Engineers Bypass Three Hells Hill

PIONEERTOWN – Following the decision of engineers Victor DeKalb, San Bernardino National Forest, and Pat Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps Base, to bypass Three Hells Hill and to skirt the side of the hill along the route the Valle de las Vistas Club plan to take in 1951, a survey of this section of Pioneer Pass was made last Saturday.

With Bill Hatch donating his surveying equipment and members of his crew volunteering their time, one of the toughest problems in making Pioneer Pass travelable for two-wheel drive cars is being solved.

Engineers decision to bypass Three Hells Hill come after they had explored the old Valle de las Vistas route on foot.  At no place, Sullivan said, would the grade allow that route exceed seven percent.

Between the time of the survey and the big Pioneer Pass Push, heavy equipment will begin moving up the pass to be ready for the 15 finish up cruise that will be on the road on April 18, 19.

Members of the Hatch crew making the survey last Saturday were Gil Buck, engineer; Harold Hoffman and Jerry Moore.