Going in Deep – Copper Canyon

[belizebiker]

Going in Deep – Copper Canyon

OK, I couldn’t resist, I drive buy a globe and travel map store on my way home every day. I have two maps of Mexico and one has good detail, BUT… could I get myself further into trouble buy believing a map with greater detail? I think I can! Sooo… a map of just northern Mexico, Super detail of the canyons of Chihuahua.

My new map shows a road running from the village Batopilas southwest a few miles then west all the way to Hwy 23, which runs into Los Mochis. ?? My other map shows a trail running south from Batopilas, with lots of water crossings before the cost. I think I’m nuts if I believe the new map,(or what?).

Has anyone made it ALL – THE - WAY to the cost? I’m going to try it!

Final bike prep
I read once that the benefits of an adventure begin when the plan is put into action. Well the action really started a week ago. I dug my bike out of two inches of new snow in northern Wisconsin and prepared the gear to go in deep. I carry a tent and sleeping bag, I don’t see how one can really venture deep into Mexico if you restrict yourself by staying within 5 hours of your Motel. Well, any ways I like to camp.



Getting gear ready while watching the bombing of Baghdad


Ready to roll south- I decided to trailer it all the way to New Mexico because of the weather this week. Thaks OK, I like the idea of having my truck and trailer close to the border in case I have bike trouble and need to truck down to retrive it. BUT! that won't happen!

[Infracaninophile]

Yes, you can get to the coast if you're on a dirt bike. On any kind of dual sport or bigger bike it is very tough. There are several river crossings within 1 hour of Batopilas heading west. IMHO, I would not even go down the road to Batopilas with a nice shiny Harley at all. Really. I've been down there on a R1100GS and it was fine, but it's steep and the road varies in quality.

If you like, here is a link to some Copper reports I found on the web.


In this specific case, may I suggest you check out the one entitled "Noemi's Copper Canyon Report". It details some of what you have asked about.

Gulp.

Again, we'll be down there 4/4 - 4/11 so if you see a gang of 4 bikes (1 KLR650, 1 R1100GS, 1 R100GS, and 1 Transalp (ME!)
say hello.
=================================

My personal report from Feb 1998:
http://www.dorje.com:8080/mailing-li...wgs/CCtoc.html

My hero - Doug Ruth - His multi-year exploits on a R100GS throughout South America (a little Mexico content):
http://www.micapeak.com/stories/DougRuth/

Noemi's Copper Canyon Report (Doug's girlfriend) Christmas 94
http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/copper/offroad.html

Planning Stuff:
http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/copper/offroad.html


Tour Guide with info:
http://www.rancholasmercedes.com/coppercanyon1.htm

Report of Rosen's Tours:

http://www.texmoto.com/TexMotoMainAr...reamsPage1.htm

Report:
http://www.championroswell.com/0002coppercanyon.htm

[LVR]

Well, I have to agree with Tom. You may be able to get to Batoiplas but it will be hard on the HD. I would not try to get any further.

LVR

[knary]

You all do remember his trip to Belize, don't you?

Go for it.
Take pics.
Share the story and photos when you get back.



-scott

[belizebiker]

Said knary:
You all do remember his trip to Belize, don't you?

Go for it.
Take pics.
Share the story and photos when you get back.



-scott

Yeah! I sure will. Thanks for the encouragement!

I was hopping for some Harley comments, that's OK ....But
I do enjoy thinking I may be the only person on earth that has ever driven a Harley to places I go.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
Seneca (3 B.C. - 65 A.D.)

[LVR]

If you felt that my comments were negative towards the HD, I did not intend to transmit that impression.

I have 3 and have ridden them essentially all over in North America including many trails and backroads in southern Utah.

Anything is possible if you are willing to pay the price.

Have fun and take extra food, water and gas.

You need to be careful around Batopilas off roading as the "exotic" gardeners defend their territory vigorously, I am told.

LVR

[cRAsH]

Said belizebiker:
Yeah! I sure will. Thanks for the encouragement!

I was hopping for some Harley comments, that's OK ....But
I do enjoy thinking I may be the only person on earth that has ever driven a Harley to places I go.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
Seneca (3 B.C. - 65 A.D.)

Go like the wind, man. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do what you do on a Harley.

Have you ever heard of Dave Barr?

[redseca2]

I have always found how no two maps of Mexico are the same totally charming. Roads come and go, suddenly become paved, only to disappear again.

Towns are even worse because Mexico, even in the boondocks, is a more "urban" society than the USA. Where a 50 mile road between two cities in the USA would be "unincorporated" suburbia or ex-urbia, in Mexico there would be 20 or more place names for clumps of houses and villages. No map can include all those names, so they have to pick and choose. Any two maps you look at will list entirely different places.

You may want to try this link:

http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/int/mexico/mex-topo.htm

They can set you up with INEGI maps, which are the Mexican equivalent to USGS contour maps. Some of these are good, some bad, unfortunately they alllook alike more or less, so you can't tell until you try it out.

