Mini-Summit 1994 B1K

Mini Summit try

Another PaulW Story
In April 2010 I got a call from SCORE with a request to report on the Mini Summit condition. So I cranked up the Bronco and headed north. I had previously driven the approach for the east and did not have time to see if it was passable, So this time I tried from the west.
My Report:
Mini Summit, Apr 2, 2010
Its a full fledged disaster. Let me explain.
The east side was destroyed by hurricane Nora in about '97.

Anyway, I truly believe it is fixable. For sure a Back Hoe will be
required to take material - dirt and lots of rocks - from the up
hillside and fill up the holes.

Here is my story
Nice drive from Villa Ddel Sol Rd to the summit. Lots of erosion
heading east of the summit. I stacked rocks to make it passable for 1/3 mile which took 2.5 hours. Nice exercise.
Then I was able to drive for another 0.07 miles and I saw the heavy damage. There was even a car piled up on the side of the bank. See the attached pictures.

Took me a half hour to get turned around on the narrow track. I lost count on my 3 point turns. All went well and I was able to climb back up the darn thing. I had to do reconstruction on the way up where the road is narrow and started to collapse. No issue I saw it coming and just backed off and stacked more rocks to get over the huge obstacle rock. I had driven beside it on the way down with no issue, but on the way up I could not make the required tight turn.


Looking N to Mex3 in the distance from the Powerline approach


Looking up to the summit



Looking up hill






Looking down the drop off



Looking back from below


Then I turned around and look down - easterly


Looking easterly toward the bottom and a pretty good track.


Here are the words from my previous post that gives the cords.
"Mini Summit" Alternate names are "Telegraph Pass" & "Power line pass". ##
Summit is N31.17794W115.14175.
Major drop-off is at N31.17558W115.13389
From 2 poles, Hwy5 K166/7 N31.22260W114.94805, follow race track SW or W to power line NW - summit - to Villa del Sol Rd.

Since hurricane Nora - Impassable for normal rigs. In 2011 3 Jeeps made the crossing with extensive use of winches (E to W). Several hardy moto guys have made the crossing in the last few years (W to E). Summit is reachable from the west by following the metal powerline from Villa del Sol road. Good drive.