2017 BAJA EXPEDITION #2, Central Baja California (San Ignacio to Loreto +)

Great pics. I travel South quite a bit and love it. Heading that way in a week

 

DAY 6-C To Comondú

It is about 26 miles from the San Javier highway to San José Comondú and my drive time was about 2 hours. The slow, 4WD section, was the steep up and down grades between Palo Chino and El Horno. Shown on the 2010 AAA map below:


The Loreto-San Javier and San Miguel Comondú-Ejido Francisco Villa roads are now paved.


Palo Chino is an abandoned ranch now.


The road improves as you near El Horno. An active ranch is set up next to the giant kiln-oven built in the 1700s to make mortar from limestone to build the mission church at Comondú, the largest church in all California!








The road begins to drop off the volcanic mesa into the oasis of San José Comondú.




Waterworks are seen around most mission locations and some are used to this day, 200-300 years after they were built.


An attractive cobblestone street is a nice surprise in this little town.


The mission today, but was originally a side chapel to a much larger church that was torn down in 1936.

The mission, San José de Comondú was founded in 1708, 22 miles to the north and moved here in 1736. The 1708 location became known as Comondú Viejo and is less than a mile south of Rancho San Juan (shown on the AAA map, above).











Historic photos of the large church from 1906:





From 1926:



The chapel in 1955 in the photo below and below it, one I just took in 2017:





The cobblestone street beyond the mission returns to dirt, the road northwest to San Isidro and La Purísima is passed 0.4 mile from the mission, and the more populated and active town of San Miguel Comondú is reached 1.8 miles beyond the road junction.





San Miguel Comondú began over 200 years ago as the visita of San Miguel, attached to Mission San Javier. It was so productive, often producing more food than other missions on the peninsula. Jesuits trained here before going on to work at missions, elsewhere. In 1736, when the Comondú mission moved so close, San Miguel was transferred to it from San Javier.

Today, San Miguel (with Comondú attached to its name) is the larger and more active of the two towns. A small hotel is located here...



The Hacienda Don Mario has rooms for 800 pesos (=$40) with a kitchen and 600 (=$30) without. A restaurant and museum are also here. www.haciendadonmario.com and jackylapaz@hotmail.com are on their card with the phone number 01-613-131-1494.

A paved road goes south from here to join Highway 1 at Ciudad Insurgentes. I turn around and go back to San José Comondú to catch the road to La Purísima. 1.8 miles from the hotel.



To Be Continued!

 

Here's my road log (miles) for the Comondú road (2-4-17):

0.0 San Javier Paved Road (at Km. 27.5)
3.8 Farm/Ranch, both side of road.
4.5 Ranch on left.
5.7 Rancho Monte Alto
6.8 Sideroad, to the left
9.0 Palo Chino, abandoned ranch. 4WD recommended beyond here.
13.1 Top of steep grade going down.
14.3 Bottom of steep grade. Road greatly improves.
15.1 El Horno, ranch and historic lime kiln.
24.6 Top of grade down into Comondú canyon.
25.2 Bottom of grade. enter village of San José Comondú
25.7 Mission San José de Comondú (founded 1708, relocated here 1736)
26.1 Road right to San Isidro and La Purísima
27.9 San Miguel Comondú, Hacienda Don Mario hotel.

 

DAY 6-D (Comondú to La Purísima) Saturday Feb. 4, 2017

Beginning log at the road between the two Comondús: San José and San Miguel, 0.4 mile from the mission or 1.8 miles from the hotel.

The road begins as a narrow lane crossing from the south to the north side of the canyon floor, then begins the climb up and out of the canyon. It is steep, but not 4WD stuff. The road is rough for a couple miles as it leaves the Comondú region.

I didn't note the mileage, but at the top of the first climb up, near the cemetery, the original road from Tijuana to La Paz (and now serves as a ranch road) joins in from the right. The north end of this section, near where it meets the road from Bahía Concepción, looks very unused... perhaps the floods of recent years have erased it somewhere?

The road north to San Isidro and La Purísima become quite good and the second half is even fast. It is just over 18 miles to where it enters the La Purísima valley and the road to Hwy. 1, just south of Bahía Concepción joins in from the right (no signs). It takes me less than an hour to drive from Comondú to here. It is 4.7 miles from the junction to La Purísima (market, restaurant, and motel).

