Ends of the Earth Expedition

Overlanding is really not about “fourwheeling” (in my opinion anyway), though driving in challenging terrain is certainly something I enjoy otherwise.  In reality, vehicle-based adventure travel really requires a more tempered approach to technical terrain, unless your schedule, resources and equipment supports a Camel Trophy style siege on a deserted track.  It becomes more about mechanical sympathy and preserving the resource (your truck or motorcycle) than the challenge of overcoming a difficult obstacle.  The journey and destination are both important; at least more important than any one part or challenge in particular.  When you combine that with the fact that recreational 4wd trails are limited to non-existent in most developing countries, the idea of engaging 4wd in Nicaragua is much different, and a much greater risk than in Utah. But still, fantastic dirt roads abound in many countries, as modern infrastructure has fortunately not yet met the back-of-beyond.

The road from Alamos to El Fuerte is just one of those fantastic dirt roads, linking two ancient colonial pueblos via a dusty corridor first used by Tarahumara (and still used by them) and then Jesuit priests as they built missions all the way to California.  This region was also rich in platina (silver), and is still actively mined today.  

What made this a great dirt road?

Well, it had nothing to do with engaging 4wd (mostly to limit wheel spin), and everything to do with the little ranchos, the smiling and running kids, the beautiful canyons and rugged mesas, the complete lack of traffic - the perfect first dirt road of our trip.