2017 Baja Pole Line Run (Day 3 of 3) +photos and video!
After a relaxing evening, our group had a short drivers meeting and discussed the possible challenges of the "Bad Hill"
and it's possibilities in blocking our passage to Mex. 5. With David needing to return the same evening to San Diego for work early the next morning,
making it past the "Bad Hill" would be time critical.
We left camp, and our 10 vehicles snaked through the Jaquegel arroyo washes - past the wreckage of the Samurai up to the steep climbs that led to some
of the remaining telephone poles where our group arrived for photos in only 75 minutes from our camp.
Everyone took this opportunity to disembark the Jeeps and take lots of photos!
After the group climbed the backside of the "Bad Hill", we marveled at how well out run was going. It wasn't even
noon, and we had already made the drive from our camp - in less than 2 1/2 hours! We took a short lunch break and phone calls were made from atop the
"Bad Hill" mesa with full connectivity.
Our good fortune was going to quickly change with two exceptionally challenging sections that would require shoveling, winching and teamwork.
The road became badly eroded as we approached the edge of the downsloaping section of the "Bad Hill" - I was the only one to get stuck. After plenty
of rock stacking, I was winched out without further difficulty.
While I worked on getting unstuck, Rich T. simply drove around and made it look exceptionally easy as shown here.
Akula and Paul W worked hard filling the holes down the trail, and the rest of our group made decent time back to the arroyo down below the "Bad
Hill".
After seeing how challenging the road down was, Jack explained that his stock Tacoma might have difficulties reaching
the arroyo below. Our group drove to the left of the 3 foot deep washout and down the rest of the steep grade without incident.
Bill along the "Bad Hill" grade
David's 4Runner had zero difficulties. This was his first experience in what he would consider "Technical 4 wheeling."
So understand dont waste your time always searching for those wasted years
face up and make your stand and realize that your living in the golden years
Once all of the vehicles made it past the bad hill, we had one last challenge - at mile 105 , the road ascends the edge of the hill going east.
Unfortunately, this section washed out, and unless one's tires are aired down, and shifted into 4Lo, you ain't makin' it.
Saturnino was already hard at work shoveling the loose rocks that littered the challenging last real section of trail.
Soon, everyone appeared with shovels - even Dani the dog scratched the ground a little!
We said our good-byes to Jack, Rich T., Paul W., and Jim (along with their respective passengers) before following Saturnino to his friend Sergio's
place. Here, we aired up our tires and reconnected swaybar links. The vehicles were all surprisingly clean, considering it had rained sporadically
throughout Saturday.
Leidys wouldn't get out of the Jeep, due to there being two large dogs on Sergio's property.
Anyone find any insulators or other artifacts photographed?
I came across this neat isolator fragment, but I carefully placed it and the nail with wood beside some rocks for
others to marvel at it in the future.
Once all of the vehicles made it past the bad hill, we had one last challenge - at mile 105 , the road ascends the edge of the hill going east.
Unfortunately, this section washed out, and unless one's tires are aired down, and shifted into 4Lo, you ain't makin' it.
Saturnino was already hard at work shoveling the loose rocks that littered the challenging last real section of trail.
Lots of worry about fuel for such a long trip.
Got around to filling the Jeep tank. Highway from ElDorado Pmex to the 2D Pmex near Hwy5 16.9 MPG. Then from the 2D Pmex back to ElDorado Pmex 8.6 MPG
with 8 gallons remaining in the tank. The Jeep has 5.35 gears and 12.5x15 tires and was heavily loaded. 15 psi tires starting at the turn off at 2D.
Pretty happy with the fuel usage. The Bronco I sold got half those fuel mileage numbers.
And yes I did get a Check engine light one morning. Turned out to be a loose gas cap. Light went out after reinstalling the cap.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
Thankyou to Baja Bound
Mexico InsuranceServices for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.
Emergency Baja Contacts Include:
Desert Hawks;
El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262
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