El Camino Del Diablo 2006 (Trip Report)

[Scott Brady]

Wonderful adventure with excellent people. I had a great time, and really enjoyed visiting the trail again.

More wonderful memories!

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2006/ECDD/IMG_8790.JPG

So, post up some pictures, and share your stories :)

To refer to the trip planning thread, with lots of great info: GO HERE (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=451)

Attendees:

1. Scott: ARB 4Runner with Adventure Trailer
2. Al: Tacoma
3. Brian: Discovery
4. Vince: Tacoma
5. Jonathan: FJ40
6. Mark: 06 Frontier
7. Dude: Tacoma
8. Uwe: 4Runner
9. Ed: FJ40 with Adventure Trailer
10. Chris: Tacoma
11. Mario and Alex: Unlimited with Adventure Trailer

[flyingwil]

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2006/ECDD/IMG_8790.JPG

So, post up some pictures, and share your stories :)


What a Picture:exclaim:

This thread will be some fun to watch!:lurk:

[blaze one]

WOW ! , great shot indeed , you really get a sense of speed with that one . Looks like it was a great , fun journey . Did you get any more shots of that awsome ARB 4Runner ? .

[ErrinV]

Wow 3 Adventure Trailers on the trip! Can't wait to hear the feedback on these things. Looked at them 2 weeks ago. Kinda looks like a trailer is behind that jeep in the pic too!

Errin

[Jonathan Hanson]

http://www.jandrhanson.com/Tinajasaltas.jpg

It was a great trip. Thanks for including me!

[Jonathan Hanson]

http://www.jandrhanson.com/Uta.jpg

http://www.jandrhanson.com/oldandnew.jpg

[BajaTaco]

Great pics!!

Wow, another incredible journey. Thanks to everyone.

http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/expoCDD0601.jpg


http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/expoCDD0602.jpg


http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/expoCDD0603.jpg

[BMAN]

I...need.....more...pics...

[Ursidae69]

Cool pics, looking forward for more. Nice closeup on the fence lizard Jonathan! :)

[desertgirl66]

We had too much fun! The scenery was spectacular and we had an awesome group of folks to share the adventure with. Can't wait for the next one! :campfire:

Photos del diablo here (http://homepage.mac.com/kristinahall/PhotoAlbum6.html)

[elcoyote]

Thanks to all on the trip. What a fantastic place to visit with kindred spirit wanderers. I am sure to be cleaning out Cabeza Prieta bull dust for days ;)
Here's Ed making up some time in Organ Pipe...
1286

...and a little addendum to the Disco Owners Field Service Manual LOL
1287

[DaktariEd]

We had too much fun! The scenery was spectacular and we had an awesome group of folks to share the adventure with. Can't wait for the next one! :campfire:

Photos del diablo here (http://homepage.mac.com/kristinahall/PhotoAlbum6.html)

Cool, Christina! You got your pics uploaded so fast!
I'll try to get some done tonight...

Ed

[datrupr]

Wow great pics. Was that the park in Ajo that you had lunch at? So far sounds like a good trip, I can't wait to read more about it and see more pics, so c'mon everyone, lets start posting up here!

[desertgirl66]

Yes that was the park in Ajo! Coming off the long and dusty trail!

Well back to getting some dust off of something:elkgrin:

[Brian McVickers]

Hi all!
Well, Amy and I can't begin to express our gratitude to the group. We decided that you are all some of the best people we have ever traveled with! We were amazed by the ingenuity, organization, safety, and speed that everyone operated with. Best of all was the positive attitude, the flexibility and patience demonstrated by all! We can't thank you enough and we very much look forward to seeing you all again and getting back out on the trail!:clapsmile :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :clapsmile

[Brian McVickers]

Ok, so for what I hope is the only casualty story from the El Camino Del Diablo trip.

Amy and I were driving along El Camino Del Diablo.
We were about 35 miles into the trail with most of the group ahead of us and behind us was Vince, Scott, Mario & Alex, Pasquale and Christina and Al bringing up the rear with the 2meter. We were rolling at about 8 mph when we drove over a bit of a dip in the trail, the type of thing you usually don't even notice! As our rear wheels rolled through the dip we heard BANG!! I said "Oh Sh** I think we just blew a tire!":eek: I stuck my head out the window to look at the left rear tire but it was fine. The sound was the left rear suspension airbag EXPLODING! The top blew off the airbag and the frame was resting on the axle, we were DONE!:o

The most amazing thing was to see 11 vehicles full of enthusiasts jump into action. You could just hear everyone thinking
"cool something broke, lets fix it!" :jump:
As I crawled out from under the vehicle in disbelief Scott immediately came up with a plan to unload all the weight from the vehicle and load it into the Adventure Trailers. Then Mario crawled under to assess the damage, Al found some 2x4s in his truck, Vince got to use his saw and cut the wood into blocks, Scott and Greg used the Hi-Lift to jack up the truck, the wood blocks were taped together and secured to the axle with a ratchet strap, the truck lowered, the trailing arm secured to the frame with another strap to limit travel, the tires aired down further to absorb and we were under way!:victory: This was a great display of calm heads and level educated thinking that drew from years of experience.

