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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Pole Line Road, Caņon del Diablo, & La Bufadora
Leidys and I left the confines of the Inland Empire at 7 a.m. for the wild, open spaces of Baja California. Two and a half hours later, we had
arrived at the Denny's Restaurant at Hwy 8 in El Centro for our last warm meal for the next couple of days. By 10:30, we arrived at the meeting place
in Calexico where Huitzi and his Father Agustin were both waiting. We drove next door to the ARCO station, and each bought $40 worth of gasoline for
our SWB 4.0l Rubicons. While checking the oil level of my 4.0l engine, the oil fill cap became stuck and later broke off! After walking next door to
the Pep Boys (again, a great meeting place), I had a new oil cap in hand, and Huitzi had helped remove the old cap with a set of channel pliers.
On The Road to Baja-
As Huitzi and I pulled onto Hwy 111 towards the US/Mexico border, a phone call came in from Joe and his son Greg from south Mexicali. They were
on-target for meeting us at the Pemex Station in El Progreso along Hwy 2. After filling our gerry cans, we drove down the road to Asadero Morlan #2
for some AWESOME TACOS! From there, we traveled another 10 miles to the massive Laguna Salada. There, we drove south to the Cohabuzo Junction where
we set up camp for the night.
LOST IN BAJA-
The next morning, we packed our gear and traveled in the wrong direction - all of the way to Ejido Saldaņa - near Hwy 5! Losing 3 hours of travel
time (and driving 30 miles in the wrong direction) did not help our gasoline supplies, but with the help of a local farmer named Rodolfo, we returned
to our camp spot, and later to the turnoff to our camp spot. We quickly reached the long, sandy arroyo that led to the entrance to the 70 year old
Pole Line Road.
COBBLESTONE ROADS IN BAJA?
Gerhard and Gulick's Lower California Guidebook (1958) describes a, "Little used road that was built during World War II to follow an abandoned
telephone line" that sparked my interest in 2000 after receiving a copy of November-December 2000 newsletter from Discover Baja Travel Club. Author
Neal Johns described his groups arduous passage along this route after many past attempts to punch through to the end of this road: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=54381
Our group of three well-built Jeeps made fast work of climbing the slippery, off-camber entrance with our locked differentials and Mud-Terrain tires,
and traveling overland along some of Baja's most prestine land. Because of our difficulty in navigation, we had to travel directly to Mile #94 where
we set up camp for the night. This area of the Pole Line Road is dotted with cobblestone sections that amazed this group of first-time Pole Line Road
travelers.
BAJA CANYONS, RAIN, AND SLICK TRAILS.
Camp was set up at 4 p.m. along a canyon wall that was elevated from any possible flash flooding which may have taken place during our night of sleep.
As it turned out, rain did fall on our second night on the trail. While Leidys, myself, Huitzi and his Father Agustin did not get wet, Joe and his
son Greg chose to sleep under the stars, and at about midnight, were abruptly awakened by steady rainfall that soaked their camping gear, and
themselves. After another light rain before sunrise, our group rose to the natural serenity that is so ubiquitous with backcountry Baja. The air
temperatures went from near 50 degrees back to 70 degrees, and the air was still, without any breeze. The trails were now coated with a dampness that
kept dust to tolerable levels, and our group continued on through Caņon Enmedio.
The trails were slick with moisture for the first half hour of our journey, but as the sun rose into the canyons, these rocks dried and thankfully,
the faint tire tracks from Neal Johns' most recent trek were visible along this route during the early Spring 2011. The road is now remnants of its
former self as time and flash flooding have wiped sections away clean. Now, large rocks must be negotiated by well-prepared 4WD vehicles that have
plenty of clearance.
BASKETBALL HILL AND REACHING HWY 5
Just a short 2.4 miles were traveled from our camp spot to the notorious Basketball Hill. There, rocks the size of basketballs and larger must be
negotiated in order to ascend the steep canyon. Narrow sections with high, loose banks require tires with high voids and lots of tread - something my
worn set of TrXus MTs no longer have. Although my set of worn TrXus MTs allowed my TJ-based Rubicon to slip and slide, the worst sections of this
trail - which all appear on the last leg of this trail were all negotiated with the use of my locking differentials, and we safely made it to Hwy 5
after an exhausting search for trail inside of the massive (0.6 mi. wide) Arroyo Grande. Rocks, vegetation, and animal bones work together to hide
the route to La Ventana.