Now heading west, the road soon becomes paved (in 2.3 miles) as one enters the town of San Isidro. I see a sign advertising gasoline. Continuing west on the paved road the majesty of El Pilón, the towering butte in the middle of the valley, makes one want to take photos!

As I enter La Purísima, I see a market on the left (ice for sale) and on the right is the Restaurant Otho with a bunch of off road vehicles parked... and Willy Airstream's race buggy. I park and go introduce myself to Richard (Willy Airstream). He was surprised, thinking I was older (or look older on my Nomad pics, lol)! I was surprised too, that he was only this far in his run today (4:40pm) as he was going to Comondú... and still did!

I saw that the little motel Posada del Angel was next door to the restaurant and both businesses were run by a couple of men. The motel I had heard was nice by Roy (The squarecircle) and TW (Tom). No wi-fi, but the market has it if needed.

I first drove around the block to see the mission site, it is a block north of the restaurant and a block back east. There is a sign pointing to it from the paved entrance road to town, the cross street before the market and restaurant.

The mission, founded in 1720, fell into ruin after 106 years in operation but appears to have still had a roof and was used by locals, in a 1906 photograph by Arthur North (Camp and Camino in Lower California author). In the 1950s, Howard Gulick (Lower California Guidebook author) shows photos of just a small portion of wall remaining and the crypts next to the mission ruins. Today, just two crypts remain and are all that is left of the once prosperous mission. Next door (west of crypts) is a private home... built on top of where the mission church was and fenced/ walled closed.

I check out the little motel, very basic, but clean, has hot water, and satellite TV with some 500 channels (a few in English including Fox News and CNN... great both real and fake news to watch)!It is the day before the Superbowl so that is all I am hearing about.

After cleaning up I go next door to have a delicious fish dinner. I also bought three bags of ice from the market to keep my OJ, milk, string cheese, and water bottles cold.

The room was 250 pesos (=$12.50) and the dinner (with a beer) was 125 pesos (=$6.25) + 75 peso tip (as he was closing but made my dinner anyway). I think Willy Airstream's group an hour earlier had worn him out. He also went to the store to buy my beer and some supplies to make my meal! Otho rocks!

I slept well, and was glad to have the room, it was cold! A family arrived and they were given the room right next door... so I had some kid noise issues, but that didn't last. The parking is inside the courtyard and the gate was closed when I left in the morning.

End of Day 6... 4 more to go!

PHOTOS:


Looking back to San José Comondú from the road heading northwest to La Purísima.


The 18-mile road between the two mission valleys is pretty good now!


Mission aqueduct along the road near San Isidro.






El Pilón


I know how popular seeing my Tacoma in Baja is to you all, LOL!




That's all there is of the mission! Following are some historic photos:


1906


Date: circa 1920?


1926


1949


1956


1956


2001

Some more around the tombs in 2017:






The shade structure is along the street next to the mission site.

More of La Purísima town:





The motel Posada del Angel:







Buenas noches y hasta la mañana!

 

DAY 7 Sunday Feb. 5, 2017

I get an early start from La Purísima, on the road before 8. The gate for the motel courtyard parking was closed, so nice security measure there.

0.0 Comondú road junction, 4.6 miles east from La Purísima (Restaurant Otho)
1.1 Top of switchback grade out of the valley.
6.2 Sign: Los Narranjos
16.8 Ranch and a Km. 31 post
21.0 Road south (was the original road to La Paz before the 1970s) goes to Rancho San Juan and the hike to Comondú Viejo, the original mission location from 1708 to 1736. See below...
32.0 Highway One (at Km. 59+)


Morning at La Purísima Valley.




View from partway up the grade.








This road has not seen maintenance since the bad floods of the past couple of years. 4WD may not be needed, but only trucks and SUVs should use this road. It took me 3 hours driving to go the 37 miles. The final 10 mies are very good, near Hwy. 1.








Bahía Concepción was a welcoming sight!


I went back to La Perla, but this time Serg had two other Canadian camper couples as neighbors. So, I made it four campers and the only American.







Good Night Amigos from La Perla!


Side trip to San Juan/ Comondú Viejo:

0.0 La Purísima Road (11 miles from Hwy. 1/ 26 miles from La Purísima)
0.9 Ranch on right.
1.3 Cattle Guard
2.5 Closed Gate, for cattle control, close behind you.
3.0 Rancho San Cristobal road to right.
4.1 Cattle Guard
4.3 Fork. Go left. Right shows on AAA map to San José Comondú.
Road crosses riverbed and is a bit tough to the ranch.


