Sierra Madre - battle site expedition

[BajaTaco]

Hi everyone, I'm back across the line and settling into the groove here. Thanks for all of the comments. KC, I like the words you wrote in your post. Well, as I mentioned in an email I just sent to my Overland Journal companeros, it was another priceless adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life. I was once again humbled by mankind and nature. After the last little town we passed through, it was 63 miles of dirt track into the mountains, much of it 4WD and 4-LO. We camped right on a river at a spectacular little primitive ranchero, and I met a family that I would now consider friends for life. From the ranch, we rode horseback further into the wilderness. The trail was amazing and rough, and we had to walk the horses many times. Eventually, we tied the horses and hiked on foot. Regarding the search for the battle site, many things conspired against our efforts (including me screwing up my foot and ankle, which now represents a wonderful palette of colors!), so we are determined to go back and finish the quest. Life in the sierras is full of ups and downs (literally). A drug smuggling plane wreck, broken shock mounts, Bacanora right from the source (and sipped along with the man who made it), homemade chiltipine salsa, pictographs, old graves with iron crosses, warm showers with spring water, and a snow-white hawk are a few things that come to mind... ahhhh... it was a grand adventure.

A few pics coming up...

 

[BajaTaco]

1. Sunlight through smoke from the cooking fire we had in an old line shack used by vaqueros on cattle drive.

2 & 3. Examples of the dirt tracks along the way.

 

[BajaTaco]

1. One of the rivers
2. Example of terrain covered on horseback
3. Hanging out at camp

 

[BajaTaco]

Our buddy George and a visitor to our campfire.

 

[BajaTaco]

Just came out of the Madres. I was looking for sites to do with Pascal a Villa Lt .
Good luck enjoy

Thanks, I'd love to hear more about your travels.

 

[Hltoppr]

I've found that truly, to use the words of Dan Eldon: "the journey is the destination." The times I've not found what I intended are now the most memorable experiences.

Bummer about the ankle...I've been there...many times...

...so, which med kit did you have on you?

-H-

 

[BajaTaco]

I've found that truly, to use the words of Dan Eldon: "the journey is the destination." The times I've not found what I intended are now the most memorable experiences.

Bummer about the ankle...I've been there...many times...

...so, which med kit did you have on you?

-H-

Thanks Andrew. I had the Carey & Company Basecamp medical kit with me on the trip. I was getting off my horse and there were some loose rocks hidden in the tall grass. All of my weight (including my F-stop backpack and camera gear) came down on a rock that rolled beneath my foot. After laying on the ground in pain for a few agonizing moments, I was relieved to learn that I could still put enough weight on it to hobble around. I finished the day out hobbling and scrambling around, hunting for historic evidence among the landscape and shooting photos. When I got back to camp I soaked my foot in the river and stayed off of it the following day. I was back on the horse the day after that and ended up doing some pretty substantial hiking (albeit slowly) using a staff fashioned from a stout branch.

 

[kcowyo]

I was back on the horse the day after that and ended up doing some pretty substantial hiking (albeit slowly) using a staff fashioned from a stout branch.

Sounds like you had a good ride, cowboy.

Way to cowboy up! :clapsmile

 

[BajaTaco]

Thanks KC

I haven't addressed a couple of comments regarding the RTT...

Very cool addition. So what make you break and get the RTT?

Chris- We've never met but I'm a fan of your Tacoma. One thing I couldn't figure out was why you were still sleeping on your (very cool) platform and not in a RTT. Looks like you made a perfect addition to a GREAT rig.

Thanks guys. I've used my cargo/sleeping deck arrangement for countless trips over the years and it has served me well. Like most anything related to overlanding modifications, it has its merits and its downsides too. I've had the RTT for quite a while now but I've just been too busy to make the necessary changes to the truck and install it. Both setups have their pros and cons, and after spending many, many nights in RTT's in the past few years on other vehicles and trailers, I decided it was a good time to run one on my Tacoma for something a little different. I'll be sure to post up a thread with more details and comparison of the two systems eventually. Right now I have a lot of work to get caught up on.

:REExeSquatsHL1:

 

[Ursidae69]

This is the kind of trip where I would have a tough time coming home. I could totally call an area like that home. Thanks again for the pictures and stories Chris. :bowdown:

 

[Redline]

1. Sunlight through smoke from the cooking fire we had in an old line shack used by vaqueros on cattle drive.

I LOVE this photo.

 

[p1michaud]

Trips, photos and RTT...

I'll be sure to post up a thread with more details and comparison of the two systems eventually. Right now I have a lot of work to get caught up on.

Chris,
Amazing photos as usual. Sounds like you had a superb trip. Too bad about your ankle.

I'm looking forward to reading your comments and comparisons between the sleeping platform and RTT. I'm especially interested to hear your thoughts on handling/vehicle behaviour comparisons when you do post.

Back to work!
Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[Desertdude]

Thanks for taking the time to post those great photos and write a bit about your experience.

Cowboy Amazing :bowdown:

 

[fjcruzn]

Chris,

As usual, great photos!

My only complaint is that you showed your rig and not my expedition FJ!!! ha ha

Great photo's even if one of them was of me!!!

I look forward to part II of our adventure! I'll have a RTT next trip too!!!

dale

 

[RIDGE]

Awesome trip! Were the trails illegal to drive on or did you not want to damage your cool rig? I know you had to walk the horses at times, just wondering about the terrain.

I have issues with walking long distances and it would be cool if I could somehow get a real capable 4X4 to those places.

Chris