We drove south from San Diego to La Paz on September 19th, following the passage of Hurricane John. The effects of the rain were evident from the turn of to Punta Abreojos South, the desert is amazingly green. About 5 miles south of Vizcaino there is road work and resurfacing for about 7 miles. Vado Lester, 48K north of Santa Rosalia the road is washed out very badly. All the way down Cerro del Infierno there are rocks slides into the road. Once you enter Santa Rosalia, take it slow, there are washes into the road from many side roads and vados.

In the entire coastal section from Santa Rosalia to north of Insurgentes we recommend NO night driving. There are severe washouts in many vados, and chunks missing from the side of the road that you could not possibly see at night. Road repairs are going on throughout this section of highway and you may come upon slow moving trucks and work crews with little warning. Watch for orange and orange/black precaution signs – they mean it!

There are rocks slides all along the road from north of Santa Rosalia all the way south to the pass through the mountains north of CD Insergentes. The size of these rocks ranges from tire poppers to car stoppers. Also beware drivers in the opposite lane dodging problems in their lane,

Hwy 1 through Mulege was all right. From the bridge you can see down into the river bottom, the area was decimated.

North of Santispac the bridge is washed out and in the middle of being repaired. Slow down and beware. Watch for the signs. South of El Coyote Trailer park at the bottom of the hill the road is washed out. This one isn’t well marked so watch out. About 2km further south the problem repeats itself, another big washout.

South of El Requeson there are lots of rocks slides but they all seemed to be out of the roadway.

There are many washouts south of Mulege that are poorly marked watch for the orange and black striped markers and SLOW DOWN. (Insider Tip: Also watch for white painted rocks on the shoulder, when out of hwy cones, crews revert to this older form of Baja road communication) We saw some markers in the north bound lane that had been tipped over, hard to see them that way when the wind or a passing truck knocks them over.

There are bad washouts that were not well marked at 32km, 25km, and 16km north of Loreto. These are some pretty serious washouts and you come upon them very quickly. The rest of the way into Loreto there were lots of small washouts that were not well marked.

Leaving Loreto there are several major washouts and men and equipment in the roadway, making the repairs. There is a very big rock slide at the scenic overlook south of Loreto. There are three more washouts before Nopolo and three more before the Puerto Escondido turnoff.

After Ligui there is one bad washout that is not marked. Again, 65km, 46km and 16km there are washouts, four bad ones in all on the way to CD Insergentes.

South of Constitucion the road is washed out at Santa Rita. (for those of you who travel the hwy often, you know this area seems to wash out when we have a heavy dew)

About 112km north of La Paz there is bridge work, down to one lane. 103km north of La Paz and arroyo washed out the roadway and again 77km north of La Paz.

From there into La Paz it was pretty clear sailing. The entire roadway would be considered passable, with a few rough patches and detours along the way. Again, we stress avoid driving at night. The animals are finding the new grass growth along the roadside very attractive. In the evening they are often looking for water in the flooded vados and despite the infinite amount of desert where they could graze and drink safely they seem to find the roadside of particular interest.

TJ to La Paz

I just arrived September 21 after a three day trip down to La Paz from Los Angeles. We crossed the border at Tecate. There was no line and I got the green light. After a night in Ensenada, we had a very pleasant ride to Guerrero Negro where we spent the second night. The following day, there were no problems at all getting to La Paz before dark. The landscape was extremely green and even damp looking. Many, many vados had patches of dirt or dirt and rock at the very lowest point. One had to slow down at the approach of each vado until one saw if it was all pavement or it was dirt and rock. Three small detours went around areas of road or small bridge that was being repaired.

11AM 09/06 From El Sargento

We have received reports that many places in the road to La Ventana have been heavily damaged and the road MAY be impassible. We are waiting on further word and photos.

Baja Road Report 09/05/06

We just got to San Jose del Cabo after a drive down from San Diego. Don't make this trip unless you absolutely have to. There are rock slides and washouts everywhere from Santa Rosalia south. (and one major rockslide north of S.R.) It looks as if Santa Rosalia has major damage from mud and rockslides, although Rt. 1 is passable through town. The square is covered with feet of mud and the benches are torn up and scattered on top...possibly 5 ft. high.>From there to Mulege the road is a mess and very slow going. Trailer trucks are stopped everywhere and the majority of vehicles getting through are SUV's and light trucks. Occasionally a small car will make it, but with a push now and then over some of the rock piles. Every vado is washed out, with only makeshift detours. We saw only one place where repairs were being made by a lone front-loader. Mulege was dark and filled with trucks, so we just drove through to Loreto. That trip was harrowing in the dark, but a few of the washouts had been marked, and cars kept an eye on each other. We also found soldiers at one point who hopped out of a truck to put up a better barracade at a washout. We got the last room in a little hotel in Loreto, and this morning the drive was much easier. There was more evidence of work being done on the roads, and much more equipment and manpower in use. After Ciudad Constitución there was no highway damage until the road from Todos Santos to Cabo, where there were a couple of small washouts. The amazing thing was that yesterday no one knew anything about the condition of the roads in front of us. Only one soldier at a checkpoint warned us of the rockslide before Santa Rosalia; other than that no police officer, soldier, or gas station attendant had any idea if we could get through or not. It was only the fact that cars were driving toward us on the roads that led us to think we might get through. This morning in Ciudad Constitución a station attendant told us the road to La Paz was passable.Fortunately, trucks are getting through from La Paz south. I don't know how long it will be before Mulege is going to get supplies, there are just so many places that are impassable for trucks on both sides of the city.Pray for all of the road workers, electrical line workers, police, and soldiers. They are so overworked and the job ahead is huge. They are earning their pay this week.