Looking back at where I just crossed the riverbed, near Rancho San Juan.

6.5 Rancho San Juan, an active goat ranch. You may get some stares as this really is the end of the road, being that it is totally obliterated where it once recrossed the riverbed ahead. Continue ahead, passing baby goat pen.
7.1 Park on the right. Ahead the road ends and there is no easy turnaround. Begin Hike Here. The mission site is just 3/4 mile away. You must cross the riverbed twice. GPS almost mandatory to find the ruins, as they are so heavily overgrown upon.

Photos from the Comondú Viejo sidetrip:


Nearing San Juan.


Just after the road vanishes at the riverbed's edge, I first tried to go up the riverbed. That didn't work out well. I finally found the old road on the opposite side. Where it again comes to the riverbed, I lost the road on the other side... so I began to bushwack and found mission corral walls!









There were so many... but I was seeking the small building that was the padre's quarters. It was near the church, which was made of adobe, and has vanished.






Eureka!


Inside floor area.





It was very hard to get good photos as the brush was so thick. I even crawled on my hands and knees to get this close, getting a cholla spine in my knee and back!

This sort of thing has to be big to you to go through this. To me, to see something that dates back to 1708-1736, in the center of Baja, has got to be appreciated before it vanishes.


Popping out from the mission site, I came to the old road. These rock piles were there... A good marker. Go east from here and slightly north to see the ruins.

I walked north on the old road, it vanishes by the riverbed... go across to the west side and walk it north to the crossing near my truck parking spot.




This was the original dirt road to La Paz, my parents and I drove on, in 1966.


Past photos at Comondú Viejo from Jack Swords, about 16 years ago:









From Howard Gulick, 1956:



Baja is a time machine!

 

DAY 8: Mon. Feb. 6, 2017 La Perla to San Borja

Said my goodbyes to the three Canadian camping families, packed up the camping gear (mainly the air mattress and tent), and left at 9:30.


El Burro


Cocos

Got gas at the south Mulegé Pemex. What should have been about 12 gallons to fill somehow read 14 gallons (converted from liters)! So, I paid over $6 extra... maybe with the added cash, the owner can get his pumps recalibrated??? LOL!!!


Coming into Santa Rosalia with the black sand beach and old harbor.





Had lunch in San Ignacio at the taco stand across from the Pemex station. Last September, the Baja Extreme tour group stopped here and we had some great quesatacos, so I had two of those and I was full! Left at 12:18pm.

The dreaded San Ignacio military inspection was next, and sure enough, they had only one lane open and were making everyone ahead of me get out (apparently Mexicans only today) as when I finally got to the soldier, it was just some questions. None of that picking something off my floor mat and lighting it with a cigarette lighter to claim it was marijuana (as had happened in July 2015 here). [I made sure my floor mat was shaken out when I left camp]

The Vizcaíno Desert was brilliant with flowers!





The state border, and a return to Pacific Standard Time... I get my lost hour back! 2:07pm becomes 1:07pm.







You know technically, the Pemex station at the Eagle Monument is in the northern state of Baja California. Yet, it (we are told) gets fuel from La Paz depot, which means no Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, yet. The only station in Baja California state to not have ULSD. I suppose the logistics being the other Pemex stations are just 2-4 miles away in Guerrero Negro so the same fuel truck takes care of them all.

I am gasoline powered and using 87 octane Magna works great in my 4.0 liter V-6 Tacoma. I fill up at Jesus María (Km. 95+), which is about 20 miles north of the border/ Eagle Monument. 1:26pm

The military checkpoint at El Tomatal junction is at Km. 69, 1:58pm.

As one enters Nuevo Rosarito (Nuevo seems to have been added to the original name so as to not get this piece of heaven confused with Rosarito Beach, near Tijuana? Oh, I like this one better!) There is a sign pointing out the way to Mission San Borja...



It is 22 miles to the mission through beautiful Baja desert country. This road is rougher than the north road and I wouldn't suggest large campers or motorhomes think of using it. Again, a case where the weather has done a number on it the past couple of years. Some trees and bushes are growing into the roadway, too.





I arrive at San Borja to find I am the only outsider there to stay in José's great palapas... Where are all the Canadians?



