March 14, 2017: Copper Canyon Expedition Team

It has been 35 days since I left Canada in the snow and ice. This past week I have been in Copper Canyon, Mainland Mexico. I took the TMC ferry from La Paz, Baja to Topolobampo on the mainland of Mexico. I met Matt & Stephanie from Switzerland with their 2013 Landcover Defender 110 all kitted out Overland style. They had plans to do the offroad section in Copper Canyon as well. Seeing as Copper Canyon is known to be remote with very few tourists that tour the southern section, we decided to team up together. Meet the “Copper Canyon Expedition Team” 😉

We took the route from South to North: Topolobampo -> Los Mochis -> El Fuerte -> Tubares -> Batopilas -> Unique -> Creel -> Basaseachi. This route had approximately 200 + km’s of offroad. The Defender had no issues running this at all. The R1200GS was to big to run this. I didn’t have any offs, but came close on too many occasions 😉 The pictures are a compilation of Matts SLR, Steph’s camera, and my camera so the order is out of wack.

For anyone planning on riding or 4×4’ing this route, I say absolutely do it. the only area that we were uncomfortable was in Basaseachi where it’s the most touristy. All of the remote areas and towns, the locals were very hospitable and kind. In Tubares, we camped for free right in the middle of the Plaza beside the Elementary School. The views are unbelievable and the switchbacks are a plenty. Since this is easily compared to the Grand Canyon, we actually got to go to the bottom and climb back to the top of this canyon I think about 6 times. You would not be able to ride or 4×4 the Grand Canyon. It is very cool that Mexico keeps these roads open to drive.

Huge thanks to Matt & Steph for teaming up with me, I am very proud that we did this without any breakdowns, crashes, flats, or anyone getting hurt.

Matt, Stephanie and I split our ways yesterday, they are heading towards Argentina as well, but moving much slower than I. If you want to check out their blog, it is: www.encamino-encasa.jimbo.com