SAN FELIPE, LAGUNA DIABLO AND FINDING WATERFALLS
After saying goodbye to our new friends, Leidys and I checked in to the reasonable ($32/night) El Diamante Motel located near Pete's Camp along Hwy 5
(North of San Felipe). Sadly, San Felipe was languishing with very few American tourists. Many Motels there were suffering from the downturn in
travelers from Canada and the United States, although the town had seen many upgrades and beautiful new additions. After eating breakfast at the
Green House located between the OXXO and Vista del Mar, Leidys and I drove to the El Capitan Motel where our friends Benny and Avi were waiting for
our arrival. Benny and Avi were driving an unlifted Toyota Land Cruiser with stock height BFG All-Terrain KO tires. With running boards intact, Avi
and Benny decided not to travel the Pole Line Road. Instead, they visited Mike's Sky Rancho, and although the tires provided less than desireable
traction on the rain-soaked trail, their Land Cruiser was able to stay on the road without too many slideouts due to the All-Terrain tire treads.
After gassing up our vehicles at the new Pemex near Pete's Camp, we drove to the road that travels west (near the Mini Storage facility), and took the
sandy Zoo Road to the impressive waterfalls at the base of the Picacho del Diablo (Devil's Peak). The Devil's Peak stands at an elevation of 10,152
ft. and is the tallest peak on the Baja peninsula (source: http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=1537). After crossing the muddy, but solid Laguna Diablo, our vehicles ascended an aluvial fan which
leads inward to the Caņada del Diablo. Like a wide mouth at the base of this steep mountain chain, vehicles with the ability to travel along sandy
sections of road can navigate this slope with little trouble. Wild Burros and Cattle can be seen along this route - scared of the noise caused by
vehicular traffic, but sometimes stare in curiosity as you pass.
With only 4 hours of remaining sunlight, Benny, Avi, Leidys and I made a quick hike up to the first set of waterfalls, took photographs, and quickly
returned to our vehicles in order that we could exit the muddy dry lakebed before dusk. Our vehicles kicked up small amounts of mud on our way to
Mexico Hwy 3, and by 5 p.m., we had aired up our tires and I corrected a small problem with a rear shock absorber. Leidys and I continued on to
Ensenada that evening - briefly stopping in Valle de la Trinidad at the impressive "Mi Pueblito" Restaurant for dinner (near the new Pemex Station),
while Benny and Avi returned for their last night in San Felipe.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Photos...
Standing by the Jeep at 0630.
Ready for BAJA!
The best food at the best prices!! Look for a review in the RESTAURANT section of BN...
LAGUNA SALADA
MEXICAN MILTARY TOW TRUCK
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks much Ken... good to see ya moving ... looks like your packed up !!!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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COHABUZO CAMPGROUND!
READY TO RELAX!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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TRAIL HUNTING (Day 2)
PACKING UP, HEADING OUT...
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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umm, wrong turn...leading to EJIDO SALDAņA (meeting our new friend RODOLFO)
GPS NO WORKY
RODOLFO HELPING NAVIGATE (for soda & Gatorade)
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Good to see some of the others talking shot's ... we get to see ya... thanks....
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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HEADING TO THE SUMMIT
Massive Silt beds left Joe and Greg gasping for clean air..
NO POACHING!
Joe's UNLIMITED with only 11,000 mi. on the odometer! 
The PRECARIOUS ENTRANCE to the POLE LINE ROAD near the base of the SUMMIT ROAD.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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CRAWLING ALONG THE POLE LINE ROAD
Without 4WD and TRACTION AIDES such as a rear LOCKING differential, you will be left in the ditch...literally!
Spotters on the ready. This is no Sunday drive in Baja!
After making the entrance, our Jeeps took a 30 minute break while we ate lunch. Leidys enjoying some Tuna with crackers.
Jeep-style Siesta
Backcountry Baja is INDEED beautiful!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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A pack of wild Burros were near the White Tank when I drove up. Here, they are running from the camera.
Leaving the White Water Tank - heading for the Cobblestone section of the trail where we camped the 2nd night.
Storm clouds looming overhead.
