SDC: Where there is a will there is a way...ALWAYS

[homerboy2u]

Now...Pffff..excuse while i was dusting this area from all the haze,wild fires and fly ash from the recent fires, But Jesus Christ our Lord...I think there is a way up to Sierra Del Carmen.

 I posted once, that the way up to SDC was blocked at Canon del Jardin.  Well thru the magic of Google Alerts, i found out that two men in their bikes: Milton Otto & J thompson, did this trek, in the winter thru hell and back.

 They sure did their research, investigated very well as to how they were going to ride the trip, up and over SDC. Of course , there were the small details of some Ejidos misspelled or miss interpreted, but that is completely ephemeral to the prime purpose of pursuing an adventure, and quite an adveture it was.

Their trip report starts at Ciudad Acuna,Coahuila  and takes them thru the back door of Sierra Del Burro and over SDC, and then on to some ejidos all the way over to Ojinaga, where they crossed over in to the U.S.

 So four things,come in to conclusion:

1) There is a way over SDC, from the pics i looked at. It can be done.

2) This will spark many interests, from fellow members here about that area, and we will have to discuss the possible logistics to do this. No problem with that.

3) I will not post any pictures here with out their permission or better yet, i will let them post their pics from their online albums , should they care to do so.

4) I have already checked this out with locals in the area, there is no way that part of the Sierras are plagued with narcos. It is not a route of any interest, other than to generate problems for the ones who venture in...meaning us, who dare and tackle SDC to go up to El Jardin. It is rough and tough, just to challenge it.

 That is funny, enjoy.

 P.S.- Sra. Voni, you were holding back on us. What gives?

[Al]

Homero, thank you.  What's deal with the signs at the gate!?  I thought the del Carmans, in stark contrast to the Maderas, were not so restricted.  I can't imagine riding all those miles to do what they did.  Those guys had an incredible trip!

Al

[homerboy2u]

  What's deal with the signs at the gate!?  I thought the del Carmans, in stark contrast to the Maderas, were not so restricted. 
Al

 Ye sir..you are correct. That entrance is to Rancho Casa Blanca, now leased to CEMEX. It is located directly on the side of Mina Cuatro Palmas. It is a way thru some private ranches that we have friends who have contact with the owners, we can do that to, but in 4x4 rigs...of course.

  My idea, is to head back to Norias de Boquillas, talk with the locals about bringing some heavy equipment and demolish those boulders that start on Page 4 , of these gentlemen's report. It can be done, I tell you.

 Going up thru there, does not limit us to go over to El Jardin area and camp there. We can trek from there on to El Pico...at lest a 2-4 day trip, we can check out some Ojitos de Agua, for our water dowser, Badknees and we can go over to the Edge (La troza de Elvira, which was miss interpreted in their TR. If you read it carefully) for the most amazing sightseeing in the area. Other than MDC, of course. That stands apart.

 But most important, it can be done. Do not loose focus on these words. I had never seen pictures from the blocked area before, and I thought it was much tougher than what i saw, i feel it can really be done. Adn help out the locals along the way, freeing the path thru Canon del Jardin.

 So let us keep discussiing this, and see if we can get more ideas out of this.

Homero

[jeffblaylock]

Neat report. And they have excellent taste in photographers:

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=848286&postcount=42

[Voni]

I read that report with great anticipation as he wrote it day by day.  What an adventure! 

Sincerely I'm sorry I didn't think to share it here.

Voni

[homerboy2u]

then, from the "SDC's" to the "MDC's"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good job Homero!
QS

....

I read that report with great anticipation as he wrote it day by day.  What an adventure! 

Sincerely I'm sorry I didn't think to share it here.

Voni

 Nah, that's cool Mrs.Voni...just don't forget about us anymore..this one hits directly inside the belly button of many here.

[WayneR]

WOW!  Now that was a good read...  Like a good book you just can't put down.  Thanks Homero for sharing the link for this unique adventure.

[homerboy2u]

Yes fellas, i think when i stumble upon it, i read the whole TR about 3 times, just to catch the small details....... I just posted it here.

 I also just received approval to post their pictures here as well, so i will do that maybe this week end and some of my past trips pics from  there too, probably add some thoughts to it, just to get the fir grill going...he!