I arrive at 3:25pm and after visiting with José and his brother (who I followed in from Rosarito part way, then he followed me). With his brother's help, they hope to continue to expand their guest services, maybe even a restaurant with satellite TV!


Camping is 150 pesos (=$7.50) and includes flush toilets (2) and showers (5). José will light a fire under the water heater if you want a hot water shower.



The mission here (founded in 1762) is the furthest north stone church on the peninsula, replacing the adobe churches built by the Franciscans and Jesuits before them. The stone church construction lasted to 1801. The spiral stairway to the roof never got a bell tower, as planned. The Indian die-off from a high of 1,700 here (and more living at various visitas) to just 400 neophytes, spelled an end to the vigorous dreams of a Spanish colony here. By 1816, no more reports came from San Borja as the last resident priest left.



I take a quiet walk around the mission complex, visiting the graveyard and the cool water spring to the east. A warm water sulfur spring is in the orchard, south of the palapas. That water cools and the sulfur odor vanishes (so the books say), so all can drink from it when the other spring dries up in the summer.




















That steel awning was constructed 17 years ago to protect the adobe ruins, behind the stone church.




Some of the ruins not covered have a plaster coating to preserve them.








The cool water spring.




Some of the village that was once here at San Borja.


View west back to the mission. This was a nice walk after so many miles driving!


Future restaurant???







I have a nice fire, make dinner, and sleep well!

End of Day 8.
Tomorrow, Montevideo and Bahía de los Angeles!

 

Always been impressed with the detailed recounts of your Baja trips David.

Just curious, but as a long time traveler to Baja (like myself) aren't you a little worried about the latest influx of Americans going these days? I've never been the one to post much about my Baja experiences because I don't want to "blow up" my favorite locations or make it easier for anyone to go to them, since my favorite part about Baja is the solitude. Lately I've just been noticing SOO many posts of travelers and convoys going down "exploring" places with references to forum posts, instagram, blogs, etc... Just makes my stomach turn a bit. Back in the day we just had maps drawn on napkins with a few KM markers !

 

Thanks for the note SD,

That has been a concern for many, particularly on the Baja forums. However, I have witnessed no such influx of travelers from Baja trip reports, maps, or guidebooks. The number of Americans is near zero the past 8 years. The bad economy, tougher border crossing rules (need a U.S. passport and a Mexican tourist card) or border wait times, and bad press (Fake News) creating crime fears that don't have any basis in reality. Do they warn you about going to Chicago, L.A., or any major city where Americans are killed daily? I won't let someone who has never been to Mexico tell me it is dangerous in Mexico. Where I go, there is no drug deals or drug factories, so police-Narco events are not a concern. Do you camp in the middle of a city where that happens? No!

There were plenty of Canadians this past trip, but very few Americans. As for remote places (as I love those, too), I rarely or never see other American campers... or any campers. Mexico tourism is suffering, at least from Baja American visitors. So many businesses are dead that once thrived. My favorite close to California beach is Shell Island (near Percebu) and I have been talking about it and showing photos of it for the past 17 years since I made my website www.vivabaja.com and it is still vacant when I go there to camp! Baja is big enough for all us Tacoma World and Baja Nomad enthusiasts who want to explore it but not hear each other snore at night. The people of Baja are so cool, too... Where you do find them... be it fish camps, ranchos, taco stands... all great people and they like us and would like more of us, like it was in the 80s to 2000s when Baja was getting a bit busy with Americans. The 2010s have been really dry for tourism from the states.

It is bad roads that keep crowds out. I can show photos of such great places, with maps and road logs, and if the road needs 4WD or deflating tires to use, that filters out 90% of the people who actually will go to Mexico. Bad roads bring good people... If I am camping somewhere remote and another shows up to camp nearby, they will likely become friends as we share a special appreciation for the remote backcountry of Baja.

Shell Island, Km. 26 south of San Felipe, 5 hrs. from San Diego, a panorama from 4th of July week, 2016 (note the crowds):












My trail to fun...


and sea shells and sand dollars...





Pretty cool to have your own beach island on a holiday!

 

DAY 9: Tue. Feb. 7, 2017 San Borja to Montevideo & L.A. Bay

I am packed up and leave the mission palapas at 8:43 am. The road is bumpy and slow-ish for about 11 miles and then is quite good and even fast for the next 11 miles. It is by far the better of the two roads to San Borja, in my opinion, but the road from Rosarito allows a drive through option to not repeat the same road.

