the top to the desert south of La Rumorosa (until the 'summit' road Portezuelo de
Jamau). I did post GPS directions for it way back after I drove it in 2003: http://www.vivabaja.com/GPS/ (note, this was when we were posting at Map Datum NAD27 Mexico. Neal Johns recommended that so it would match with
the topo maps which are drawn at that datum. Google Earth and the standard GPS setting is at WGS84. Make sure to switch settings when entering the
these waypoints from that page).
http://www.vivabaja.com/GPS/page2.html
Guadalupe Canyon access via Graded Rd @ Mex.#2: 32°34.33'/ 115°47.35'
Guadalupe Canyon access via Laguna Salada Dry Lake Rd. @ Mex.#2 (south turn, next 5 waypoints): 32°34.57'/ 115°44.63'
Jcn. Graded road & south end of Dry Lake road: 32°13.06'/ 115°42.24
Guadalupe Canyon Entrance: 32°09.40'/ 115°47.29'
Cohabuzo Jcn: 31°55.74'/ 115°36.22'
South of Cohabuzo 8.2 mi. is a fork, go right for El Mano (4WD): 31°49.81'/ 115°33.89'
Jcn. with road to left. Ahead-right goes up the mountain via El Mano canyon: 31°47.68'/ 115°36.65'
Rancho El Mano driveway left, road begins major climb: 31°48.56'/ 115°40.39'
Rancho Los Pinos, elev. 5,086': 31°48.77'/ 115°46.26'
Jcn. Santa Catarina left (S)/ Agua Blanca right (SW): 31°45.20'/ 115°51.52'
Jcn. Agua Blanca left (S), Hwy. 3 right (N): 31°42.24', 115°54.25'
Map Datum: NAD27 Mexico
Map routes show the distance to Guadalupe Canyon from Hwy. 3 or Hwy. 5, is almost the same. The Mano Canyon road is shown on the AAA map.
[Edited on 12-29-2019 by David K]
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PaulW
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DK,
Thanks for that. Heading that way soon and needed the Hwy3 and S Catanina coords. I have to remember to convert to wgs84.
We will start from Cohabuzo side, but have not decided which route to take to start Mano.
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David K
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Hi Paul, you can go to the mission which is accessed from Independencia via a concrete road now. From the Santa Catalina mission, near the village of
Santa Catarina (note the different spelling), you go north to meet the highlighted route I took. The map doesn't show the mission site but it is just
past the village to the NE, above the cemetery. See my Trip #8 report on Nomad.
[Edited on 12-29-2019 by David K]
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PaulW
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BTW, traditionally there is a locked gate at Mano summit. Unlocked for the latest two races. Norra 2013 and Score 2019.
After the Norra race the ranch owner has provided access for small groups when asked.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  | BTW, traditionally there is a locked gate at Mano summit. Unlocked for the latest two races. Norra 2013 and Score 2019.
After the Norra race the ranch owner has provided access for small groups when asked. |
Good to know. Is this the nice ranch near the high point, Los Pinos?
In 2003, the only gate was the one shown as a 'locked gate' on the AAA map, well down the desert side of the grade. It was open, no lock to worry
about.
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4x4abc
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can we gate a location for the gate?
Harald Pietschmann
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PaulW
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My interest is because I have not been across the Mano summit. I think the summit is =
31 48.69247', -115 41.68146' @ 4117'. Got this from a message from a SCORE race blog, and it looks pretty close when Google Earth is consulted.
I wonder how close the gate is to that place?
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PaulW
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My community is with explorers on the east side and I was led to believe is where the rancher lives. I need to make some contacts to locate the ranch
and get first hand details on the gate location. None of the racers I have contact with were not part of the arrangement details to get the gate
opened.
| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by PaulW | BTW, traditionally there is a locked gate at Mano summit. Unlocked for the latest two races. Norra 2013 and Score 2019.
After the Norra race the ranch owner has provided access for small groups when asked. |
Good to know. Is this the nice ranch near the high point, Los Pinos?
In 2003, the only gate was the one shown as a 'locked gate' on the AAA map, well down the desert side of the grade. It was open, no lock to worry
about. |
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steve5555
Nomad
Posts: 204
Registered: 7-9-2008
Location: Jamul, CA
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Hey Gents, Im back. I didn't look for the route down to the dessert from the lake but if anyone wants to do that over a weekend, Id be up for
exploring. I have the buggy below. Anyway, some pics from my trip. Should be titled, "snow and mud".
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steve5555
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steve5555
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steve5555
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steve5555
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Ken Cooke
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Mano Canyon Trail Report
If this is the same route that I had climbed several years ago after visiting Canon Palomar, there was a fork in the road traveling uphill. Please
confirm I am talking about the correct trail - Going left (southwest) is less of a steep climb than going straight (west). Continuing straight
(west), one comes to a stairstep climb with 8"-10" stairsteps requiring double locking differentials to the top of stairstep. In a short wheelbase
Jeep, it scared the @~#! out of me. All three Jeeps (with 4:1 transfer case gears and locking differentials front/rear) made it through that section.
We passed the burned up Suburban SUV at the top of the hill. I took photographs most of the way up for the memories!
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