BajaNomad - 70 Year Commemorative Baja Pole Line Road 4WD Run

70 Year Commemorative Baja Pole Line Road 4WD Run

Ken Cooke - 10-1-2011 at 02:48 PM

In 1942, President Eisenhower asked the Mexican Government if a road could be built that would connect the border region to the tip of Baja California. This was to surpress any German and/or Japanese submarine activity which could have presented a problem in our nations Southwest. This idea was balked at, due to the enormity of the task, manpower, and the amount of money this would have cost. So instead, a telephone line road linking Ensenada to San Felipe was constructed. Mexican and American soldiers would man a small outpost in San Felipe, Mexico – notifying American soldiers of any Axis powers attempting to invade the United States via the Colorado River. The Baja Pole Line Road was built within one year - at the same exact time as the Alaskan Highway.

This road has withstood 70 years since its construction during the second World War. Boulders have rolled into place where a smooth road once was. Wild mustangs, the symbol of the west now roam the open land. Grazing upon what little vegetation they can find. Wild burros, and also cattle can be spotted throughout this scenic, but challenging 3 day route which links the southern portions of the Laguna Salada to Mexican Hwy 5.

Date/Time of the Run:
Saturday, November 19, 2011 through Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 10:30 a.m. at the Pep Boys Supercenter - 400 South Imperial Blvd. Calexico, CA.

RSVP Required:
please email me to let me know to expect you at the drivers meeting and run: thedesertoutlaw@yahoo.com

Difficulty Rating: 2+ includes some sand, whoops, soft dirt, rocky canyons which require spotting, narrow sections of trail containing washout/ditches, steep dropoffs and hillclimbs). Swaybar disconnects will help in traction, as will mud-terrain-type tires with strong sidewalls (along w/a good spare).

Run Type: Bobtail - you will camp three nights out of the back of your Jeep, pickup or SUV.

Directions to meeting place: From San Diego, CA - take I-8 to Hwy 111 south for 21.6 miles. The Pep Boys Supercenter will be on your left hand side - next door (south) of the recently renovated ARCO AM/PM gas station and market.

**Exact departure time from meeting place: 11 a.m. (please be prompt). Lunch will be in Progreso along Mexico Hwy 2 near the Laguna Salada, so don't worry about leaving hungry.

Special equipment required for this run includes;
Passport/Immigration Documents allowing lawful return into United States Mandatory.
CB Radio with functioning antenna, Mexican travel insurance, two (empty) gerry cans, camping equipment, swaybar disconnects, tow connections fore and aft, a flashlight and shovel, a good winter jacket, sunscreen, a good hat, firewood, AAA roadmap of Baja, CA and/or Mexicali, and a copy of the Baja Almanac http://www.baja-almanac.com/

CB Channel: CB Channel 4 up to the meeting place.
RV users? No. You will need a 4WD Jeep or SUV or pickup to complete this run. An RV and/or tow rig must be parked in the USA - we will return along Mexico Hwy 5 into Calexico, US.

There will be no fees/permits required for this sort of Backcountry camping. Just clean up after yourselves and pack out your trash and recyclables.

Expected weather conditions - ~80 deg.F. during days, sunny, bright. ~40 deg.F. at night, cool.

Expected Route/Schedule:
Night 1 - Cohabuzo Junction (in order to avoid Baja 1000 stragglers)
Night 2 - Cañon Jaquegel
Night 3 - Cañon Jaquegel (incl. AM hike to historic Native American site)
Night 4 - San Felipe (Drivers will sleep with their vehicles at a secure Motel north of town).

December 2006 Pole Line Road Group Photos:
http://www.justruns.com/gallery2/v/Run+Photos/Pole/

David K - 10-2-2011 at 12:16 AM

Nice run idea Ken... Do you want me to post it on Tacoma World also? Do Tacomas need to have all that extra gas in cans you suggest? We have 21 gallon tanks so even with lower 4WD mileage, we have about a 250-300 mile range... that should handle the 100 mile dirt run and under 100 mile highway run to San Felipe, yes?

Instead of driving out to Hwy. 5 after the Poll Line run, we may want to do a little searching for the Lost Diaz Grave which may be just south of the run.

Ken Cooke - 10-2-2011 at 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Nice run idea Ken... Do you want me to post it on Tacoma World also? Do Tacomas need to have all that extra gas in cans you suggest? We have 21 gallon tanks so even with lower 4WD mileage, we have about a 250-300 mile range... that should handle the 100 mile dirt run and under 100 mile highway run to San Felipe, yes?