There are some of the finest Baja desert gardens you will see, on this road and the side trip to Montevideo. Enjoy the photos! Go there, if you can!

ROAD LOG:
0.0 San Borja
0.8 Junction: Left to Rosarito, ahead to L.A. Bay.
17.6 Fork, left via Agua de Higuera.
18.2 Agua de Higuera (ranch, sulfur water spring)
18.5 Junction with road from 17.6.
20.0 Road right to Montevideo (4WD only), 5.8 miles. Major rock art site.
22.0 L.A. Bay Highway Km. 45. L.A. Bay is 13 miles to the right.




Sign at 0.8 mi.

















SIDE TRIP TO MONTEVIDEO:



All the paintings I photographed are within a hundred feet of the road. Many more can be seen by doing a little more walking and some climbing.


































Boojum Tree (Cirio)


Painted cliff in relation to the road. This is a superior location for older folks or handicapped people to see the magnificent art without hiking or mule riding... Just a 4WD vehicle.


Driving back out to the San Borja road.

2019 Edit: A locked gate was placed on the side road, midway to the rock art site blocking access to Montevideo! We sure hope this doesn't remain!!

I turn right on the pavement and go to Bahía de los Angeles.







This view never gets old!
I get gasoline when I reach town, go to the museum to let Carolina know I made it (she asked me a few days ago if I would drive in to give a PowerPoint lecture about the missions and my book that afternoon, and deliver her more books to sell), get a room at Villa Bahía, and visit with Mary Ann Humfreville.

Hotel Villa Bahía:





The room at the museum filled up (I was surprised at how many), I gave my show with the slides and answered questions. I think Carolina sold all the books after the show?

Afterward many of us, including Mary Ann, 24baja, and bkbend, went to Alejandrina's restaurant for dinner... It was great and dinner, with beers, was only 150 pesos (=US$7.50).

I had wi-fi at the Villa Bahía to keep me on Nomad or reading emails while the generator was running and dogs barking outside my window. I want to thank Roger for his hospitality. The rooms are nice, with a view and a kitchen. Eventually, the generator was stopped and it got quiet. Slept well.

End of Day 9... 1 more to go!

 

Like the Baja Extreme of Sept. 2016 (see https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-baja-extreme-2016.452058/ ), if any of you want to get together and have me lead you, to see these great places, know that my financial needs are the same with 1 person or a dozen people. So, that can make having me as your guide to Baja, relatively inexpensive by getting more people to split the cost. Just pick any days, any destinations, camping, motel'ing, or both. I will design a trip based on your interests and vacation days. My next Baja expedition is in a couple weeks. I hope to travel all the interesting roads and see the coolest beaches, canyons, and other sites in 2017 to provide my friends with the latest travel details. www.vivabaja.com

On Day 10, I visit an abandoned gold mine! Stay Tuned...

 

I need to explore Baja. Dreaming of it for years

 

Go for it!

 

Have you seen the surfing thread?

And I definitely want to make a trip or two south of the border this year. I'll have to make sure I read all about your adventure as well.

 

Here's a video made by one of the Toyota drivers in the Baja Extreme tour: We ate, off roaded, swam, off roaded some more, I got a rock flat, we ate some more, surfing, fishing, fresh oysters, Mexican Independence night fiesta in Bahia Asuncion, sashimi dinner, camp pizza, it was amazing! Can't Get Enough!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAWGzW4bR9Q

 

DAY 10: Wednesday Feb. 8, 2017: L.A. Bay to Home + GOLD MINE

I got an even earlier start for the 475 mile drive home, 7:20 am.
The kilometer markers on the L.A. Bay highway, at various points, are noted in my log book.

Km. 66 Sailboat monument/ traffic circle/ La Gringa road, L.A. Bay.
Km. 65 Pemex gas station
Km. 45 San Borja Road
Km. 38.5 Road north to Bahía Guadalupe and Los Candeleros
Km. 29 (approx. location) El Camino Real crossing.
Km. 18 Road north to Luz de Mexico gold mine (2.9 to 3.5 mi.)
Km. 15.5 Road north through fence meets original L.A. Bay road, in Arroyo Yubay.
Km. 11.5+ Road north to El Desengaño gold mine and Tinaja de Yubay access.
Km. 0 Hwy. 1, (former) Parador Punta Prieta.

