FYI- BAJA NORTE VIOLENCE.

[onemanarmy]

Release a virus that kills millions
spread deadly chemicals around the world
actively steal billions worth of IP
enslave millions
actilvely speaks of taking out its enemies everywhere
conning poor and corrupt African countries out of everything they own
damming, clearcutting, digging, dumping, polluting all they want

without one single hand slap, infact all the trade contracts are renewed every year!

nuts!

 

[mep1811]

The truth that people are scared of admitting is that Mexico is a Narco State and has been for over 20 years.
There are very few good guys but mostly bad guys and that includes the military and the police.
Along with the lawlessness associated the Narco state are criminal non drug-related criminal activities by actors who know nothing will happen to them due to the lawlessness.

Of course people will have their feelings hurt because of these truths, but I know about these things.

 

[rruff]

Well that is a "no brainer"... CHINA ( the country that considers the USA as it's #1 ENEMY)!

Our oligarchs have been in cahoots with their oligarchs for a long time. That's why we let our manufacturing and infrastructure die and took China from a 3rd world backwater to what it is today. All the people who matter got rich off this deal. Hard to tell what the future will bring, though...

 

[rruff]

Indeed, so many possibilities ...

Well, that's the current state of the "people who don't matter"... I don't expect that to improve... rather it will get much worse.

 

[1stDeuce]

My wife and I visited Baja for two weeks in 2016 (I think...). We took the advice of a few people we met at OE... Cross the border and go one day south as quickly as possible without stopping for anything if you can. We were told to get to San Filipe (AKA Saint Phillip because there are a LOT of Americans there...) and get groceries, gas, etc there and not before. It worked out fine. I think coming south from the Pacific coast is a bit more sketchy...

We were told that remote camping well out of sight and off established trails was generally safe, but it was much better to stay in campgrounds where others were present.

We took 5 south to 1 and then that south to Mulege and returned over two weeks. We camped twice on the pacific, at a nice sand beach west of Villa Jesus Maria, and near a whale watching outfit somewhere near BAhia Asuncion... We did have two bigger dogs with us, which were always the main attraction at checkpoints. (one guy would draw the short straw and have to "search" the truck and camper while the rest of them petted the dogs...)

I was careful to lock things up always, and we locked the camper door at night. We even went as far as to put in a slider window between the camper and truck, figuring if things got sketchy in the middle of the night, we would just crawl through, light the fires and go.

I think we would still like to go again. I do not think there is a heavy drug trade in Baja, at least as compared to mainland Mexico...
??

 

[rruff]

I think we would still like to go again. I do not think there is a heavy drug trade in Baja, at least as compared to mainland Mexico...
??

I think there is now.

 

[gator70]

I spoke with a Mexican national. He said the boats with the drugs come into the pacific shore south of Ensenada. And are transported inland, then across the USA border. Most of these drugs come from outside Mexico.

This activity is not going on on hwy 5

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Maybe we should tell someone, Dea, LE, HS, they'd probably like to know. \s on

 

[rruff]

This activity is not going on on hwy 5

I prefer the east side in winter... but there was definitely drug trafficking going on there way back in the 90s, when I was camped on the east side of the Bahia Concepcion. This was according to the "bored teenagers with machine guns" (Federales). I guess that is further south, Hwy 1.

I doubt any area is "excluded" unless the cartels have an arrangement with local authorities that gives them a free pass in one area and not another. Which is certainly possible...

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

But wait a minute guys! We all do have "COOL" I phones because of our relationship with China!

But I thought it was North Korea....

 

[FrenchieXJ]

I am late to the party! It is nice that people are not going to be crowding the places, I go in Mexico, Baja and Mainland.

I think much of what Greg has said here is what I have said for years. Buy a box of common sense and bring it with you will help.

I have been down to Copper Canyon and Baja many times since I left the forum., in the last 2+ years. If you know how to act and use common sense you will be fine. Going with a person who knows the area and has a cool head will make you feel more relaxed.

Frenchie

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

I am late to the party! It is nice that people are not going to be crowding the places, I go in Mexico, Baja and Mainland.

I think much of what Greg has said here is what I have said for years. Buy a box of common sense and bring it with you will help.

I have been down to Copper Canyon and Baja many times since I left the forum., in the last 2+ years. If you know how to act and use common sense you will be fine. Going with a person who knows the area and has a cool head will make you feel more relaxed.

Frenchie

You have been to Copper Canyon SOLO?

 

[FrenchieXJ]

You have been to Copper Canyon SOLO?

Yes 4 trips solo (*1) and to 8 or 9 with one other vehicle with friends. In the last 40 years I have made around 100 trips total. When I was working I would do trips at least 5 trips per year. I had 1-12 day trip, 2-14 day trips, 1-15 day trip and 1-18 day trip.

My solo trips were for a specific purpose. I would do what I needed to do and go home.

I was going through my filling cabinet a couple of months ago and found my list for the full year. I do not remember if I kept it or tossed it out. It was at least 12 years old. It had everything for the whole year. The classes, Baja adventures , Mainland adventures and U.S. adventures

I would do some back to back trips. I would say good by to one group then with a day rest I would pick up the next group and go back down.

I have some stories that I may post up about the Copper Canyon trips.

(*1) = 1 vehicle With 2 time with only me and 2 times with a passenger riding in my vehicle.

Frenchie

 

[FrenchieXJ]

I did some checking and I found some hard copies of some years; 1999 (4), 2003 (5), 2004 (6), 2005 (6), 2007 (5) and 2008 (6). I was very surprised I had any still in the filing cabinet, I thought I cleaned most of it out when we moved. I know that I had to keep some of these for 7 years for tax reasons.

I also had the Expedition de Mexico which was a 21 days that included Copper Canyon. That was once a year.

As with all of my adventures when I would add a new trip or make major change, I would scout it out. When I had what I thought was a finished product. I would invite friends to go with me and critique my presentation and the whole adventure . They would fill out the questioners daily and then at the end a overall thoughts.. I would see what I need to change or adjust. This was before taking paid clients on the adventures. These and my personal trips were not on the calendars.

Back in the working days crossing the border was a breeze. I had my Mexican insurance for the year. I had my FM-3 Work Permit (This is in place of the Tourist Permit) and with the FM-3, I got my TIP for 365 days. The first trip with the new FM-3, I would have to check in get it stamped and get the TIP.

Frenchie