Instead of driving out to Hwy. 5 after the Poll Line run, we may want to do a little searching for the Lost Diaz Grave which may be just south of the run.

David - Could we locate that lost grave in 2-3 hrs? I want us to get cleaned up and have a hot meal without too much trouble.

A Tacoma might get away with not having to take extra gasoline, but if we encounter a closed route and had to double back, all of us could be in trouble.

A CB Radio is essential - either handheld or hardmounted due to teamwork on some of the trails and their poor condition. Also, a full-size spare tire - I believe Tacoma's come equipped with everything necessary to shine out there, so please feel free to post on Tacoma world. I would certainly appreciate it.

Ken Cooke - 10-21-2011 at 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Nice run idea Ken... Do you want me to post it on Tacoma World also? Do Tacomas need to have all that extra gas in cans you suggest?

Another Jeep signed up, a Toyota is sidelined... Where are the Tacoma's???

Jeeps are on the ready!

Ken Cooke - 11-12-2011 at 12:05 PM

Posted (yesterday) on the JustRuns.Com website...

Thanks to JustRuns, we have Jeeps ready to run the 70 yr. old HISTORIC 4WD trail through the hills and canyons of BACKCOUNTRY BAJA. We will follow Cañon Enmedio to the DISABLED SUZUKI SAMURAI and check out the NATIVE AMERICAN HUNTING BLINDS. This is a culturally rich region, and I'm happy to be sharing this with others.

See you next Saturday in Calexico!

David K - 11-12-2011 at 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Nice run idea Ken... Do you want me to post it on Tacoma World also? Do Tacomas need to have all that extra gas in cans you suggest?

Another Jeep signed up, a Toyota is sidelined... Where are the Tacoma's???

Like most in the USA, staying north of the border gives folks, unfamiliar with Baja, a sense of security. Since I am not going, it may be uncool for me to attach them to your group.

Of course, you are free to join TacomaWorld.com forums and seek them out (there are Jeep owners on TW/ TacomaWorld). A few who like Baja are going to the Baja 1000... and your event is just after, so two trips the same month are going against you. I did get an email from Chris, and perhaps he will meet up with you after the 1000?

Ken Cooke - 11-12-2011 at 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Like most in the USA, staying north of the border gives folks, unfamiliar with Baja, a sense of security. Since I am not going, it may be uncool for me to attach them to your group.

Of course, you are free to join TacomaWorld.com forums and seek them out (there are Jeep owners on TW/ TacomaWorld). A few who like Baja are going to the Baja 1000... and your event is just after, so two trips the same month are going against you. I did get an email from Chris, and perhaps he will meet up with you after the 1000?

I told Leidys that we might visit Tijuana after we leave San Felipe for some night clubbing and fun times after doing some 4LO Baja crawling. So, she's very excited about going.

I know what you mean about people feeling secure/safe, etc. I told one of the participants on this run that if I were afraid for my safety, I wouldn't have traveled to Peru 1x and Colombia 7x. I don't like to beg people to go with me, either. For example, I have a good friend who is too afraid to get his passport, makes excuses, yada, yada, yada.

I have a coworker who tries to scare me everytime she talks to me about traveling to Mexico. Tells me about her son or some friend of his that got assaulted in Acapulco once, yada, yada, yada. It literally brings chills up my spine.

Regardless, the Jeep is almost ready for the trip and it will be a great adventure. Tell the Tacoma World people that I am going, and that they are invited if they care to bump and scratch their Tacomas. The route past Basketball Hill might be extreme - but, that's why a lone Samurai is there wasting away...

David K - 11-13-2011 at 10:17 AM

I would sure love to join you Ken... in a heartbeat... Just cannot due to the sorry economy that gets worse every year (the past 3) and I have yet to find other work (I am looking)!

David K - 11-13-2011 at 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
In 1942, President Eisenhower asked the Mexican Government if a road could be built that would connect the border region to the tip of Baja California. This was to surpress any German and/or Japanese submarine activity which could have presented a problem in our nations Southwest. This idea was balked at, due to the enormity of the task, manpower, and the amount of money this would have cost. So instead, a telephone line road linking Ensenada to San Felipe was constructed. Mexican and American soldiers would man a small outpost in San Felipe, Mexico – notifying American soldiers of any Axis powers attempting to invade the United States via the Colorado River. The Baja Pole Line Road was built within one year - at the same exact time as the Alaskan Highway.

