Our group assembled in the Pep Boys parking lot on Saturday morning at 11am. I had stopped briefly enroute for a quick food stop in the parking lot
of Agua Caliente Casino where I was asked to jump start a Toyota Prius. Arriving behind schedule, our group consisted of Billy from Ramona, David and
his son Isaac from San Diego, Ed from Buckeye, Arizona, Victor and Elizabeth from Tijuana and our long distance couple Karen and Daryl from Vancouver
Island, Canada. Our group traveled en tandem to the new border crossing and eventually found our way to Asadero El Morlan #1 in Progreso (in the
outskirts of Mexicali). We met up with Saturnino and his wife Maria Elena as well as their friends Perry and Teresa. Perry had originally planned to
join our weeklong run, but decided against it last minute due to the weather forecasts calling for rain, rain, rain.
Our group traveled down Hwy 2 to KM28 where we opted for a safe route to our destination for the day - Mano Junction. Our group passed the remains of
a completely stripped Chevy Avalanche. We eventually reached our camp location by 5:30 pm where a large, flat space allows for free camping with
noone around for miles. Rich/Cathy and their friend Chloe were waiting for us as we drove up at dusk.
Our group left camp at 10 am and crossed a series of new canyons to reach the Pole Line Road. By 1 pm, we were finally driving atop the 77 year old
cobblestone path as we wound our way down the rocky Cañón Enmedio. The turnoff to Basketball Hill appeared more quickly than ever. Each of the
vehicles made the climb up Basketball Hill. Saturnino made the climb, but received a bad sidewall gouge that Rich was able to repair within 30
minutes with his tire repair kit. After our traditional photos atop Basketball Hill, we traveled to a high wash that provided a soft base yet a fast
exit in case of a strong rain storm. Raindrops could be heard off and on throughout the night, revealing a stunning double rainbow just after sunrise
above a series of buttes composed of red soils and rocks.
Our group enjoyed an easy 1 hour drive onto Hwy 5 and south into San Felipe. Our first night in San Felipe was highlighted by a group dinner at the
beachfront Del Mar Restaurant - one of San Felipe's finest. As our group exited the restaurant, plans were made for suspension work that needs to be
performed on our beach day. My rig needs a new antenna, as I broke the original one in the Pep Boys parking lot. David's brakes are making a bad
squeak. Raindrops again fell, turning into a steady downpour that challenged our vision, raising the question of whether the mighty Matomi Canyon can
be attempted in two days.
[Edited on 2-22-2019 by Ken Cooke]
[Edited on 2-27-2019 by Ken Cooke]4x4abc - 2-19-2019 at 11:25 AM
what "high wash"?ehall - 2-19-2019 at 03:15 PM
You forgot victor and elizabeth.6WHEELN - 2-24-2019 at 10:19 PM
Ed went up like nothing . Question for Ed witch was more easy your old short wb Jeep. Or the new long wb Jeep.
New jeep is way better on the road getting to the trail. Old jeep was a little more capable on the trail. The weight on the new one is noticeably
more.David K - 2-26-2019 at 03:22 PM
So you switched from a TJ to a JK?4x4abc - 2-26-2019 at 05:32 PM
did anyone ever record the position of the poles?
I did 5 years ago, but my GPS was stolen before I could save the dataehall - 2-26-2019 at 06:06 PM
I did 5 years ago, but my GPS was stolen before I could save the data
I did as far as the road log mileage along the route. The majority were to the north, parallel to the road, along "Bad Hill" or the mesa between the
long grade going east and then the steep, bad grade that we began to tow to Bronco at, in 2015.
I think you walked over to talk with me when I took this photo?
Many were cut short:
You can see one pole in this Howard Gulick photo from about 1960:
4x4abc - 2-26-2019 at 07:14 PM
I have many images but only a few recorded locations
where do I find your road log?David K - 2-26-2019 at 10:23 PM
12.5/ 4.4 Well Pump, turn left (south). Grading ends at second well (0.6 mi. south). Sandy road continues (deflating tires recommended).
17.8/ 5.3 Pole Line Road turns right (west). Road ahead goes 22 miles to Rancho Arroyo Grande, deep sand driving. A gate may prevent passage through
to HWY. 3 from the ranch. Road log turns onto Pole Line Road. 31°37.550', -115°15.700', elev. 800'. First 1942 telephone pole (cut) passed
around Mile 21, on the left.
21.6/ 3.8 Detour off old road to right (ahead is washed out). Drop steeply into wash, go left then rejoin old road and climb out other side of wash.
22.4/ 0.5 T Junction. Remains of WWII construction camp. Ahead was once a road to Ejido Saldaña, now washed out. Turn left for Pole Line Road (small
landing strip possible here). 31°39.055', -115°18.190'.
26.4/ 4.0 Briefly drop into and back out of Arroyo Jaquegel, keeping to left side. Road repair at bottom of drop performed.
26.9/ 0.5 Bottom of steep grade to mesa. Many poles along mesa top, off to the right of the road at some distance.
28.7/ 1.8 Top of long grade, named 'Bad Hill'.
29.3/ 0.6 Pass close to one full-length pole, a second is in the distance.
30.2/ 0.9 Reach wide Arroyo Jaquegel, turn left up arroyo. Rocky going for nearly 1 mile. 31°35.730'/-115° 23.120'
31.1/ 0.9 Road leaves Arroyo Jaquegel to left (south). Up arroyo 500 feet past road is wrecked Suzuki Samurai. Road crosses over hills and washes and
drops back into Arroyo Jaquegel a final time.
34.1/ 3.0 Road leaves Arroyo Jaquegel with a cobblestone paved ramp at bottom of grade. Palms are up Arroyo Jaquegel and can be seen from ledge above.
