BajaNomad - Baja Pole Line Road: Moto takes recent GoPro video atop Neal John's "Bad Hill!"

Baja Pole Line Road: Moto takes recent GoPro video atop Neal John's "Bad Hill!"

Ken Cooke - 5-24-2017 at 05:07 PM

This route took an absolute beating! My short wheelbase TJ Rubicon on 35's was hopelessly stuck while traveling downhill! At minute 1:55 is where I high-centered. At minute 3:50, the Moto gets second thoughts!! :lol:

Here's the Baja Pole Line Road in all it's glory!! :wow:

David K - 5-24-2017 at 05:33 PM

I wonder where he got the idea it was a telegraph road?
Earlier, when I replied to this on Facebook I was looking at it on my phone... while it still doesn't quite seem to be Bad Hill, as I can't believe it rained so so much this last winter to wash so much dirt away that hasn't washed away in the previous 73 years... that not only could we all drive it, but also pull that Ford Bronco down that, just 2 years ago!

One thing that was clearly visible from the top of the grade was Borrego Mountain, and I don't see it on the helmet cam... but he is looking down mostly.

David K - 5-24-2017 at 05:36 PM

Too bad he didn't show the most cool part from the top of 'Bad Hill' (or what I call 'Pole Mesa'...

ehall - 5-24-2017 at 07:45 PM

At 5:09 is where I stopped and took pics in january.

ehall - 5-24-2017 at 07:57 PM

At 3:57 you can see me sitting broadside on my bike. This was my buddy Brian filming. He went up and came back.

bajatrailrider - 5-24-2017 at 09:23 PM

Ed would you do that rock garden again?

motoged - 5-25-2017 at 12:35 AM

A good run ! :coolup:

ehall - 5-25-2017 at 04:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Ed would you do that rock garden again?

Only if it was a loop. We were on our way home and only stopped to ride a few hours. It would be a good ride to continue up el mano and over to valle t

kevin_in_idaho - 5-25-2017 at 04:52 AM

Wow. No thanks. There's some serious blowouts (water) on that road. I can't imagine anyone would try that anymore.

ehall - 5-25-2017 at 05:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Ed would you do that rock garden again?

For sure give it a shot in the jeep. Probably one of the few places I prefer the jeep over the bike , besides sand and silt. Lol.

David K - 5-25-2017 at 06:24 AM

So, being a friend of yours, please school him it was a telephone line between Ensenada and San Felipe to communicate with our radar station. :light:

ehall - 5-25-2017 at 07:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

So, being a friend of yours, please school him it was a telephone line between Ensenada and San Felipe to communicate with our radar station. :light:

Haha. I will let him know. Not a telegraph.

David K - 5-25-2017 at 08:01 AM

:light:

bajatrailrider - 5-25-2017 at 09:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Ed would you do that rock garden again?

Only if it was a loop. We were on our way home and only stopped to ride a few hours. It would be a good ride to continue up el mano and over to valle t

If you do loop ride Count me in but I wont ride my 450. I will take the little 250 for the rocks looks nasty.

Mexitron - 5-25-2017 at 11:16 AM

Wow, that's in a lot worse shape than our run a few years ago. David, probably a big thunderstorm did that--sometimes they just sit in one spot and pour (after living in Texas for some time I'm a bit familiar with them, I remember one parked itself over Marble Falls, TX and rained 19 inches in 24 hours. The Pedernales River downstream had hundred year old Bald Cypresses torn up and debris 30 feet high in the trees that survived).

PaulW - 5-26-2017 at 06:46 AM

Do you think the moto made it to/past the place where Ken hi centered?

Ken Cooke - 5-26-2017 at 01:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Do you think the moto made it to/past the place where Ken hi centered?

The place where I high-centered was at 1:24 in the video. The section that you had rebuilt was at the first corner.

PaulW - 5-26-2017 at 02:54 PM

I was thinking 1:44
Thanks

Emerson - 10-4-2017 at 06:52 AM

Well, Im traveling up from La Ventana thru PLR and the Summit/Jamau on the 14th, thats gonna be interesting.

ehall - 10-4-2017 at 09:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Emerson

Well, Im traveling up from La Ventana thru PLR and the Summit/Jamau on the 14th, thats gonna be interesting.

What are you driving?

TMW - 10-4-2017 at 09:08 AM

That should be interesting. Let us know how it is. Have fun and stay safe.

David K - 10-4-2017 at 09:58 AM

Ed, Emerson has a late model Toyota Land Cruiser (wagon)... should he not get back here (or correct me if his ride has changed).

ehall - 10-4-2017 at 12:10 PM

Thanks DK. He should have an interesting story if he makes it up the hill.