[Infracaninophile]

When you get into the state of Chichihua (sp?) you can get good maps for the entire state. When you get to Creel, go to the Mission Store on the main plaza in town (it's right next door to the bank you would use to change $$ into Pesos, etc..). Inside the Mission Store you can get a really nice Copper Canyon map for about $10 pesos or so. I have a copy at home but no good way to reproduce it.

It will show ALL of the cool roads in the area. It won't show the roads all the way to the coast, but Urique, etc.. are in there.

If you'd like to do it on a Harley that's great. I was just trying to say that it might not be EXACTLY the right tool for the job. With the exception of the dirt portion between Creel and Batopilas (about 40 miles) the Harley will be fine as it is all paved. In many of the smaller towns (like La Junta, Creel, etc...) the paving is pretty bad.

The reasons I am taking my Transalp versus my GS is two fold:

1. I won't take anything to Mexico that I'm not willing to lose (theft, accident, whatever) for purely $$$ reasons. A TA is worth $3-4K and I'm willing to lose that much.

2. The Transalp has tires with tubes in them. I've never been to Mexico without someone getting a flat or flats. I'd rather put a new tube in or patch the old one that try to plug a tire. But, that's just my experience.

I am in no way trying to deter you from going, just trying to say that I would not road race with a Transalp and would not go to
Batopilas on an expensive, shiny street bike.

Best,

Tom

[Ostrich]

Hope your trip goes well.

Said cRAsH:
Have you ever heard of Dave Barr?

Thanks for the link.

[Bobxr]

Looks like good fun to me,
Take plenty of photos and good luck

[Motobrandt]

Said tom_vervaeke:
Yes, you can get to the coast if you're on a dirt bike. On any kind of dual sport or bigger bike it is very tough. There are several river crossings within 1 hour of Batopilas heading west. IMHO, I would not even go down the road to Batopilas with a nice shiny Harley at all. Really. I've been down there on a R1100GS and it was fine, but it's steep and the road varies in quality.

Uh Tom,
Please look up this gentleman's other posts.:):
NOTHING WILL STOP HIM!!!!
Have fun BB I wish I was there.

[Streeter]

Just rode this road last month (Feb 2003). It's in pretty good shape. You should be able to make this on a street bike. Much better on a dual sport, but you can make it on a street bike.

Paul Streeter
Shoreview, Minnesota

[belizebiker]

Yes, you can get to the coast if you're on a dirt bike. On any kind of dual sport or bigger bike it is very tough. There are several river crossings within 1 hour of Batopilas heading west. IMHO, I would not even go down the road to Batopilas with a nice shiny Harley at all. Really. I've been down there on a R1100GS and it was fine, but it's steep and the road varies in quality.

Whoooa!
You are correct. I wish I had 400 pounds less bike and 60 pounds less gear. You are all correct, I was out of control and out of my mind.

I was feeling pretty good the first 15 miles of dirt. Not too steep and hard packed. I checked out a lot of side trails on my way down and found some great trail riding. Stayed the night at the end of a trail that dead ended at a downed log, just at the lip of La Bufa canyon. Unreal! One of the best camp spots in the world for sure (accessible by Harley). A two minute hike North revealed another canyon, super.



Scared the heck out of me when a late 70?s green pickup came flying at me out of nowhere. I swear it accelerated. I can't believe we didn't connect! Then the road started turning bad. Fist size rocks on the surface of the road with loose sand, dirt or gravel. A mile or so of this stuff skipping around as slow as I can go with the sound of a 'F' on my face. Then I see it, a road grader. Crap! The grader was going down so it must have stared below, came up then turned around and started back down. The grader backed up so I could pass easy (nice!) but holy man! The MOST unreal ride!


A km. or so past La Bufa....

I will post a full ride report later but THANKS for all the responses, All good stuff.

I DID fail this time but I will be back some day with a real dirt bike to GO IN DEEP.

"It's better to try something and fail then to try nothing and succeed."
?

[Infracaninophile]

Belize;

Missed seeing you. Our group of 4 made it down to Batopilas on Tuesday 4/8. Left Creel in the morning and had a blast riding the pavement and then the dirt. Spent two nights in Batopilas at the Hotel Juanita (great great place, $30/night for 2 folks in a great room). I thought the road down and back wasn't too bad this time. We rode out to the cool mission at Satevo and spent an entire afternoon there.

We skinnydipped at the big bridge right before La Bufa. Nice cool water and we didn't care if all the mountain bikers saw our shiy white asses down below!

Batopilas was buzzing with motorbikes and we had a great time down there. Lots of good places to eat, shop, relax, drink, etc.. I'll have photos in a few days along with the photos from my 3 fellow riders. They will get posted to a web page and I'll provide a link.

The airhead GS with us had to get his Givi rack welded and there was no problem finding a welder and getting it fixed. Pretty cool.

Wished we had seen you..

Best,

Tom