Besides I think everyone was having way too much fun fixing the broken truck! Greg was making wise cracks! Vince was running around with his saw and a HUGE smile in his face! Christina and Amy were laughing! Pasquale was filming his next expedition documentary and Mario was having enough fun to roll around in the dirt to fix someone else's truck! :jumping:


As the rest of the group went ahead to camp Scott went ahead of Amy and I to scout the trail for obstacles while Alex, Mario and Al followed. We drove the last 6 miles to camp at 2-5 mph!

Camp was a welcome relaxation with Pasquale and Vince on guitars for entertainment some great dinner and a well deserved cold beer under the stars!!:beer: :camping:

We left the next morning and covered the anticipated 3 hour drive out to the highway from camp in about 75 minutes! The truck was feeling great and the fix was remaining solid. After some brief thought on waiting for a tow truck Amy and I decided to go for it. We drove the 180 miles home to Phoenix with a stack of wood blocks and ratchet straps for our left rear suspension! I believe we averaged about 45mph and at one point of flat straight road we topped out at 60mph. The concern for safety made me slow down but the suspension felt secure!

We stopped at home, unloaded our gear and drove to the dealership. After hearing our story the service department rep said that they had never had anyone do a road side fix like this before! The air spring will be covered under warranty and we will just go ahead and let them fix it that way. We will then carry a spare bag until we can move forward with replacing the rear suspension with heavy duty coil springs.;)

Not to be deterred Amy and I took Oliver:elkgrin: and our new "loaner" 2006 Land Rover LR3 for a road trip up to Payson for a great day of hiking on Sunday!:victory:

Thanks again for a great weekend!!!
Brian & Amy

[blupaddler]

Thanks for sharing the photos everyone!

Looks like a great trip.





Coyote, did you break a spring? Quite inventive with the two ratchet straps and blocks with duct tape. I hope nobody was injured, minus egos, that is. Sorry about the breakage. :(

[articulate]

Thanks for sharing the photos everyone!

Looks like a great trip.





Coyote, did you break a spring? Quite inventive with the two ratchet straps and blocks with duct tape. I hope nobody was injured, minus egos, that is. Sorry about the breakage. :(
That was Brian's Discovery with the blown air bag (his story is above your post :) ). Check out Mario, here, doing his magic.

If he's this good with duct tape and a ratchet strap, think about how awesome his trailers are....!
http://www.markdstephens.com/el_camino_del_diablo/expo_2006/mario_fixing.jpg

More pics on the way......

Brian, we're sorry you couldn't be there for the rest of the weekend. I feel like I made some superb friends. Thanks for making my life rich, folks. Gracias.

Mark

[articulate]

What does fun look like, anyway? This?
http://www.markdstephens.com/el_camino_del_diablo/expo_2006/expedition_1.jpg

Maybe this?
http://www.markdstephens.com/el_camino_del_diablo/expo_2006/the_boys.jpg

Yes, definately that. But this is really fun, too:
http://www.markdstephens.com/el_camino_del_diablo/expo_2006/nissan.jpg

All available on El Camino Del Diablo. No cover charge, no drink minimum. There's even live music if you're lucky.

Jonathan, nice lizard photo. I knew something was up when you excused yourself from the fire circle and said, "I'm going to go see if there are any rodents out there."

Ed, where are the examples from that mammoth-sized camera lens?

Cheers,
Mark

[DaktariEd]

OK, folks...I spent the last couple of hours selecting, & processing photos....and mostly struggling to get Yahoo! to upload them!

Anyway here are a few (out of 250+) without captions. I'll see about adding those later.

El Camino del Diablo 2006 (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daktaried/album?.dir=34ca)

Enjoy! :D
Oh, and sorry about leaning a bit heavily on the FJ40's...I'm kind of attached you know!
:victory:
Ed

[Brian McVickers]

Great Pictures Everyone!

[whitethaiger]

Great pics, you guys are quick.

