LIFE'S A BEACH (in Baja)!

Perhaps the most use of 4WD for me over the years is in deep sand, on the beach in Baja California (Gulf of California/ Sea of Cortez side).

There, the sand is deep, mixed with sea shell bits or coral or pummice and can be like driving through ball bearings. Even in 4WD you can easily get stuck. Luckily, the trick of getting unstuck or not getting stuck is easy! LET THE AIR OUT OF YOUR TIRES... until your truck floats on the sand! Usually the ideal pressure is between 8 and 18 psi, depending on the type of tire and the weight of your vehicle. Sand type, air temperature and humidity also affect sand driving.

We had two trips to our favorite beach in 2011 (so far):

July, 2011:



After deflating floatation


Before deflating track on the right, and after on the left.






View south from our camp, 4th of July weekend. Dig the crowds!


View north... from our camp on Shell Island.


Just shade and an ice chest full of beer... what else do you need?


Oh sure, the best truck in the world to get you there!



Pretty rough having an entire beach to yourself on a holiday weekend! Viva Baja!!


May, 2011





The Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) has some of the largest tides on earth. Here the differance between high and low tide can exceed 20 verticle feet.










Low tide exposes lots to see.




Hope you find life as good as we do, on a beach in Baja!


Aerial photo of Shell Island, looking south.



Satellite photo of Shell Island and area north and south.

 

I never thought I'd say this but after leaving San luis to go to school in Fresno, I miss the beach

 

Looks awesome!

 

Looks great!

 

Thanks... I can feel the warm sand when I look at the photos!

 

When are you headed back to Baja?

 

San Luis ehh?

 

didnt you already post these pictures?

 

Just as soon as I am making money again... I need a Baja fix real bad!

 

I believe I used some different ones along with a couple I posted in different topics before... Do you not like them?

 

yeah the place looks awesome... just thought I saw them before.

 

You should go! Actually, it would be a great treat for the Tacoma owners to enjoy a Baja beach holiday there... Great test of your sand driving skills and 4WD modes... If I can't go, then I will give you great directions. The only limit would be extreme high tides (full and new moon). I call the place 'Shell Island' for a good reason!

There is a salt/mud flat that seperates the middle section of the beach from the desert... This area floods with the high lunar tides. Back in 1984, someone built an elevated road across the flats and a concrete bridge at the beach end. This provided easy access onto the beach during high tide. However, the elevated road has since slowly melted/ eroded down making the bridge useless. I have driven through the water and slimey mud a few times... Never been stuck... Here it is during most of the month, looking from the bridge towards the desert, across the flats:



Now, here is the same place during high tide:





Telephoto way down the entrance road...

 

This is the view south, towards where you enter the beach (by that bridge), which is 2 miles away. See the lagoon along the right?



Now, this is looking from our camp on the island, west across the full lagoon towards the rest of Baja (this lagoon empties at low tide):