Big Bend ....from the Mexico Side...and then some !!!!!!!!!!

[homerboy2u]

There are so many things to talk here. There are alot of places to go..and we like to go to places where there are NO paved roads,sooo its all adventure time from the begging.

 Our group, Piedras Negras 4x4, is your basic trail ride let's go to this sopt in the map club. We are only interested in spost where the places are still pristine adn we like to travel a road less travelled any time , we can.

  With the permission of David Locke I will start to show you all the Mexican side of Big Bend, and where possible tell some history that affects us all.

 So, Here goes nothing............ wish me luck!!!!!!!!!! [-o<

[homerboy2u]

You really let you self go in regards to questions..let's see how good i can do to help Ya: (brought here form another topic,same section)

1.-Do you travel exclusively in Mexico or do you cross over into the US and drive in that way?
 We  as a club, have travelled to many places with in the State of Coahuila and other parts of Mexico as well. We so far, haven't travelled in to the U.S. but we have been tempted to do this. The first time i went over to Boquillas, I crossed into BB from the river but i knew i was doing something wrong, this was back in 2000. Now , when we went back to Boquillas, in February 2005  we found out that there was a fine of $ 5,000.00 bucks + jail time if we were caught doing this....first & last time doing that. =;

2.-How long does it take to get from Piedras Negras over to the Bend region on the Mexican side of the border?
   From Piedras Negras,we go to Allende. There we continue to Nueva Rosita and then to Muzquiz. Once in Muzquiz , we go on to Boquillas , there we go to many places..but NOt necessarily having to go to Boquillas, we can drive offcourse to Ejido Las Norias, from there we continue to the El Jardin Canyon and there to beatifull spots. Total travel time from Piedras Negras to Las Norias: 8 hours drive!!!!!

3.-Is it relatively "safe" ?- yea, some of us gringos have visions of banditos behind every cactus.
   Yes, it is safe .We never travel alone, still. There are No bathrooms or showers or morning B&B,let alone Bandidos..that's just pure american folklore. This trails are for adventure,some on Govt.lands , some on private lands. We get permission for all the ranches in the area , because we are well know here. :^o

4.-Are the roads "decent"?
   As previously stated, there are No paved roads to Boquillas. All paved acces ends after the Cuesta de Malena...bout 250 km from Boquillas. :-s

5.-Have you ever driven over to Santa Elana, Boquillias, etc.?
   To Boquillas many times,Las norias again many times,San Vicente we have yet to go there, Ojo Caliente once, but i didn't get to go on that trail. Cañon de Santa Elena we will go this year...hope we can hook up over therem and shake hands probably get together. with ya..who knows.8-[

6.-What about to La Linda?
  To the La Linda bridge, it was the club's first trail, and it was a trip . I wasn't a member at the time, they never took GPS's,got lost,too many drunken guys,No logistics...it was a revealing adventure where the club learned alot from it. This doesn't happen anymore. There is an album of this trip i want to show you and everybody of fantastic pictures of Mina 4 Palmas, but i'll save it for another discussion.

 Im gonna have to bring over the heavy artillery here, with Dave's permission and let another friend of mine show you the clubs photos and some stories of his own .His name is Rafael Zacarias. I'll see if i can convince him.

Hope to have answer your questions to some degree. keep up the good faith..friend. :lol:

[WL2]

Many thanks for your input.  I am looking forward to your future posts... :D

[Casa Grande]

thanks homero...i'm looking forward to seeing it for real someday!  send some pics!

[chisos_muse]

It sounds like your club has a deep respect and passion for what y'all do...I admire that and also look forward to future stories! :D

[homerboy2u]

Now, lets see if we can put some picture , instead of more words...Thanks for your comments: Everybody !!!!

[homerboy2u]

 This photo is taken at Cuesta de Malena...this over 250 km's from the Rio Bravo River,on our way to El Jardin & Sierra del Carmen. These Granite formations are over 40-60 mts. tall,high up . It gets pretty cold here on winter time.

  For me , it's in a way the american version of Mount Rushmore...natural style.

[homerboy2u]

This is the last stop for Gas & goodies, at Muzquiz,Coahuila, before we got on to El Jardin. There we met with other fellow Jeeperos, met with the State authorities to confirm our permit request and to let them know,where we were going to be. ....vehicles still clean,if you see.

  When we lefeft Muzquiz, there were (10) vehicles in the caravan...a sight to see by everybody...nice.

[homerboy2u]

 This photo is from Ejido Las Norias,this about 13 km from the river.Look at the trail guides backview from his house...Sierra del Carmen,makes you envy...don't it?...what a sight!!!!!!!!!!

  Eventually, we were going to be upthere,but i would take us the rest of the day ,just to get to the top.

[homerboy2u]

  Somebody asked , some where here how the roads were over to Boquillas..this is a pretty good idea of the road towards Boquillas. In this picture, we were heading to El Jardin Canyon, it was an adrenaline rush to go thru it. Once on top we entered the reserve area of EL Jardin, going still up s the protected area of Sierra Maderas El Carmen, it's waaaayy on top of this picture.Where all the thick GREEN can be seen,pure pine.

[homerboy2u]

 We were determined to tackle the El Jardin Canyon, we prepd our vehicles: air down our tires,locked our differentials,checked our equipment,said our prayers...and ready to R & R...Locked & loaded.

 Look at the size of them boulders,man!!!!

[homerboy2u]

  We were in right smack in the middle of the Canyon El Jardin, we just had to make a Tech stop,to catch our breath. The views,the rush,we needed to take photos...PRONTO.

[homerboy2u]

Check out the rock formations in the Cañon...heres my friend Jaime Garza fron Sabinas,Coahuila

[homerboy2u]

  Thsi the vehicle,where i was treveling,with a couple of friends from Monterrey. Check out the trail....The Rush,what a view.

Note: the conditions of the trail is by far,not a chance. This Canyon,during the rainy season is very dangerous. Boulders bigger than the Jeeps & Cherokees were moved like pebbles when the water flows...the guide told us that water levels here can reach , sometimes,up and over the 8-10 meters high. Awsome !!!!!!!!!!!

[homerboy2u]

 We got back at our vehicles,locked the rest of the differentials...loc ked and loaded, and we went on. Maybe you can start getting an idea why it tooks almost the rest of the day , just to get to the mountain top.