[Edited on 10-4-2017 by ehall]

TMW - 10-4-2017 at 01:06 PM

His Land Cruiser works pretty good. He has a locker front and rear if I remember right.

PaulW - 10-4-2017 at 01:07 PM

Sad that with all this publicity the rancher probably will make passage really tough. Time will tell if he sees all the chatter.

PaulW - 10-4-2017 at 01:20 PM

Emerson,
I thought we clearly reported that the track from the bottom of the race summit (Locally called Jamau summit) at Arroyo Siaz is blocked from travel east or west along the Pole Line Road.
So for my planning I think a trip from La Ventana to the fence and gate can be done out and back. That will be my plan for future trips. I definitely do not want to encounter the rancher. Fuel will be an issue for that trip.
No known trips to verify that the other two gates are functional between Jamau and Arroyo Grande? Wont be able to verify before your trip.

David K - 10-4-2017 at 03:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Emerson,
I thought we clearly reported that the track from the bottom of the race summit (Locally called Jamau summit) at Arroyo Siaz is blocked from travel east or west along the Pole Line Road.
So for my planning I think a trip from La Ventana to the fence and gate can be done out and back. That will be my plan for future trips. I definitely do not want to encounter the rancher. Fuel will be an issue for that trip.
No known trips to verify that the other two gates are functional between Jamau and Arroyo Grande? Wont be able to verify before your trip.

I thought it was determined we could use the road from the white water tank area north to bypass the unfriendly rancher and his gate?

PaulW - 10-4-2017 at 06:07 PM

Agree and no passage into Siaz
As I said so far none of the other gates have been in use to prevent access to the white tank area from the east and then to the lock gate.
Of course no permission has ever been addressed for any of the road on the ranchers property.
My main point is we should not expect to get to the summit from the east.
======== ====

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

I thought it was determined we could use the road from the white water tank area north to bypass the unfriendly rancher and his gate?

Emerson - 10-5-2017 at 06:42 AM

Im leading a group of 8 Land Cruisers, my ride is a '97 with front/rear lockers.

PaulW - 10-5-2017 at 07:05 AM

David, The route north from white tank to enter Arroyo El Siaz is blocked with a large cable fence (also an unlocked fence gate). Thus there is no longer a route to enter or leave Pole line road at the west end. Destruction of the locked gate or the cable fence is the only option for passage.
As I said - out and back from the east is still possible with a turn around at these barriers.
The rancher has gone to a lot of trouble and expense to keep travelers from entering his ranch at the west end.
According to accounts relayed to me 2nd hand the issue is cattle rustling and many of the ranchers have been given subsidy to add the fences and locked gates. We are seeing many of our traditional tracks in the region now with fences and gates. Mostly so far they are mostly not locked. Many places the fence would cross the old roads with no gate.
===== =

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Agree and no passage into Siaz
As I said so far none of the other gates have been in use to prevent access to the white tank area from the east and then to the lock gate.
Of course no permission has ever been addressed for any of the road on the ranchers property.
My main point is we should not expect to get to the summit from the east.
======== ====

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

I thought it was determined we could use the road from the white water tank area north to bypass the unfriendly rancher and his gate?

TMW - 10-5-2017 at 08:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Paul are you saying the rancher put in another gate to prevent going up the summit from the east?

When Roy, Emerson and I were there in June 2015 there was a wire gate on the south or left side of the road not far from the locked metal gate that went to the PLR with the road to the north or right side going up the summit. This is coming from the east by way of Cohabuso jct.

June 2015

David K - 10-5-2017 at 10:45 AM

I guess saying that it was the Americans who built that road in 1942 to warn of a Japanese attack from the south doesn't help! We are driving Japanese 4x4s, after all! LOL

I would think the white water tank is so far east of the ranch, near the summit, the road north (from the tank) to Laguna Salada would not be on his land?

Emerson - 10-6-2017 at 07:10 AM

Im pretty sure that going thru the bypass is OK, I hope!

My real concern is going up that "bad hill", looks tricky and probably theres no winch points in case of a emergency; im hoping for the terrain to be packed and solid in order to gain traction, if by any chance they are loose rocks and loose gravel, thats going to be really fun to conquer.

Now, up in Jamau, Im still assuming the gates remain unlocked for MX3 road.

I guess we will find out.

-Emerson

PaulW - 10-6-2017 at 07:41 AM

Bad hill descriptions have been exaggerated. A moto going up that hill is a lot different than a 4x4. Your rigs will have no issue on the bad hill when going west to east. Just go left and drive around the bad place when you find the missing road. We had an unlifted Tacoma that went down the hill. The worst thing would be that you may have to stack rocks to avoid deep holes. Going up that hill is more difficult and your rigs will do that just fine if you were to go that way.

