Hah, I actually put this on my Spotify back almost half a decade ago. Love the song, sad story by the end though :'(
Definitely can't fail with Pops Damper and Uncle "Soothing Voice" Reeves. 100% trusting in the process.
and I really appreciate the tip on the SS, will buy two 
One of my favorites.
I thought you were going day take the screw off someone else's truck!Go over to HD or Lowes and take the right screw out in the parking lot. Bring it inside and match it up with something there.
SRT was just what SWAT was rebranded.Had to google SRT officers. Learn something new everyday. That's exactly what they looked like
Wow, didn't know that. But do we still have SWAT teams or are they also rebranded to SRT? Wondering if SRT is only for certain things like BP, FBI etc.
I have been on the trail twice, did you enter next to a Camp ground? It had a brown metal gate. That is the best entrance. It sounds like you went through the El Campo side. They have active duty Marines all over that area. Me and buddy were both former Marines and we chat with them when we went there. They have some off shoots that if you went the wrong way definitely you see federalist, and you'll end up in TJ Mexico. You might end up fighting you're way back to the US. But over all good experience.Hello friends,
Warning: a long long story about my off-road adventure last night. Involves border patrol, illegal immigrants, NVG’s and more.
Boy oh boy, where do I start… so I went out to Otay Mountain truck trail to help a friend go through some tough times. You know, get out, show him different things. Man did we get that. The trip was riddled with surprises or problems…
First problem.. google maps took me through private land full of chains and trespassing signs. Found a different route and re-routed to get to the trail.
Second problem. Guess what, big big illegal immigration border crossing night! There’s a sign before the trail with mile indicators. 5 miles otay mountain summit -> and Mexico <- 4 miles.
Drive a few miles into the trail as sun is setting, border patrol is stopped on the side but whipped in front of me and blocked me in. Usually they just wave and let you go along the trail.. BP asks to search my vehicle, asks to open rear doors and my trunk to look under my bed of my camper shell, etc. I say sure because I get it’s just their job and I have nothing to hide. We talk about my truck since he mentions how nice it is.I go “I put 12k in this truck” “haha I can tell” he asks me to open my tail gate, I oblige since again, just doing his job. He notices I have body armor in the back and he goes “body armor huh?” “Yeah I enjoy shooting” “are you Navy or Army?” “Nope” he looks down at my appendix and notices my CCW belt clip showing “okay have a good day”
Second issue, had multiple bp stop me and ask what I was doing in the area. “Just off-roading and taking pictures” and they went on their ways. Probably was notedthat I’ve already been searched and stopped.. but here’s the real issue, I get to the end of the trail and usually you can hop on the freeway shortly after the hour and a half long trail you just did, but NOPE. Hard ass border patrol sat in his van at the gate until I turned on my interior lights, stepped out the vehicle and asked with a wave “is this border patrol here” he stepped out, “I asked is this gate closed and can I go through?” Points at sign of “trespassing private property gate closed” even though I have gone through here and yesterday SoCal off road group confirmed it was open. Tells me I have to go all the way back I came through. Even though technically I’m on the “trespassing” side and the side he was on was a public freeway entrance… so now I’m here at the supposed end of my trail at 9pm and I have to go back the way I came and I get home at 11 pm. Luckily I gassed to full before I went on the trail…
Just my luck on the big illegal border crossing night huh? However, what was SUPER COOL. Apparently they have contracted military operators… on my way back through the trail in pitch darkness on the mountain a contracter full kitted stepped out of the bushes with the best bush camouflage I have seen with full NVG’s, body armor and rifle/pistol… he just watches me as I go by, no big deal…. Drive 25 ft… and 5 bush operators come out with full nvg and kits… lead operator(I am guessing) as I wave hi he has a “quick”
chat with me. “Oh so you’re the raptor we saw earlier huh? “Haha, no sir I am a ranger but sort of a raptor, tuned by ford performance and all” “cool truck, but disguised as a raptor huh haha” as we have this conversation, and before he asks the next question… another operator and DOG come out the bush to walk around my truck. He continues the conversation “uhh don’t they have raptor rangers in other countries?” As the dog finishes the search, I say” yeah in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Hawai’i, anywhere but here in the main states” and he goes “ ahh I see have a good night” as the dog finished his duties.
honestly.. kind of worth it being turned around and going through the whole trail again. Got to see neat things and test my night time off-road skills.
if you read through all of this, thank you. Sorry it was just such a long night full of different experiences from 4pm to 11pm..
Warm regards,
Brandon
EDIT: had a woman BP scream at me st the arrest site “keep fucking moving on” maybe because I saw their paid off undercover Mexicans changing clothes without handcuffs while their compadres sat cross legged and handcuffed in the dirt.. idk just an assumption
mexico at night
mexico at night
sunset at Otay mtn summit
Another summit view
Another summit sunset view
Sunset, little hill climb with a specific line before sunset before summit.
Pano of before summit, not quite as high but beautiful scenery
Another pic of the beauty at summit and a friend
mexico at night
Summit sunset view of Mexico
The brown gate at Pia Pico ended up being my exit. Alta road gate was my original exit. I entered through Marron Valley Road side, apparently it’s usually locked by residents but it was open at the time. Haha yeah, it basically looked like marines everywhere and regular BP for this night in particular. Luckily, I have the offline maps and was following the regular trail, no off shoots to mexico for me! A bit too wild of an adventure there
That makes sense. I did remember reading how they circumvent certain rules by creating all these new forces. Able to get certain funds etc etc.
Yeah, you went the long route, enter at pia Pico but carefully halfway up cause there is a big drop about 200 ft canyon and be ready to meet Border patrol in the area.The brown gate at Pia Pico ended up being my exit. Alta road gate was my original exit. I entered through Marron Valley Road side, apparently it’s usually locked by residents but it was open at the time. Haha yeah, it basically looked like marines everywhere and regular BP for this night in particular. Luckily, I have the offline maps and was following the regular trail, no off shoots to mexico for me! A bit too wild of an adventure there
Haha, yes I like this route because it lets me explore the whole trail and then pop back out on the 805 south through Alta road. Then I am home in no time. First time exiting through Pia Pico, it's a little more fun than the rest of the route in terms of grade/ruts.
What are you hunting Eli, farmers? Man, Texas sure is flat - I swear I can see Oklahoma in the background.Sounds like an exciting trip! Well heres my off road 4x2 adventure. Both tires spin!! No locker! Tracction control off, abs does all the rest so the tires spin! Both sides. Hope to make it out. Thats how i got in. Rain orshine. Im hunting
Texas is so wide open area, hopefully it's one shot one kill.Sounds like an exciting trip! Well heres my off road 4x2 adventure. Both tires spin!! No locker! Tracction control off, abs does all the rest so the tires spin! Both sides. Hope to make it out. Thats how i got in. Rain orshine. Im hunting