We had a great time meeting everyone and catching up with old friends!

http://www.whitethaiger.net/pics_ext/vince_eyes.JPG

[articulate]

Enjoy! :D
Oh, and sorry about leaning a bit heavily on the FJ40's...I'm kind of attached you know!
:victory:
Ed
Someone's heavy on a little something else, too:
The bar is open (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daktaried/detail?.dir=34ca&.dnm=771cscd.jpg&.src=ph)

I like how Al knows everything about the natural world as well as distilled things inside of bottles. Ed, that's a fantastic photo of real expedition hero.

[whitethaiger]

When it got too dusty from all the traffic in front of us we used views like these to see what's around us.....

[goodtimes]

You guys all suck really bad, you know that right? I can't even read this thread due to the lack of time ... let alone go have my own adventures.



Do I even need to click on "the bar is open" link above to know who and what it is a picture of? :beer:

Let me guess....Al, in his chair or on his tailgate (more likely the chair), with the roll-up table next to him with either a bottle of Sauza (if said pic was in the afternoon/evening), or a bottle of bailey's and a coffee pot (if said pic was taken in the morning). Am I close?:elkgrin:

[Jonathan Hanson]

Good guess, Brian!

Incidentally, did anyone else note that the Border Patrol appeared to be using brand new Goodyear Wranglers for their tire drags? I never walked over and checked a string to see if they might have been damaged or something, but the treads seemed to be pristine. Our tax dollars at work?

And here's what is now smack in the middle of the Camino; middle of nowhere:

http://www.jandrhanson.com/BPsubstation.jpg

Of course, looked at objectively, having a substation reduces daily traffic into and out of the refuge. But it was surreal to come over the hill and see this.

[DaktariEd]

Good guess, Brian!

Incidentally, did anyone else note that the Border Patrol appeared to be using brand new Goodyear Wranglers for their tire drags? I never walked over and checked a string to see if they might have been damaged or something, but the treads seemed to be pristine. Our tax dollars at work?


Actually, yes! I thought the same thing. Those tires looked like they had barely been used, were new, or whatever....but they looked good!

I thought I was imagining it...
LOL
:elkgrin:
Ed

[datrupr]

Great pics Ed! Keep em coming everyone, because even though you guys all suck I still want to continue seething over not being able to go on this trip. Sounds like fun was had by everyone, even while doing trail repairs.


Speaking of trail repairs, how many strap do you have holding your truck together Brian? When I saw you Wed. evening you were adding straps to your rack, then you get home by using straps on your suspension! That as far as a trail repair goes is very ingenius. Glad you and Amy made home safely and the Disco is getting properly repaired. Sorry to hear that you could not continue on for Sunday's travels. How did that gas can work out for you? Did it leak?

Well, since you all had a fun time last weekend, I have great fun planned for this weekend if anyone is interested?...........Who wants to lay tile???

[articulate]

Good guess, Brian!

Incidentally, did anyone else note that the Border Patrol appeared to be using brand new Goodyear Wranglers for their tire drags? I never walked over and checked a string to see if they might have been damaged or something, but the treads seemed to be pristine. Our tax dollars at work?
Greg and I noticed that as well, and wondered if the tires were somehow damaged since the treads looked new. As I recall, you made a comment about the USBP using Humvees to drag those strings of tires. From dragger to draggee, seems an expensive way to level the road indeed. Hmm...

[Brian McVickers]

Speaking of trail repairs, how many strap do you have holding your truck together Brian?

Very Funny!:xxrotflma

It took two straps to fix the suspension. Mario is the master of straps!

The two straps I put on the roof rack to help stabalize it both broke by the end of the trip! My roof rack needs to go into retirement or else it needs some serious modifications. The legs of the rack are not reinforced enought and allow the whole thing to wobble.
Ah, this is how we learn and learning is fun!:exclaim:

[flywgn]

Great fun reading this thread! :coffee: No guessing that everyone had a good time. Brian, your "fix-it" story is truly worthy of being placed in the annals of Trail-Side Repair Made Easy.

As for the questions about the GY Wranglers, so...What's the issue? Seems a good use for them in my book.:D Okay, okay, just kidding you guys. That just came out.

My only complaint from the non-participant side is that SOMEONE got the dates wrong, and we came out of Baja several days early 'cause someone thought the trip was ending on Monday! Only good thing to come from that is that we didn't have to spend the night (last night) in Gila Bend's finest. :victory:

[Scott Brady]

in Gila Bend's finest. :victory:

You mean the Space Age Lodge :)

[flywgn]

You mean the Space Age Lodge :)


Bingo! You win the prize!

