THROUGH THE J-BAD PASS
Name: Old Blue
Posting date: 12/3/08
Returned from: Afghanistan
Milblog: Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure
I made the trip through the J-bad Pass a number of times during my deployment. Twice in one day, with one of them at night; which was crazy. It was one of the most dangerous things that I did the whole time in country. One of the drivers later told me that he had started hallucinating from fatigue during the trip.
This particular clip was shot on December 15th, 2007. The total trip from Kabul to Jalalabad takes over three hours and is about 90 miles in length. Along the way you lose about 5,000 feet in elevation. This clip is nearly seven minutes in duration, and is the most exciting part of the trip; the switchbacks. It is the most dramatic elevation change, probably around a thousand feet or so. The first time I made the trip there were no retaining walls, which was really interesting as I was driving at the time, with O in the turret.
It may sound like I am talking to myself during the clip, but we use an intercom in the humvee, so you can't hear anyone talking back.
Yes, humvees really do rattle like that.
It reminds me of Highway !, only on Hwy 1 there is an ocean view. How about having a Tour de Afghanistan, using that highway?
Posted by: Mable | December 03, 2008 at 04:28 PM
I used to get ansty driving under the tunnels in Baghdad. We used to swerve sharply either right or left after exiting any tunnel in case someone might drop a grenade on us from an overpass.
Posted by: Desert Rose | December 03, 2008 at 09:43 PM
That makes Big Sur look like a sleep-walk. With the elevation change and the switchbacks I would be so exhausted I would be poured from the vehicle. Heh! It needs some view pull-outs!
Posted by: wwitch | December 04, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Fascinating - thanks for posting
Posted by: Mike | December 05, 2008 at 04:55 AM