35.5/ 1.4 Top of 'Basketball Hill'. Steep grade down so named for the rocks in the road. Cut phone poles seen going down. A wrecked
SUV is also halfway down. 31°34.800', 115°26.300', elev. 1,800'.
35.6/ 0.1 In side canyon, bottom of 'Basketball Hill' grade.
35.7/ 0.1 Enter Cañada de Enmedio (Arroyo Jamau) with very rocky conditions for next 2 miles.
38.1/ 2.4 Cobblestone paving.
38.6/ 0.5 Long Cobblestone paving.
40.9/ 2.3 White Pila (water tank). 31°36.820', 115°30.070', elev. 2,300'.
41.6/ 0.7 Short cobblestone paving.
43.6/ 2.0 Fence gate (re-close after passing).
44.6/ 1.0 Y Intersection, keep right.
46.3/ 1.7 Road to right, go straight.
46.4/ 0.1 Y Fork, keep right. Left is new/ south summit road to top. 31°37.140', -115°34.740'
46.8/ 0.4 DETOUR road, turn left. Ahead is original road, blocked by locked gate.
48.7/ 1.4 Cross Pole Line Road in Arroyo El Sáiz, Locked Gate on right, original Summit road up to left (2.3 miles to top). 31°37.815',
-115°35.145', elev. 2,900'.
Cohabuzo Junction is 25 miles north, Highway 2 is 73 miles north.
Dr nada, Harald!
Let me know when your package arrives, too.Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 09:29 PM
Ready to leave for 1 week!
Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 09:34 PM
En route to our meeting place in Calexico, I was asked to help jump start..a TOYOTA PRIUS!
The 2019 Baja Pole Line Group (minus some key personnel waiting for us near Cohabuzo)..
From left to right:
Maria, Saturnino, Ken, Leidys, David, Isaac (front), Daryl, Karen (front), Perry, Ellie (Elizabeth) and Victor.
After arriving an hour and a half late, it was time for lunch at Asadero El Morlan. The food was worth buying extra and carrying for dinner later in
the day. Damn, those were some good tacos!
David and his son Isaac enjoyed their lunch as well!
Sorry for not smiling.. I was short on sleep and long on hunger. hehe
[Edited on 3-1-2019 by Ken Cooke]Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 09:38 PM
CODE OFFROAD happened to be running an "Appreciation Race" but our group was able to access the rough, graded road south to Cohabuzo. Here is a small
dust cloud off in the distance.
Now, on the trail.. Such a wonderful place to be.
Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 09:44 PM
On the "Perfect Cobblestone Hill" as Neal Johns described it over a decade ago.
Billy
Ed Hall
Me and my Colombian Bride Leidys
Saturnino and his wife Maria
Rich T. and his wife Cathy Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 09:49 PM
The Pole Line Road was exactly the same as I remembered it. Although the more I run it, the more it seems to be shorter each time.
Here is Billy in his Unlimited Rubicon JK flexing on the trail.
Here is David (6 Wheelin) in his built 4 Runner running TOTAL CHAOS and ICON suspension. By the end of this trip, he completely BENT his rear axle
housing. But he had a good time breaking those parts!
It was a picture perfect day on the trail for all of us that day.
Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 10:04 PM
Basketball Hill and beyond
Rich T. is your tire man! He had Saturnino back on the trail after cutting a sidewall on Basketball Hill!
David (6 Wheeln) couldn't keep this smile off of his face as we set up camp with postcard perfect skies and no camp fees to be paid
Here is where he camped Sunday night..
Ed's JK Unlimited performed great all weekend! Here is his camp space Sunday night.
We camped a total of two nights on the Pole Line leg of our week long trip. We chose a camp space that would be safe in the event of a flash flood
since rain was falling west of us. Our morning on Monday morning was spectacular!
[Edited on 3-1-2019 by Ken Cooke]Ken Cooke - 2-28-2019 at 10:08 PM
Big Hill and beyond
Karen and husband Daryl made the 4,000 mile round trip from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada to be a part of this odyssey. Here they are hugging in front
of the Telephone Pole right before the BAD HILL.
More are being uploaded as we speak. I'll finish the next 3 threads hopefully this weekend. The memory gets fuzzy after a long time, so the sooner
this happens, the better.6WHEELN - 3-5-2019 at 10:31 PM
A few pics from Day One:
David K - 3-6-2019 at 07:47 AM
Nice!
Nomad campfire circles are great times... I miss the ones we used to have with Mike Humfreville, Debra, and others no longer with us!Ken Cooke - 3-6-2019 at 09:46 PM
6WHEELN - 3-7-2019 at 06:53 PM
Rigs of the Run:
Akula - 3-10-2019 at 03:18 AM
Nothing beats a sunrise in Baja!
A quick climb up to get some pics of the posse.
My Jeep looks like it was made by Matchbox.
David K - 3-10-2019 at 10:37 AM
Great photos... Yes, a Matchbox Jeep... I had one (or more) growing up! Ken Cooke - 3-22-2019 at 09:09 PM
Atop the mighty BAD HILL
This concludes the Pole Line Road portion of the run.
[Edited on 3-23-2019 by Ken Cooke]Akula - 4-14-2019 at 03:38 PM
Found a few more pics off the wife's phone. Already planning for the return trip. You can never have too much Baja!
David K - 4-14-2019 at 03:40 PM
Thank you, Akula. I did the run with Ken in 2015... It was epic to be on something built during the war with Japan!Ken Cooke - 1-1-2021 at 03:09 PM
The start to 2019 began with t-shirt and sweater distribution before this run kicking off in February of that year. Two years flew by faster than I
can imagine.
