Ocotillo Wells June 21 2024

Today my friend Pat asked me to join him for a day run in his recently purchased 2019 Tacoma Sport 4x4.

He had traveled with me in my 2010 Off Road 4x4 on a 10-day Baja tour back in 2016. Pat wanted an experienced Tacoma four-wheeler to guide him on how to drive off road. I was happy to offer my services and it made for a nice outing and catch up on our activities and medical issues of being over 65, LOL!

From my phone camera, I snapped a few images while bouncing in the 111° heat of this first full day of summer.


First we practiced sand driving and 4x4 shifting at Devil's Slide (Squaw Peak)

In Low Range, we climbed to the top for these two photos.

Next, we drove past Shell Reef and on to the Gas Dome, where gas makes bubbles in the muddy water.

Pat has a real camera!

Next we drive south to the 'Artesian Well' which was an oil drill prospect from 1920. They drilled down 4,000 feet only to strike hot water! The water is now cool as it gurgles out of a pipe making a short stream and watering this palm tree.


We go down to Hwy. 78 and back west to Burro Bend and Split Mountain Road for a long drive up Fish Creek.

Entering 'Broken Shaft Gulch'...

... to the bottom of Diablo Drop-Off.

There are about four routes up (most only go down this)...

We examine then and choose the least bad of the bunch.


It took letting more air out of the tires and committing to the climb fully. Pat made it! He was very jazzed and now more confident in his Toyota product. I do think a rear locker may be in his future!

We called these the 'Three Sisters'.

This Biker Bar by Lake Henshaw was closed, so we ate at the Lake Henshaw Café and it was very good with great service!

I hope you enjoyed this desert day trip!

 

In addition; to further my traction system data collection, we tested AUTO LSD in 2WD and the same (VSC) button push in 4WD HIGH activates TRAC OFF.
As I suspected, both modes help off road. They prevent the engine power cut (regulation) thus helping the truck climb further. TRAC OFF (and AUTO LSD) is TRAC with the engine regulation OFF for more power and more traction off road.
In Low Range, there is neither since the VSC is deactivated.
The Off Road TRD of course has both a rear locker and MTS (A-TRAC) with CRAWL in Low Range, but not the Sport TRD.

 

That is a lot of driving for one day. The pumpkin patch is an interesting area to visit in Ocotillo Wells. There is somewhat of a technical trail that runs west of it, towards Bank Wash. There are also two fire hydrants that off-roaders have installed on two hilltops. I can get you coordinates if you are interested but they involve hiking unless you ride a motorcycle or side by side.

Did you check out Slowjamastan?

 

I don't know that one. Can you share the location and story?

We talked about Pumpkin Patch and were nearby at Shell Reef, but we wanted to do some four wheeling over difficult stuff.

Pat did get a photo of me sampling the water temperature on the gas dome... just as a creature tried to pull me in!!!

 

Slowjamastan is a tongue-in-cheek micro-nation. Right off the 78, a few miles east of the Blu Inn. There are some humorous on-site signs and a drop gate to enter the ‘nation’. The name is derived from tne landowner who is a San Diego program director that likes to play slow jams.

https://www.slowjamastan.org/

 

Oh, same dude was in the news last year as having visited every country, in a year I believe.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/04/18/san-diegan-visits-every-country-in-the-world/

 

Intersting... link requires a subsription, but saw a little of the article before the pop up blocked it.
Thanks Chuy!

 

Well, Pat (the Tacoma Sport owner) recently made a comical video about the Lost Ship of the Desert and included some of our travels... plus the video of the mud pot creature pulling me in, at miniute 10:00 near the end.
https://youtu.be/nUSwJF8yPe4?si=iueOseKFAFhpCcsn