Question re dangerous part of road near Hunter-Liggett Army Base

Any CA 4Runner drivers with knowledge of the Hunter-Liggett area (Big Sur) want to help me with a technical offroading question?

yesterday I was attempting to climbing unmarked Forest road towards Miguel campground off South Coast Rt 4. before I got to the top I hit a fire gate and started turning around. then I noticed there was a shortcut back to Nacimiento Ferguson road (I had read it was closed but I could not reach any ranger to confirm that so thought it would be worth a try). This "shortcut" road was very steep, and seemed rarely traveled, with loads of loose rock. However, I thought it would be a good "training" road and knew I wasn't too far from civilization.

After a few harrowing side-slides during steep parts, my heart rate elevated. Not too many places to turn around so I continued. I finally came across a very steep section with even more loose rock than the previous sections and maybe a few degrees steeper. Probably my first "oh s*it" moment as I looked back up and definitely second-guessed my stock '21 ORP's abilities to get back up. No cell reception. Saw tire tracks going down but my thought process was: my tires aren't good enough for this, I was already side-sliding on the loose rock above, and this was quite a bit steeper and looser. Instinct said turn around. This was the spot:

https://www.gaiagps.com/public/DXBT2ZajK6t8rVkRNcUebvP8

Has anyone here been to this road/location? Genuinely curious if I could have made it.

In any event, I decided to play it safe and go back up. I had a brief moment of panic - if I couldn't make it back, I'd need to try to go down this monster section - honestly not even a terrain type I thought I'd encounter. If I lost control of traction (and I had 4L + ATRAC + rear locker engaged + in 1st gear) I visualized myself turning sideways and then, due to the intense angle, rolling and rolling off the cliff. There was no good "recovery" section for me to just gas it downhill to retain traction and I very likely would have lost braking ability.

Going up however was actually really breezy! Stayed in 4L/ATRAC/rear locker and apart from a few skids it was *much* easier than going down, which was harrowing (particularly as I was on my own, in 99 degree heat, though had MaxTrax and my Garmin inReach). Yes, not my smartest moment by far. Boy was I glad to reach the main fire road - I was "coaching" my ORP all the way up and was so thankful it had no issues.

I really wish I had taken a photo of this section because I'd love any advice for how to tackle this situation moving forward. If anyone knows of this section (see photo from afar) I'd love to know how it could be approached (maybe a 4Runner with better tires, or a Wrangler given the slightly better stability?)... Or if anyone has any advice for how to handle very steep descents on very loose rock, would be much appreciated!

 

Just need to be careful of ever changing conditions due to the rains.

Aside from that, the road leading up to, as well as the other trails after it, are easy.

For anything steep, I just throw it in 4L and in L gear to control my speeds.

 

Just a heads up, if you're from around the area and you're ever wary about trails, etc. just tag me or something.

I live in Monterey County.

I might have an old rig, but I can get around.

 

Thanks, @Kwikvette really appreciate the offer.

 

Not from CA but...

I find on side hill off camber sections, if you feel the vehicle tipping like it's going to roll - point your tires down hill and punch it (give it some throttle). Our 4Runners can get really sideways and not roll over.

Kayla is a member of our off road group and she loves getting sideways as much as I do:


Another example. I know the driver of this G Wagon - he owns an overland store, he was tired and wasn't paying attention to where he was going. I have a good idea of exactly where this happened even though I was not on this trail ride:

He chose to winch out of that hole pulling his driver side down to the trail:


He could have driven out of it by turning his front wheels to the right (down hill) and either going forward or reverse.
Turning his tires to the left would result in the vehicle tipping over.

No pics of video, but last fall a new friend of mine had just bought a 4Runner Off Road. He road along on a trail ride with me, where I showed him to some basic tips / tricks of the 4Runner off road. As I was chatting with him, I fell into a similar hole like the G Wagon above. Without loosing stride, I was like... when this happens turn your tires down hill and use your rear locker to power out of the hole. Pulled right out of it.

Rock sliders will protect your doors from that wall.

Off camber / side hill sections are weird though. Sometime you need to go high on the hill sometimes you need to go low.
Look at that famous Black Bear Pass section. Guys that rolled on it went high on it. The correct way is the low side near the edge...

 

Going 2 wheels is fun though!



In my avatar, my driver side went even higher

 

Nice!
I agree but it's an acquired taste! Took me a bit to get used to it. This is more of a stuffed pic vs a lifted tire pic. I'm still trying to get a good lifted tire pic.

 

Slippery, loose rock going uphill in my Prerunner some 2 years ago



And my avatar pic

 

Speaking of stuffed, I remember someone arguing with me as to how I'm wrong about having extended bumpstops and whatnot.

Told him I can still stuff it pretty wheel; here's one from last year with 33s on Durobump stops and King 2.5s



And another stuffed pic



Do agree with the above; way easier going uphill than downhill.

 

Hunted Fort Hunter Liggett over 100 times for quail, pigs, & deer.

Remember many of the roads/trails are made by TANKS.

Got stuck bad once in my FJ40; took two days to get out (busted a tow truck, another FJ, and burned out a winch getting out!).

 

I kind of wondered that about some of these huge bumpstops I see. Seems like they would limit the travel of the suspension.

 

Their biggest selling point is that when you slam hard on them, the shock wave is cushioned exponentially.

I go wheeling often where I have to "bump" something only to send my front wheels in the air and slam hard. Same for the rear on drop offs.

Even after having sciatica just months ago, all the slamming has had no effect at all on my back and I'm thankful for it.

Here are the front bumpstops -



Here are the rear bumpstops -

 

I have nothing constructive to add but my unit deployed there for 6 months in 1985. We were a Cav unit out of Ft. Hood testing a new Air Defense system. Troops called it "Ft. Hungry-Lizard" for some reason and I think we got hardship pay since the place was near absolutely nothing. We were happy to leave that place.