Devil's Highway Exploration Trip, March 2011

[dzJeepChic 2,897]

Here's a picture to start the thread. Please post your pictures from the trip here!

 

This is the 1st picture on my card; the 1st time we stopped after meeting and taking off from Tacna:

 

 

I'll have more pictures to post after I weed through them. It was a really nice weekend. The weather was perfect for wheeling and camping. We got to see some cool new (to us) stuff down there. We all enjoyed each others company and there was plenty of fun conversation. I had a very relaxing time! Thank you everybody who participated in the trip - we had a great time! d

[taggart_lumpy 0]

i cant wait to get my stuff together so i can start going with you guys

[oldhockeyvb 1]

Here ya go:

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2079730&id=1088970932&l=bc2ca06c43

[dzJeepChic 2,897]

What a fun trip! We met in Tacna at the Chevron where we got last minute gas & ice, and I called the group into the Barry Goldwater Range. Seven rigs attended. Shown left to right in the picture on the 1st post are OldhockeyVB, Luk4mud, Tank, Number 7's Dodge, peshaw48, MHead, Maddogjeeper, Gearhead. Right away after leaving Tacna Friday afternoon we came to that tank and stopped to take pictures.

 

 

 

 

The Gear

 

 

Artillery along the trail

 

 

On the way to Betty Lee Mine

 

 

Betty Lee Mine was a short hike up a creekbed, some pics from the site

 

 

 

 

 

 

We set up camp on the way to Betty Lee Tank

 

Phil Manor (peshaw48)

 

 

Casa de Mike & Sandy (MHead)

 

 

Bruce (Luk4mud) getting ready to relax

 

 

Vern & Dennis all set up (OldHockyvb & MaddogJeeper)

 

 

Continued

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[dzJeepChic 2,897]

Driver's Meeting Saturday Morning

 

 

Dennis' battery was dead

 

 

We went south along the eastern side of the Copper Mountains

 

 

 

 

When we reached the road that skirts the western side of the Copper Mountains, a few of us went south on it a couple miles to see if it went into the Cabeza Prieta. It does, but it's posted Road Closed so we turned around

 

 

Rescue Beacon along the way

 

 

Then we drove north along the western side of the Copper Mountains. We took a side road that went close along the base of the mountains for a while. We found an airplane fuselage

 

 

 

And Smith Mine

 

 

Gathered for lunch at Smith Mine

 

 

Further north from Smith Mine we found a bunch of tanks to play on.

 

 

 

 

Videos

 

 

 

Bad time to have your tank jam George

 

 

 

From the tanks we went a little further north and then went west on Hobbs Drag. I was driving and it was a blast hauling ass over the sand. Then we went south on the 'C' road, west through Cipriano Pass, south to an unnamed trail through another pass. Crossing back to the eastside of the Tinajas Altas was the only 4 Wheel Drive portion of the trip. That was the 1st time I wheeled the Dodge & it was fun.

 

We got to our campsite near the High Tanks about 4 PM (this picture taken Sunday morning)

 

 

Some of us carpooled down to the international border fence before dinner. One end offers several easy squeeze through spots

 

 

At the other end no squeeze necessary, you can waltz right across

 

 

 

 

Continued

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[dzJeepChic 2,897]

Sunday morning about half the group decided to head for the highway while the rest of us hiked over to the High Tanks.

 

Vern ready to hike tourista style

 

 

 

Hike along the Tinaja Altas

 

 

 

Hanging out at the lowest tank

 

 

 

Originally we were going to go from there to Fortuna Mine, but then we decided just to make an early day of it and head out to the highway at Wellton too.

 

 

Mike & Sandy coming to the end of the trail

 

 

We got to Wellton before lunch and each headed in our separate directions. It was an interesting trip because there was so much to see and do and it was fun with the group of people we had; lots of good conversation and laughs. Thanks all of you who made this trip a fun and relaxing adventure.

 

 

Here's the link to all the photos I uploaded: Diane's Picasa Albums

[theksmith 5,778]

thats so cool you could move the tank turrets

[BorregoWrangler 1]

Awesome trip! I would love to get out there one of these days.

[Maddogjeeper 2]

I didn't take many photos but what I did are on this link;

 

http://s482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/maddogjeepers/Devils%20Highway%202011/

[dzJeepChic 2,897]

thats so cool you could move the tank turrets

 

In one tank (in video) they were able to move the turret around and the guns up and down. In some others one or the other worked, but not both. We were going to try to film a mock battle but George discovered his guns wouldn't go up & down, that's when Bruce said 'Bad Time to have your Tank Jam, George'. 2 guys were required to turn the turret and operate the gun attitude, and more were needed to load and fire. This doesn't count the guy driving the tank.