[DaktariEd]

OK! I just stitched together some photos to create larger panoramas from the El Camino del Diablo trip. :victory:
The files are a tad large but what do you expect?

The first couple are pretty good. The others, so-so.

Hope you enjoy! :D

Ed

Diablo Camp 1A (http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/DiabloPhotos/DiabloCamp1.jpeg)

Diablo Camp 1B (http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/DiabloPhotos/DiabloCamp3.jpeg)

Diablo Camp 1C (http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/DiabloPhotos/DiabloCamp2.jpeg)

In the Middle of Nowhere! (http://www.geocities.com/daktaried/DiabloPhotos/Diablo3.jpeg)

[Scott Brady]

I love that middle of nowhere photo. SWEET!

[whitethaiger]

Guess that photo was too popular. I get:

The GeoCities web site you were trying to view has temporarily exceeded its data transfer limit. Please try again later.

[Brian McVickers]

The Hula Girl is all fixed up!:luxhello:

I picked her up this afternoon.
She has a new rear left suspension and they even washed her!:sunny:

Thanks again to all those who helped nurse her back to health.

We're ready for our next ADVENTURE!!

:archaeolo :rappel: :camping: :victory:

[DaktariEd]

Guess that photo was too popular. I get:

The GeoCities web site you were trying to view has temporarily exceeded its data transfer limit. Please try again later.



I just purchased more bandwidth on Yahoo! :mad:
Try it again and let me know if the error recurs....

Ed

[DaktariEd]

I went through my album (El Camino del Diablo Album (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daktaried/album?.dir=34ca)) and added a few captions.
Feel free to suggest changes, additions, or other silly remarks that I might add.
:D
Ed

[articulate]

I went through my album (El Camino del Diablo Album (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daktaried/album?.dir=34ca)) and added a few captions.
Feel free to suggest changes, additions, or other silly remarks that I might add.
:D
Ed
Crackin' me UP with those captions. That burrito one is perfect!

[whitethaiger]

I just purchased more bandwidth on Yahoo! :mad:
Try it again and let me know if the error recurs....

Ed

Yup, that did the job. Just went back to the album and showed the good stuff to Srisuda.

[flywgn]

Nice photos folks. Makes us who couldn't go along jealous.

Gee, there are some nice rigs in this group.

[Scott Brady]

Yeah...it IS chrome...isn't it? :xxrotflma

[whitethaiger]

....
Gee, there are some nice rigs in this group.

Yeah, the convoy drew attention. As we assembled the group outside Yuma people were slowing down as they drove by. Then at the end in Ajo at the town square I noticed a couple of bikers doing an extra loop around the cirlce to check out the rigs.

Following an FJ40 through the desert down there certainly added to the ambience.

[datrupr]

Ed, again, great photos and thanks for sharing.

Brian, good to hear that you have cut the strap # in half in terms of keeping your truck together. Now, all you have to do while it is clean is weld up those supports for your rack, remove those last two straps, and go and get it dirty:victory:

[BajaTaco]

Some images of where we camped near Tinajas Altas - as seen in Google Earth

[elcoyote]

Kudos on the great article in the September issue of Off Road! Nicely written by Scott and gives the flavor of the area for the adventurer in contrast to the dark side as represented in NG Adventure this month. Don't get me wrong, I think both views are important and it is important that people travel informed.

[articulate]

Kudos on the great article in the September issue of Off Road! Nicely written by Scott and gives the flavor of the area for the adventurer in contrast to the dark side as represented in NG Adventure this month. Don't get me wrong, I think both views are important and it is important that people travel informed.
Good call! I'm interested in reading this NG Adventure article, now.

I'm digging those google earth shots, too, Chris. Nice.

[BajaTaco]

Good call! I'm interested in reading this NG Adventure article, now.

x2




I'm digging those google earth shots, too, Chris. Nice.

Yea, kind of fun to see a "virtual" 3D aerial view.

[datrupr]

I picked up a copy of NG Adventure for the flight down to Purta Vallarta, and also read the article. Very interesting contrast to the article Scott wrote for Off Road. And, great write up also Scott. I did learn in reading the NG article that O´Niell was the first person to ever drown in that area. Apperently, he drown while trying to round up a heard of burro´s after a heavy rain strom and fell face down into a pool of mud and drown. Don´t know actually how factual this is, but interesting none the same.

[Brian McVickers]

The little guide book/pamphlet that they give you when you register for your permit says that O'neill was drunk and fell/passed out into a watering trough and drowned.:friday: Or at least that's what I remember reading!