This road has withstood 70 years since its construction during the second World War. Boulders have rolled into place where a smooth road once was. Wild mustangs, the symbol of the west now roam the open land. Grazing upon what little vegetation they can find. Wild burros, and also cattle can be spotted throughout this scenic, but challenging 3 day route which links the southern portions of the Laguna Salada to Mexican Hwy 5.

Date/Time of the Run:
Saturday, November 19, 2011 through Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 10:30 a.m. at the Pep Boys Supercenter - 400 South Imperial Blvd. Calexico, CA.

RSVP Required:
please email me to let me know to expect you at the drivers meeting and run: thedesertoutlaw@yahoo.com

Difficulty Rating: 2+ includes some sand, whoops, soft dirt, rocky canyons which require spotting, narrow sections of trail containing washout/ditches, steep dropoffs and hillclimbs). Swaybar disconnects will help in traction, as will mud-terrain-type tires with strong sidewalls (along w/a good spare).

Run Type: Bobtail - you will camp three nights out of the back of your Jeep, pickup or SUV.

Directions to meeting place: From San Diego, CA - take I-8 to Hwy 111 south for 21.6 miles. The Pep Boys Supercenter will be on your left hand side - next door (south) of the recently renovated ARCO AM/PM gas station and market.

**Exact departure time from meeting place: 11 a.m. (please be prompt). Lunch will be in Progreso along Mexico Hwy 2 near the Laguna Salada, so don't worry about leaving hungry.

Special equipment required for this run includes;
Passport/Immigration Documents allowing lawful return into United States Mandatory.
CB Radio with functioning antenna, Mexican travel insurance, two (empty) gerry cans, camping equipment, swaybar disconnects, tow connections fore and aft, a flashlight and shovel, a good winter jacket, sunscreen, a good hat, firewood, AAA roadmap of Baja, CA and/or Mexicali, and a copy of the Baja Almanac http://www.baja-almanac.com/

CB Channel: CB Channel 4 up to the meeting place.
RV users? No. You will need a 4WD Jeep or SUV or pickup to complete this run. An RV and/or tow rig must be parked in the USA - we will return along Mexico Hwy 5 into Calexico, US.

There will be no fees/permits required for this sort of Backcountry camping. Just clean up after yourselves and pack out your trash and recyclables.

Expected weather conditions - ~80 deg.F. during days, sunny, bright. ~40 deg.F. at night, cool.

Expected Route/Schedule:
Night 1 - Cohabuzo Junction (in order to avoid Baja 1000 stragglers)
Night 2 - Cañon Jaquegel
Night 3 - Cañon Jaquegel (incl. AM hike to historic Native American site)
Night 4 - San Felipe (Drivers will sleep with their vehicles at a secure Motel north of town).

December 2006 Pole Line Road Group Photos:
http://www.justruns.com/gallery2/v/Run+Photos/Pole/

Here is the photo link: Pole Line Road 2006 Album

Photo showing Ken on the 1942 cobblestone road:

[Edited on 11-13-2011 by David K]

David K - 11-13-2011 at 10:43 AM

Okay Ken.... it is posted on TacomaWorld, in the Off Road forum... here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-roading-trails/187653-n...

rts551 - 11-13-2011 at 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
I would sure love to join you Ken... in a heartbeat... Just cannot due to the sorry economy that gets worse every year (the past 3) and I have yet to find other work (I am looking)!

I see where they are looking for worker in the San Die Strawberry fields. Just saying.

David K - 11-13-2011 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551

Quote:

I see where they are looking for worker in the San Die Strawberry fields. Just saying.

Think they would hire me to pick them at 54 years old? :light:

I could oversee the irrigation set up!

Cool!

Ken Cooke - 11-13-2011 at 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Okay Ken.... it is posted on TacomaWorld, in the Off Road forum... here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-roading-trails/187653-n...

There are some hardcore Tacomas in the latest issue of FOURWHEELER MAGAZINE - with coilovers and straight axles front and rear. Very capable, built Tacomas, IMO.

Sorry that you can't come along. This Great Recession has been tough on many people. I have been fortunate, and although I don't get to travel as often as I would like, at least Leidys and I have the means to do the occasional Baja trip now and then.