HARDCORE JEEP 4WD TRAIL -- La Cuesta de MOLINA

Reviewing our maps and position before our Jeep run.

When nearing the mighty CUESTA DE MOLINA, the road bed is rough and formidable as you can see here.

The trail becomes a shelf road with a lone cabin below. There is no room for opposing traffic as you travel up this challenging route. Before things became dicey, Victor, Vicki and I got out of our Jeeps to assess the trail.

On our way up!

Just past the deadly STAIRSTEPS the trail becomes relatively easy. The STAIRSTEPS required DOUBLE LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS. Brake-assisted limited slip might not get you to the top of the mountain. Travel at your own risk!

The views are among Bajas best!

The view from the passenger seat (in a Jeep Rubicon)

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Ken, is that a NORRA race course marker in the bottom photo? Looks like a fun road/trail!

A well-known landmark is this stripped Suburban. Our smaller Jeeps were able to maneuver around this stripped-out behemoth.

We made it into Parque Constitución!! Only in our Rubicons and Vicki's double ARB-locked TJ Sport!

The TAKEAWAY

This threads takeaway is to AVOID these trails unless you have a well prepared Jeep 4wd with locking differentials. I hope that you enjoyed this Friday throwback thread.

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

looks fun. I need to find it on a map.

Ken, where are you getting these place names from? This looks a bit like EL MANO CANYON? Let's help Ed find it on his map!

Mano is south of Palomar and Santa Isabel. I led your Jeep group to the bottom of it in 2003. Everyone in a Jeep driving one tire up on that boulder was the highlight of the day for them. Who was in the Isuzu Trooper who was chatting with me as we watched you Jeepers? I forgot.



[Edited on 11-9-2018 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote: Originally posted by ehall   looks fun. I need to find it on a map. I wouldn't rode a Moto up this hill, Ed. One wrong move, and you'll wish there were guardrails on your right side. The stairstep section is so steep all you will see is the sky as you drive up it. [Edited on 11-9-2018 by Ken Cooke]

The jeep is ready.

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

In November 2013, I led a hardcore 4WD Jeep run to the Pole Line Road. Unprecedented rain prevented us from crossing the Laguna Salada, so our group instead visited Cañon de Palomar. After our Palomar campout, we traveled back to Coral de Molina before rounding the Paredones Hills. We set up camp for the night and the next morning, we rose early to conquer the hardcore CUESTA DE MOLINA.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Ken, where are you getting these place names from? This looks a bit like EL MANO CANYON? Let's help Ed find it on his map! Mano is south of Palomar and Santa Isabel. I led your Jeep group to the bottom of it in 2003. Everyone in a Jeep driving one tire up on that boulder was the highlight of the day for them. Who was in the Isuzu Trooper who was chatting with me as we watched you Jeepers? I forgot.

Saturnino pictured on the right with his wife Maria after the 2017 Baja Pole Line Run.

Here are a few photos from the 2018 Joshua Tree Berdoo Canyon crawl that I host annually.

The second photo is of me speaking with Brock before our run (with my wife Leidys standing to my left).

The following photos show some alternate sections along Berdoo Canyon Road which provides opportunities to shift into 4lo and push your truck or SUV to it's limits.



[Edited on 11-10-2018 by Ken Cooke]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Yes, Brock! Nice guy... Good to have a reliable vehicle along, too! So, where is this route?

Quote: Originally posted by David K

That is where La Cuesta de Molina is? I asked at 3:45pm yesterday and wondered if it was Mano, even added a map. Ed and I have enquiring minds.

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Ken when you did La Cuesta de Molina did you go north or south from the corral?

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

Ken when you did La Cuesta de Molina did you go north or south from the corral?

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke   Quote: Originally posted by ehall   looks fun. I need to find it on a map. I wouldn't rode a Moto up this hill, Ed. One wrong move, and you'll wish there were guardrails on your right side. The stairstep section is so steep all you will see is the sky as you drive up it. [Edited on 11-9-2018 by Ken Cooke] The jeep is ready.