Date:         Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:51:49 -0400
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Baja Syncro Chronicles vol 113, long

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:25:01 -0800, Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:

>The most common reason I see is that there are well used tire tracks
>running lots of places. People follow those thinking that if all those
>other people could make it so can they. They don't know that the tracks
>were made by the countless small ATV type vehicles cruising around.
>
>Syncros can do amazing things but most of the time in Baja they are
>loaded down with people and stuff to the point where getting stuck is
>more likely than normal.
>
>

  No offence meant to those with real handicaps, but we call those
obnoxious little 4-wheeler ATVs "Baja Wheelchairs".  It seems like almost
every fat, lazy Gringo owns one and NEVER walks anywhere in Baja.  They
take those things up and down the beaches, making the strand into
a 'freeway', just like they leave back in the States..Ugg!

  Getting stuck in Baja?  Quite a common thing, what with all the sand,
which is difficult to negotiate properly.  A few hints:  Absolutely do keep
up your momentum until you get through the soft spots...Plan where you can
(hopefully without sinking in) stop before you go into an 'iffy' section.
Look for some firmer section or a slight downhill slope if you do plan on
stopping..Keep in mind how you will maybe (eventually) get pulled out, if
you do decide to try a dicey forray into the sand...We watched a 26'
Bounder sink slowly (over the course of a few days and high tides) into the
sea at Jauncalito after it's owner decided to take a long low tide drive on
the hard sand and got beyond reach of any possible rescue...
  Air cooled vans do go pretty well on sand with big tires.  An on-board
aircompressor for re-inflating tires is a good tool.  Sometimes de-airing
down to 10psi is what it takes to negotiate soft sand, if you must.
  Don Hanson