Camp, Jeep and Hike:Laguna Salada, Caņon Palomar & Mano, Sierra Juarez
Leisure combined with extreme driving. Moments of calm mixed with a chance of serious injury or... That was, "Camp, [extreme] Jeep and Hike." On
Saturday, November 23rd our group of three highly-prepared Jeep Wranglers met in Calexico for a challenging run that included days off to go hiking
and relaxing in complete solitude.
On Saturday morning, we searched for Colegio Militar on our way to Hwy 2 and spotted several buildings waiting for the wrecking ball. As we left
town, driving past auto junkyards and farms, we arrived in El Progreso where we topped our tanks and fueled our stomachs on some of the best marinated
and grilled meats that Mexicali has to offer - at Asadero Morlan 2.
Asadero Morlan 2 - Located in Progreso/Mexicali along Hwy 2 near the 7-11 and Pemex Station.
Our group felt that Asadero Morlan exceeded Chronic Taco and Chipotle with their Tortas and tacos that they offer.
The Laguna Salada had recently endured (Nov. 2013) pounding rains that soaked portions of it, turning the Salada into an impassable section of lake
bed road. After a few short minutes, it was decided that we had no other choice than to take the graded road, and change our route - skipping the
1942 Pole Line Road entirely.
The Hwy 2 entrance to the Laguna Salada
We aired our tires down and Vicki disconnected the front swaybar on her Jeep. (Yes, those are new tires on her Jeep - money well spent, IMO)
Victor is the Graphic Designer for the Baja Grande shirt he is wearing. He did a remarkable job and will be approached for the next Baja Grande
shirts and stickers being considered for 2014.
5 minutes later...The Laguna Salada nearly got the best of us! With Jeeps
sliding sideways, and darker patches of mud up ahead, we decided it was prudent to turn around.
Victor's locked and lifted LJ Rubicon after only a few minutes on the Laguna Salada! His Baja MTZ tires are fully packed in with mud!
With our Jeeps packed with salty mud that was hardening, we headed for Corral de Molina and Palomar Canyon.
Vicki and Tim on their way out of the Laguna Salada
The graded dirt road was being used by the 6x6 Military rigs and Guadalupe Canyon tourists. Because it was already 2 PM, we would not reach our
destination until after dark.
The view south of the Sierra Juarez Mtns and the Laguna Salada
I last visited here in 2004 with Neal Johns' Desert Explorer group. Nothing has changed - there were no tourists, and the only residents were located
just one canyon north of here in a prosperous-looking rancho.
Corral de Molina
This was our first time up the road into Palomar Canyon. For those planning a first-time visit, be prepared for rocks, rocks, and more (you guessed
it!)
After reaching our destination, we quickly set up camp and prepared for a leisurely 2 day/2 night stay near our cold stream and hot spring (located
near an abandoned house 10 minutes up an easy hiking trail).
Victor packed additional food from Asadero Morlan 2 - he went crazy with all of the good food he had that day!
Looking to hear the rest Ken... and why no Pole Line Road as it is accessed south of Palomar? The BFGs All Terrains sure don't self clean well...
chocolate donuts indeed!
Originally posted by LaPazGringo
You guys should really try to go more places and have more fun in those Jeeps, Ken!
You said it! The Pole Line Road itself resembles the shape of an upper case 'L' - You can enter along either Jamau or Cohabuzo Junction, but you must
exit via the soggy Laguna Salada. No telling on if we would make it out or not. Military vehicles were not traveling the Laguna Salada - not with
their beefy axles and 53" Michelin tires. Unsure whether or not my 35" BFG KOs would make it out of that salty mud or not.
There is a cool rock house that was constructed and later abandoned. I don't know the history of this canyon, but with all of the construction which
took place, I am sure plenty of people had the idea of inhabiting this high-desert oasis year-round.
Drivers Meeting - Here, we discussed skipping the Pole Line Road, and heading to the South Summit Trail. We made a wrong turn, and took the North
Summit Trail by accident. This made for some hairy moments, but lets focus on the fun we had rockcrawling out of Palomar Canyon. It was a good day!
The upper portion of trail is very tame - kind of like the road in to Guadalupe Canyon.
Arroyo crossings like this one must be done slowly and precisely. A cut oil pan could spell doom for an under-prepared vehicle and its driver on a
hot summer day.
Vicki made short work of this rock garden
Victor's Jeep features the 3.5" Rubicon Express "Super Flex" suspension - perfect for the unimproved roads connecting Baja
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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With Jeeps
sliding sideways, and darker patches of mud up ahead, we decided it was prudent to turn around.