Prepare to deal with the cable fence or just turn around.

Do you know which track to use past the summit toward the PLR?
If not there are tracks that should be avoided. Send me a private message with your email and I will fill you in.
====== ==

Quote: Originally posted by Emerson

Im pretty sure that going thru the bypass is OK, I hope!

My real concern is going up that "bad hill", looks tricky and probably theres no winch points in case of a emergency; im hoping for the terrain to be packed and solid in order to gain traction, if by any chance they are loose rocks and loose gravel, thats going to be really fun to conquer.

Now, up in Jamau, Im still assuming the gates remain unlocked for MX3 road.

I guess we will find out.

-Emerson

Ken Cooke - 10-15-2017 at 11:08 AM

The Animals 4x4 Club completed the Pole Line Road by bypassing the locked gate at Arroyo Saiz by driving down the section of trail just feet away from the locked gate.

On a side note, in the mid 2000's I once took a wrong turn and stopped at the ranchers home. We turned our Jeeps instead of stopping because they looked so angry and unwelcoming.

PaulW - 10-15-2017 at 01:11 PM

Yes we saw the Animals report with pictures wher they winched up/down the steep bank.

Emerson - 10-16-2017 at 11:54 AM

Just to report we made it back.

Here are the highlights:

1.- The "Bad Hill" was not actually bad; the one that was REALLY bad is another section probably a mile before the waypoint I had, so either I had a wrong waypoint or another hill became "bad"; I promise you pictures once I get up to date in work, I can say now its really steep, rocky and with a tight turn left while going up.

2.- The off camber exit from the arroyo is still bad but passable.

3.- Basketball hill looks the same.

4.- The arroyo after basketball hill was a pain to travel, rocks everywhere, really slow and tiresome, exiting this portion was tough since the exit is not visible anymore, needed to walk around to find it. As far as I remember, it was not like this before.

5.- The rest of the road was relatively good, really dense vegetation on the desert all the way thru the White water tank and Huatamote junction.

6.- Bypass down to the arroyo was OK with the cable fence in the arroyo bed on the floor.

7.- Jamau grade/Summit was harder than before, somehow expected, we took the hard parts, avoided the easy loop, fun at the end, lots of wheel spin for the non locked members, hitting the diffs was unavoidable since track is really rutted from rains and continuos tire spinning on the last section that was really steep and narrow.

8.- Slept on the cowboy shack on the Jamau summit

9.- On Sunday we took the track down to Heroes de la Independencia thru the upper road (west); road in really good conditions.

10.- Overall a fun trip, the rigs performed really well taking in mind the extreme terrain - No winching or extraction was required.

Pictures will come later.

-Emerson.

TMW - 10-16-2017 at 12:57 PM

Sounds like a great trip, glad everyone came thru OK. thanks.

David K - 10-16-2017 at 01:26 PM

That sound great Emerson! I look forward to the pics...

The roads south of Mike's Sky Rancho are all shot per what little I saw and more from area residents (Rancho El Coyote, etc.). Rancho La Joya and the former Dark Skys Inn (Rancho La Concepcion) are almost impossible to get to or make a loop drive through, to Mike's or El Coyote, I was told. I got just 3.7 miles east from El Coyote where I turned back.

PaulW - 10-16-2017 at 04:29 PM

Way to go Emerson
More details please

bajatrailrider - 10-21-2017 at 07:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

That sound great Emerson! I look forward to the pics...

The roads south of Mike's Sky Rancho are all shot per what little I saw and more from area residents (Rancho El Coyote, etc.). Rancho La Joya and the former Dark Skys Inn (Rancho La Concepcion) are almost impossible to get to or make a loop drive through, to Mike's or El Coyote, I was told. I got just 3.7 miles east from El Coyote where I turned back.

David you are correct as I do lots of moto riding up there. The run up or down Rancho La Joya is great run on moto or side by side. I don't think I would take my 4x4 up or down that route but in a jeep yes. If any moto Nomads want to ride trails. I will haul my airstream to Coyotes Nov 12/13/14. Will be riding all routes I know just make sure you can ride the hard stuff If you join up.

bajatrailrider - 10-21-2017 at 07:56 AM

Sorry I forgot to ask so the pole line trip I think I did with you guys in 2015. Same route still doable brush whacking new route around cable gate in canyon where we camped.

Ken Cooke - 10-21-2017 at 09:17 AM

The biggest change is a cable gate at Arroyo El Saiz. The cable CAN BE REMOVED and/or LOWERED but must be put back into position after removal/lowering. :light:

It does not need to be dug out nor knocked down. :!: