The Baja Pole Line Road - Dec. '05

Trip #3 along the Baja Pole Line Road was both hardcore, and relaxing. Our group of 5 Jeeps and 1 Ford Explorer started at the sandy salt-flats of the Laguna Salada. Avoiding the jolting washboard which leads to Guadalupe Canyon was our objective. A real nice kid named 'German' and his friends drove up in a stock Volkswagon Bug. Being a fan of 1600cc Bugs, German wanted to visit with our group, and follow us to Guadalupe Cyn. "No Problem...Follow us!" I told German, and we were off to the Canyon.

Once arrive at Guadalupe Canyon, we were greeted by an uncharacteristic amount of confusion and tension as Canyonman Rob met our group, and told us our camp assignment had suddenly changed. Family members of Arturo Loya's followed our group, and immediately demanded our reservations form that had been printed out on computer. It was later explained to us that proof of reservations were required in order to stay in the Canyon - causing a sense of tension between Rob and his in-laws who own/operate the campground. Bad vibe from the start.

Our group promptly unpacked the Jeeps, and jumped in the water. We noticed several dogs prancing through our two campsites with all of the requisite dog tags from the U.S., while pony-tailed bohemians glared at us from a distance. Bad vibe #2.

With all of these bad vibes, I decided on a beer to sooth the nerves, and the kids (Noeh and Pancho) goofed around, making for a more light-hearted environment. I was so glad Chris brought his son, and son's friend. These two little guys were a delight for everyone to have around.

Our group ate dinner together, and turned in early...since most of us were up at around 3 a.m. in order to reach Mexicali for breakfast at 7:30 a.m.

OUCH!

Day 2

Day 3

After packing up from our sand-blasting, we departed right around 9:30 a.m. - our destination...BASKETBALL HILL!

At the top of the El Jamau plateau, we turned left instead of right at the old fence, taking our group to the remnants of an old campo. Turning around, Chris took the guys back to the main trail in search of the fence. He found it, and took me to confirm his findings. We confirmed everything, and I drove up the trail to reach everyone by CB Radio. They picked up the trail in timely fashion, and out came my video camera. See, I planned to tape the trail highlights and any mishaps that happened along the way.

After parking at the top of a long grade, I ran downhill with my new videocam, and began filming. Everyone made it through the big washout except for Brad. He tried to 'crawl up a large rock in the trail, but only dented his front license plate in the process. Scratching his head, he proceeded, and we were off towards Canyon Enmedio.

Once we crested the saddle, we were greeted with another washout. This one required some intense study in order for everyone to walk down it safely. Ruts combined with a 4 foot drop off made some drivers nervous - for good reason. Being in the lead, I made the drive down, followed by Paul in his Tomb Raider-edition Rubicon. Paul and I drove down the trail, and provided spotting and videography. Our party made it through this section of trail, and were promptly on the trail...searching for some cobblestone.

As we neared Canyon Enmedio, a white watertank presented itself with two pairs of old military boots beside a new(er) can of baked beans.
Our party played around on the water tank, with Isaiah and Pancho climbing the tanks' ladder rungs. The two guys climbed straight to the top of the tank and posed as if in the movie King Kong. Time was wearing on and it was now 1:30 p.m. but we were close to the 'Perfect Cobblestone Hill.'

By 12:40 p.m., we reached to Cobblestone Hill, and I pointed out to everyone that the white-painted rocks would present themselves until the end of the trail. We posed for photographs, and we drove to the mouth of Canyon Enmedio where we broke for lunch before the nasty drive south into Oil Pan Wash.

After a quick lunch, our group traveled downstream over rocks and boulders finally to Basketball Hill. For such a menacing trail, its' only identifying trait was a few ducks stacked at its' entrance, and some large mesquite trees blocking views of the narrow canyon and cut telephone poles.

Once inside of the canyon, our group quickly devised a plan where we would stack rocks under Brad's guidance. Brad frequenty leads and attends group runs in Moab, Utah where rock-stacking gets drivers from trailhead to end of trail. Chris drove his Explorer up the canyon, where a moving rock damaged his newly fabbed McNeil Racing rock slider. Chris didn't let this phase him as he continued his way up Basketball Hill with Brad spotting. 30 minutes later, Chris reached the BBHill summit, and it was my turn.

Brad provided spotting help for myself and most others taking our group up this "impassible" canyon in just under 2 hours. At the top of this hill, we posed for a photo, and were off to Canyon Jaquegel!

By this time, it was now 5:30, and several washouts presented themselves as we descended along the canyon wall into the wash down below. Our plan was to drive as far up into the canyon as we could - we reached a cool oasis with a broad sandy bank where we pitched our tents, started a roaring camp fire, spied coyotes up the canyon using Chris' night-vision goggles.

Day 4

The Pole Line Road Drivers:

The Pole Line Road Drivers:


Anita


Brad and Rhoda


Mike


Chris


Paul


Ken
(Trail Hands - Left to Right: Pancho, Isaiah, and Noah

Wow, Ken-----what a great report, and photos-----

1 yr. ago, I believe Neal Johns took us to this area where we stopped and fished around for Native American arrowheads and stuff. Because I speak Spanish, and because I was the Trail Boss, I reluctantly walked up to the nearby Rancho to tell the (Native American/Indio) family that we wanted to stop for lunch there. As I walked up to the old man standing on his front stoop, there was a younger Native American man hunched below his pickup ready to jump me. I turned and also talked to him as I asked permission, and he stood to his feet and later shook my hand. During lunch, the old man stood above us watching our every move. Unfortunately, a pair of gringos in our group "borrowed" some Metates belonging to this area. I know this because the metates fell out of their Izusu when I spoke to them about trail conditions the next morning. Live and learn with regard to who you invite along on Baja adventures, I guess...

Ken-----

In his book "Mexico's Magis Square" Earl Stanley Gardner talks of exploring this area. Interesting reading about the area you are talking about.

Wow, David (and Neal Johns)------(and Lou)

Barry,

We pinpointed waypoints, but unfortunately, our Baja Almanac was not as accurate as the GPS data was. Additionally, we had to cut and squirm through washes and on the road itself so much that keeping accurate detail might be problematic. Also, Brad and Rhoda's GPS flags did not save enough times to create a solid map.



The turnoff to Guadalupe Canyon [N32 13.063 W115 42.283]


Basketball Hill [N31 34.935 W11526.281]


White water tank [N31 36.822 W115 30.070]



[Edited on 1-4-2006 by Ken Cooke]

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou In his book "Mexico's Magis Square" Earl Stanley Gardner talks of exploring this area. Interesting reading about the area you are talking about.

So that's what they mean when they say: "Rubicon's are fully equipped!"