Either way, amazing to drown in the middle of the desert.

[BajaTaco]

I finally added a trip report to bajataco.com

Check it out (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/index.htm)

[articulate]

I finally added a trip report to bajataco.com

Check it out (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/index.htm)
:wings: :wings: :wings:

I'm going to read it RIGHT NOW....

[flyingwil]

I finally added a trip report to bajataco.com

Check it out (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/index.htm)

Nice Pic's Chris! You seem to have a great eye to catch the artistic views I would easily overlook. Also when I went through Ajo, last month, I bumped into a nicely equipped BLM owned Power Wagon, they set them up quite nicely.

[articulate]

Way to go, Chris. This shot is PERFECT:
http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd28.jpg
It's not a fancy sunset shot, but photographing the tinajas is tough; you've got to have a person in it to help display the size of those things. The exposure damn nice.

Vince ought to be pleased to have this picture of him on the 'net:
Stuffing his face (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd39.jpg)

I wonder where I can get this hat:
He's a cute old guy, makin' them young girls cry (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd59a.jpg).

Seriously: nice photos. Thanks

[Jonathan Hanson]

Nice photos, Chris!

It was sweet of you to include a shot of Mark's Antichrist Nissan, so he won't feel lonely.

[datrupr]

Jonathan, it is not the Anti-Chrtist Nissan, it is the Anti-Expeditions West Nissan:p :shakin:

[DaktariEd]

Great Photos, Chris!
Enjoyed the trip all over again!

:D

[whitethaiger]

Great album Chris, well worth the wait!

[VikingVince]

Nice to revisit the trip, Chris...and all the folk...got a kick outa my double-fisted eating/drinking pic:beer: :exclaim:

[BajaTaco]

Wow, thanks very much for the comments guys :luxhello: That was such a cool trip. Mark, thanks for the feedback!

Mark, I don't know if Vince should be half as concerned as you... seeing as how you didn't have any pants on! (http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd53.jpg) LOL

You can tell Roseann has been gone for more than 24 hrs now... LOL... Jonathan is using words like "antichrist"... LOL

Vince! Glad to have you back at the ranch here pal. :ylsmoke:

[Scott Brady]

HA! Look at Mark's expression :xxrotflma

http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd53.jpg

[datrupr]

Why does Mark look like he is up to no good in that picture? With no pants on???:xxrotflma :xxrotflma

[datrupr]

OK Chris, people could take this picture the wrong way based on the caption you wrote.

http://www.bajataco.com/caminodeldiablo06/L_cdd53.jpg

I really don't know if the world needs to know what a "fun" guy Mark is........With his pants off.

[BajaTaco]

OK Chris, people could take this picture the wrong way based on the caption you wrote...



I really don't know if the world needs to know what a "fun" guy Mark is........With his pants off.

LMAO!!!!!!!!! :xxrotflma :jump:

:clapsmile

[Ursidae69]

Chris, your photos are always great!!!

EDIT, I removed an attachment.

[articulate]

You guys are killing me :xxrotflma



I really don't know if the world needs to know what a "fun" guy Mark is........With his pants off.
Sure they do!

What we don't want to do is communicate to the whole wide world that expeditions aren't serious, arduous work, only fit for the determined and financially independent. Not this pantless, immature, drunken fun that they really are.

Mark

[BajaTaco]

...Not this pantless, immature, drunken fun that they really are.

:xxrotflma :friday: :sombrero: :wings:

[Scenic WonderRunner]

OK...........!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stoppit!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are scaring me.........!!!!!!!!!:yikes:

Should I be worried about the Monument Valley trip.........?!!


.............:camping:.............:friday: .............. :sombrero:



....although....I must admit!.....sometimes I do take my pants off for Cool Running Water!:costumed-smiley-007



.................:sombrero:



.

[DaktariEd]

OK......
....although....I must admit!.....sometimes I do take my pants off for Cool Running Water!:costumed-smiley-007

.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!
:yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:
May too much information there!!!

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Well..........

why get your swim trunks wet............

.......if nobody is a lookin'.............!........:arabia:






................hehe:friday:

[Desertdude]

Stellar photos Chris !

You should see them on the 30" monitor :088:

[BajaTaco]

You should see them on the 30" monitor :088:

Whoa!! You must mean the large versions that you have, not the ones on the web gallery, right? 30" monitor! Holy cow. Must be nice. :D

[Desertdude]

Whoa!! You must mean the large versions that you have, not the ones on the web gallery, right? 30" monitor! Holy cow. Must be nice. :D

correct ;) I have been enjoying those all day yesterday :D