[homerboy2u]

Don't think for Un Segundo, that i am not doing anything about it anymore on this matter. it is just i am seeing a lot of pictures, I recieved permission from the Album owners to post some pics, and i am also checking out my pics to see how we can continue this forward.

[Hoodoo]

Wow, now that is "Endeavoring to Persevere" 

I found Dr. Otto's Spot adventure on the web.

Don

[homerboy2u]

Wow, now that is "Endeavoring to Persevere" 

I found Dr. Otto's Spot adventure on the web.

Don

 You have done very well, Sensei........

[homerboy2u]

Well, to be honest: Either it has been blasting hot or just too little time to do this. I have been mainly spending my free time with the family instead of completing this, very doable trip.

  So let's move on. From the pictures, i recieved permission to use from John Thomson & Milton Otto. They are members of Two wheeled Texans, BTW. I have managed to stitch some story to this TR.

 I will do the best to finish this, when ever i get some time off.

 The road to Ejido Morelos-Ejido Carranza-Boquillas and Beyond the scenic road is not all paved. As we see it here when you leave Acuna,Coahuila and head out to the Sierra Del Burro Range.



 The paved road is no more than 15-20 km's long.



 This is the last small town (ejido) , before you hit paydirt. We have picked up here soda pops, have had breakfast...believe it or not. Some Gas, plus good communications with the rest of the way towards Canon del Colorado.

[homerboy2u]

Now, these two gents deserve all my respects. The made their trip to the best way they could prepare, the read their Emaps and traced a route which help them get an idea as to where they were heading. Getting there, was a whole different ball game.



 The land, the very hard terrain, the isolation, the language itself is a  barrier there. They some how managed to overcome all of these obstacles, plus riding in bikes. I just wonder how they managed not wreck something else, like a shock or worse a tire. They are great men , in my book.

[elhombre]

Hell of an adventure!   Thanks for sharing the link to their post.  I am surprised and hopeful to hear that the area around there is an oasis in the drug war.  Sure sounds like the drug runners are too lazy to take on a monster desert.  Simply incredible landscape and incredible freedom.

[homerboy2u]

El Hombre and QS are right. It is an amazing landscape, the geography is breath taking, the isolation is deafening. But one thing for sure is that the Narcos are no lazy people. They have just been raided by the Mexican Marines, the Army people and the Federal Police here. They are running for their lives. The desert out there, does not offer a haven for bad people. As a matter of fact, it offers no haven for any body trying to conquer it. The good folks, just learn to respect it and live by the gratitudes the desert shares.

 Now, moving right along as i was describing the trip these two gentlemen made. It is important to stand out, that along this stone road corridor that recieves the Burro Plains, one comes across the Old and abandoned Hacienda de San Miguel. These gigantic ranch, used to be at least 200,000 hectares in square area. The previous owners were The Mayers family, i believe they are from Del Rio, Tx. Most of their sons were born in the ranch and hence it gave them dual citizenship. It had a real advantage as ranching goes, since you could own land on both sides of the border with out getting in any difficulty of ownership.

 This a long distance view of the Head ranch. Very well displaced, the housing project used to belong to the Cowboys working there, foremen and ranch hands manning the daily activities of the spread.



  When I ws a kid, back in the 70's. I had an uncle that used to work for the ranch as a veterinarian. He used to tell me that there was an army of vets working for the Mayers. I used to remember that back then there was a single strand of poles coming out of Ciudad Acuna, carrying a telephone line all the way to the head house. It was an amazing feat to see that being so far out of civilization, they still were communicated by phone. No internet, no fax, just call somebody up and get connected. It was amazing by any standards.




 The Mayers house , does not appear in the picture here but it is there, almost at the adge of the road.

 Their oldest son , George Paul Mayers used to be one of The best Rodeo riders in the world[/url , and is still recognize for his feats way back in the 70's too.]

 I know there is still the great[url=http://www.georgepaulmemorialbullriding.com/] Dale Gas George Paul Rodeo, held annually in Del Rio. In honor of his memory.

 Some of his brothers, still own land higher up in the Sierras and ranch there, until this day.