Forum Discussion
dave54 wrote:
ktmrfs wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
...if your on or see a FS road. If the sign has the road numbers horizontal, the road should be passenger car passable in good weather. If the sign has the road numbers Vertical, then it is designated as high clearance 4wd passable. that should be clue #1.
And in the case of "high clearance" roads, the top of the sign will in most cases have the connecting passenger passable roadway number labeled horizontally in smaller type on the top.
That is the design level of the road. Unfortunately, budget cuts have forced the FS to defer road maintenance. So the horizontal road numbers may be a road that has not seen a blade or brushing in several years (the profits from timber sales used to finance much of the road and trail maintenance. No more timber sales means no more road/trail funds).
Each region of the Forest Service has a different number scheme for their roads. Region 5 (basically California) uses PLSS Townships for most roads, and PLSS Ranges for trails. Other regions use different. Figure out the local road numbering scheme and you can determine where the road goes and what other roads it connects with. Private timber companies will have their own road numbering system separate from the FS, even on the same road -- can be very confusing to the uninitiated.
wilber1 didn't write that.- Last winter I was working at Fort Irwin, an Army base in the dead center of the Calif desert, nearest town is 40 miles away and there is one road in and out. I turned on the GPS as I was going to take a trip to AZ and it kept telling me to turn left on roads that were nothing but dirt and when I looked at a map, went no where except they happened to go east. I learned then and there never to trust a GPS and verify when I do
- "I read it on the internet, so it must be true!"
"It is on the Garmin map, so it must be right!"
"Garbage in, Garbage out!"
ONE of the above is absolutely true. It is up to US to decide which one we will believe.
My old Tom-Tom once told me to turn right, right now! But it was on top of a hill in Wyoming, and I could see the road where I needed to turn right, about 5 miles further on. I waited until I reached the road! dakonthemountain wrote:
Ya know, I'm the Director of Administration for an academic research institute at the university, and I LOVE research and technology... However I've never had a GPS and am not sure I ever will for reasons just like this. My other half LOVES it and has gotten lost numerous times. I LOVE paper maps and sitting down and plotting out my travels and the fun of imagining just what lies ahead based on the topographical indicators on the map... But that's just me... kinda old school when I'm on "vacation".... :)
Yup, even old school folks still live on the "left coast"... ;)
Dak
X2- A little mud a couple days of boondocking forced on you isn't great, buuuuut.
This could have been a real tragedy.
Apple Maps error discovered. - from the story: The Gartons’ instinct told them to turn around when the directions felt wrong, but the duo said their 6-month-old GPS told them to push forward.
----
trust your instincts!! :) I had to blow off our GPS a few times. blindly follow is never a good thing in anything in life! but the story had a good ending and they seemed to enjoy their adventure. ktmrfs wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
...if your on or see a FS road. If the sign has the road numbers horizontal, the road should be passenger car passable in good weather. If the sign has the road numbers Vertical, then it is designated as high clearance 4wd passable. that should be clue #1.
And in the case of "high clearance" roads, the top of the sign will in most cases have the connecting passenger passable roadway number labeled horizontally in smaller type on the top.
That is the design level of the road. Unfortunately, budget cuts have forced the FS to defer road maintenance. So the horizontal road numbers may be a road that has not seen a blade or brushing in several years (the profits from timber sales used to finance much of the road and trail maintenance. No more timber sales means no more road/trail funds).
Each region of the Forest Service has a different number scheme for their roads. Region 5 (basically California) uses PLSS Townships for most roads, and PLSS Ranges for trails. Other regions use different. Figure out the local road numbering scheme and you can determine where the road goes and what other roads it connects with. Private timber companies will have their own road numbering system separate from the FS, even on the same road -- can be very confusing to the uninitiated.- I've recounted many adventures of the Garmin and Rand Mc Nally. From old Indian traces, through lake bottoms, old stage coach road, that was impassible 40 years ago, where the old old old home place was and Grand Ma's Sister sold biscuits and coffee to Stage Coach Riders, to underwater up Lake Michigan's shore, goat paths and people's driveways, fields and so on.
Some Programmers have a heck of a sense of humor or are using maps from Columbus's time.
The one in the Mercedes is haunted. It took me to my destination, a funeral home, without an address, just the highway.
The Ford's can never be turned off and has only take us on one or two adventures. Distant Relatives were in and their little Garmin led uss on more adventures. - The answer to the OP's question is ... because it's still the Wild West.
But they usually do better than MapQuest. Once I was on the way to an oil spill incident in the back waters of the Olympic Peninsula, MapQuest very confidently had me turning at a locked gate that went straight into a field.
And finally ...I have found my Garmin does not do very well in Oregon and Arizona. Just because Garmin says there is a road it is not always true. You have to use common sense before going down a cow path or a logging road.
There are actually places in Arizona where the actual road looks more like a cow path than anything else. skipro3 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
skipro3 wrote:
I went on-line just now to check a route from Boise, ID to West Yellowstone MT.
Mapquest says:
I-84 E 386.67 miles
5 hrs 44 mins
Do the math;
You would have to average 67.3mph to do that run. REALLY?!???!!!
I don't think so!
Probably for a car?
I challenge anyone to make that route in any rig at that pace and not break the posted speed limits. Not many cars even have that kind of range; 400 miles.
well, my truck has a 450mile range, I have an easy 500+ mile range in my car. Highway/interstate Posted speed limit in most of Idaho is 75 for cars, same in montana. Possible if you can avoid any towns, but I agree, not very likely. With DW impossible, she needs rest stops to often. I suppose it could be done with one quick rest stop. If I'm by myself, I usually go about 4 hrs between stops minimum.
BTW my garmin RV760 seems to have darn accurate time estimates for us when we are towing.
