So my plans to attend BorregoFest fell through, and I hoped to make the best of the day. I headed out to explore some new areas and do some shooting at the local range.
Started out heading up to Otay Mtn as there were a few new trails I wanted to check out. I knew exactly where I was going, or so I thought... Quickly got lost, but after recognizing some land features, I finally made my way back to a familiar trail. And then I faced this:
This is an old picture, but you get the idea. The picture does not do the steepness of this hill justice. I have been up and down this several times and it's major pucker factor.
Today, however, it was pretty tore up. Lots of big ruts and loose rock. I got about a quarter of the way up and was sliding around so much, I decided to back down. Of course being by myself, I had no spotter. And due to incline, the seat belt was locked up so I couldn't look back very well. I was making good progress and then I slid sideways into a rut.
The truck was teeter-tottering pretty bad and I thought for sure I was going over. I carefully climbed out and assessed the situation and finally was able to negotiate myself out of the situation oh so carefully and backed down. I swallowed my pride and took the bypass...
Close up of one of the rougher sections, doesn't do it justice:
Up on top, I thought my troubles were behind me. Until I discovered myself on the wrong side of a locked gate, with no way out except to backtrack about 5 miles and go down the hill I just came up. What happened next I would rather not detail, but I was able to get past the gate. Let's just say I am glad a border patrol didn't happen by at that time.
Otay is pretty tame, but I have gotten in trouble a couple of times, mainly due to me not being careful. Here's another time I got in trouble a few years ago (crappy cell phone pics):
Started out heading up to Otay Mtn as there were a few new trails I wanted to check out. I knew exactly where I was going, or so I thought... Quickly got lost, but after recognizing some land features, I finally made my way back to a familiar trail. And then I faced this:
This is an old picture, but you get the idea. The picture does not do the steepness of this hill justice. I have been up and down this several times and it's major pucker factor.
Today, however, it was pretty tore up. Lots of big ruts and loose rock. I got about a quarter of the way up and was sliding around so much, I decided to back down. Of course being by myself, I had no spotter. And due to incline, the seat belt was locked up so I couldn't look back very well. I was making good progress and then I slid sideways into a rut.
The truck was teeter-tottering pretty bad and I thought for sure I was going over. I carefully climbed out and assessed the situation and finally was able to negotiate myself out of the situation oh so carefully and backed down. I swallowed my pride and took the bypass...
Close up of one of the rougher sections, doesn't do it justice:
Up on top, I thought my troubles were behind me. Until I discovered myself on the wrong side of a locked gate, with no way out except to backtrack about 5 miles and go down the hill I just came up. What happened next I would rather not detail, but I was able to get past the gate. Let's just say I am glad a border patrol didn't happen by at that time.
Otay is pretty tame, but I have gotten in trouble a couple of times, mainly due to me not being careful. Here's another time I got in trouble a few years ago (crappy cell phone pics):