One of only a few intact/remaining 70 year old cobblestone road sections.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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3rd Day along the POLE LINE ROAD
Storm clouds were looming, but our Jeeps were out of harms way for the night.
Leidys eating her breakfast.
Notice the rain-soaked ground at Agustin's feet.
COLOMBIAN'S DEMAND their Coffee in the morning!
Leidys had her cup of Coffee and slice of bread.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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ROCK CRAWLING on the POLE LINE 4WD TRAIL
Note to Toyota Owners - My front swaybar needed to be disconnected. The stress was being felt with the fiberglass hardtop flexing
and the front tires were lifting in places that demanded complete traction.
Clearance was at a premium. That is Huitzi spotting my progress.
Here comes Huitzi's Jeep through one of the many washes we had to travel throughout the day.
The Differentials would hit and slide on rocks.
Here, I finally decided to disconnect my front swaybars. Good move, because the rocks became gradually larger as we continued onward.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Great post and pics, Ken.
YOu have any shots of "basketball hill" and the big "rock" that needed moving? (the one you had to go around which produced a huge lean to the
right??)
Barry
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Great stuff... and "in" the dirt, with tools .... is just great ..
Thanks for all the travel pic's.. 
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Traveling to Basketball Hill along Caņon Enmedio
This section was a real challenge. We had to stack rocks in order to keep the Jeeps upright while cornering through the canyons. You cannot tell how
bad it was along these routes by the photographs, but it had become much worse than the several times I had traveled this canyon before.
Greg on the lookout for more obstacles as his Father Joe comes down the trail.
Augustin walked along the trail to provide spotting coverage for his Son Huitzi (say: Wheat-see).
This corner gave each of us a difficult time. Rocks were stacked, but they only slipped around as we attempted this challenging section.
Greg gives me advice on tire placement past the turn.
Getting back into my Jeep.
Tire placement was everything.
Here comes Joe with his low-hanging rocker guards.
This is definitely not the same trail as it was back in Dec. 2007.
[Edited on 11-26-2011 by Ken Cooke]
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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BASKETBALL HILL 2011
As Greg walked up the trail to get an idea of the obstacles that lay ahead for his Father to tackle, a "Jumping" Cholla literally jumped and planted
itself into his ankle!
Pliers were needed, and he said that this was extremely painful. 
Greg hiked ahead, and Huitzi and Agustin walked up the slope that needed to be negotiated.
After making the climb in my Jeep, and watching it slide sideways down towards the center of the trail, Huitzi became worried about driving it in his
Jeep. I was fine, but later I became worried about an upcoming section of trail due to the condition of my TrXus MT tires which had become worn and
no longer provided adequate lateral traction along sidehills such as this one.
Joe conquering the sidehill on Basketball Hill with his Unlimited running Goodyear MTR tires.
Joe's MT/R tires did not slip. Neither did Huitzi's Dunlop Mud Rovers.
Huitzi's Dunlop Mud Rover's providing excellent traction on this section of trail.
Here, Huitzi literally stopped his Jeep. Mine would have slid sideways, prompting a sideways flop. His Jeep held on, gripping the terrain without
any problem whatsoever.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Basketball Hill (continued)
Along this last section of trail, each of the three Jeeps slid sideways. Whether it was new or old tread on the loose hill, there was nothing the
driver could have done to stay planted along the upper section of trail.
Leidys took 90% of the photos of Basketball Hill. Thanks for her hard work, walking up the canyon with camera in hand!
The three Pole Line Road drivers atop Basketball Hill.
[img]http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2567618025253&set=a.2567515622693.2136834.1098240232&type=3&theater[/img]
I did it!
[img]http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2567618705270&set=a.2567515622693.2136834.1098240232&type=3&theater[/img]
Greg also deserves props!
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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Wow, Ken sounds like a great trip. Wish I could have been with you in my 2004 Tacoma.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
Wow, Ken sounds like a great trip. Wish I could have been with you in my 2004 Tacoma. |
You would have had a great time. The trail was more difficult than it was when you last traveled it in 2007. The rocks were larger, and the Jeeps
felt smaller with all of the big rocks. I think your Toyota would have done well, regardless. It was a fun time, and the weather was perfect.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Wonderful... how many poles did you see still standing?
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