The Wild Ride Through Tejon Pass | Bakersfield News

Before I-5, the Grapevine was a brutal, winding journey through Tejon Pass—nearly 700 curves in 36 miles, where early cars and trucks battled wind, ice, and fog. Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and U.S. Army forts all left their mark, while pioneers like Phineas Banning and Andres Pico carved Beale’s Cut, a 90-foot rock notch with tolls. Early autos, like Ralph Hamlin’s 1902 Autocar, often had to reverse uphill. The route was fraught with danger: stranded families, highway robbers, and mule teams pulling stuck cars. The 1933 Alternate Ridge Route eased the pain, but it was I-5 that finally conquered the pass. Today, preservationists keep these historic roads alive—echoes of the Joads’ journey and California’s grit, proving that every mile of asphalt holds a story. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3a485d99caa2924c