Baja Nomad member 'Mothership' but known to us as 'Mando' suggested I would enjoy seeing Luz de Mexico. It is deserted, wide-open, and you might even find some "color" if you poke around.

The road (Km. 18) has white posts on each side with private property written on it. Most of Baja is private property. If they don't want visitors, they have a locked gate or a keep out/ do not enter sign.

Nobody was there, just these guardians along the road near the mine:



There are several shafts, following the gold vein, along a kilometer going west from the first mine shaft. The photos here are all looking down... not sideways. BE CAREFUL... don't bring dogs! I could NOT see the bottom of most of these mines!!!















That was awesome!!!

There is a photo in Walt Petersen's Baja Adventure book taken here... I will post it later.

It is 30 miles on Highway One to the Highway Five junction, at Laguna Chapala.

A few miles before Chapala is a viewpoint looking back south to where I just was, on the Baja Highway!...



Life is a Highway... for me, the Baja Highway is the best, to get us to those interesting places sooner than it took our fathers and grandfathers who had to drive hundreds of miles on dirt roads before 1973 when Highway One was completed.

I got to Chapala at 10:15 am and the 23 dirt miles north towards Gonzaga was easy.
Coco's Corner at 10:44 am.
On the pavement at 11:09 am.
Gonzaga Bay Pemex at 11:22 am.

At the viewpoint parking by La Costilla (Km. 84) I met Lenin Sartillo who rode his bike north from La Paz and was headed for Mexicali. We chatted, and when missions came up, he said he was looking at a book on missions, several days ago. I showed him one of my books, and he said THAT is the book! He was at Pancho's (Bahía San Rafael) and Pancho showed him my book there. Small world... I gave him an autographed copy and wished him well on his trip back home to Mexico City. He has a Facebook page and he made it home.

San Felipe was at 1:47 pm.
I took the toll road to Tecate from south of Mexicali. The three tolls were 73 pesos, 23 pesos, and 67 pesos.
At the Tecate Border at 5:15 pm. NO LINE. Drove right up to the inspector's booth. Asked me a few typical questions and what was in my ice chest. That was it, 10 awesome days in Baja, 1,946 miles, and 0 problems but endless Baja magic and fun!

You should go!
VIVA BAJA

I will be heading back in a week or so, to research another section of Baja and compile my collected data so all of you will have detailed road and location data for 2017.

 

The goal is to travel the roads that we would use to get to destinations and points of interest in Baja then report on the roads and what is there.

Along the way, I will note places we may want to visit. Such as: taco shops, gas stations, hotels, points of interest.

Leaving for the next research trip in a week or so. Weather dictates where I will focus on. I think you guys will like the final product that will come of this work! Until it is created, enjoy the trip reports that will come each month when I return.

These research trips are made possible by the support of the official sponsor of Baja Nomad and a great company, Baja Bound Insurance.

Visiting Baja should be fun, easy, and safe. It is for us and it can be for you. Knowing what is down that road will help you decide to go and plan your own Baja adventure or a relaxing vacation.

These roads have been in guidebooks or on maps, but the auto club stopped map research 10 years ago and the Baja Almanac is nearly 8 years old.

Guidebooks such as The Magnificent Peninsula, The Baja Adventure Book, The Baja Book series and others are all many years old. Time for fresh data and thanks to the Internet, easily revised and expanded.

I hope those of you who like to know more about Baja will enjoy my book, Baja California Land of Missions, now in its third printing: www.oldmissions.com and www.vivabaja.com The publisher offers free U.S. shipping and no added sales tax.

Thank you!

 

Baja Adventures can be real, not just in books!

From the 1987 Baja Adventure Book by Walt Peterson:



2017 (different ladder or different shaft):

 

MY PLEASURE!
Leaving for the next Baja expedition this week!

 

In 2017, this was trip #2 (February)

Here is trip #1 from January: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/baja-2017-recon-trip-east-side-of-baja-norte.468548/
Here is trip #3 from March: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-palm-canyons-chapala-to-san-quintin.480078/

 

Oh wow. In your first picture, that top piece of wood is the the cut out is for a windlass. I have found several of these systems inside mines but never the actual windlass.

you should not enter those shafts. The collars are in loose rock and not fully supported. Any movement will lead to rocks falling down the shaft. There are some stulls in the stopes but not much other support inside. If they haven't come down between the time the mine was abandoned and now, it probably won't collapse when you are in there. But never go alone and maybe never go in Mexico, either. idk