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I actually find this rather upsetting. I'd always assumed if you went to the right places out west, you'd be able to get at least 50 miles or so from anything i

I actually find this rather upsetting. I'd always assumed if you went to the right places out west, you'd be able to get at least 50 miles or so from anything if you wanted to. It seems the west isn't quite as wild as I wanted it to be.

zippzom 8y ago
Some of these roads are likely extremely remote logging or dirt roads though. Some of them might not see a car for weeks at a time I would imagine.
- Fomite 8y ago
  Yeah, some of these roads are "semi-cleared suggestions for directions of travel", not really "roads".
- spott 8y ago
  I expect some of these roads haven't seen anyone (person or car) for years. "Roads" don't really seem to die. Once they are mapped, they show up forevermore -- even if no-one is taking them and no-one is checking that they are still navigable.
  - scruple 8y ago
    > even in ... no-one is checking that they are still navigable. Which can be a startling and frustrating experience in a bad, or even a good, situation...
  - s0rce 8y ago
    The forest service, at least in some of the more "popular" areas in WA, CA and OR sometimes rates the road on their motor vehicle use map so you know the likelihood you'll actually be able to use it. On BLM land I've found map roads that there is little no evidence of at all.
maxxxxx 8y ago
50 miles is a long distance. Even in Death Valley there will likely be some road in some direction. And Death Valley is a f...ing big place.
chrissnell 8y ago
If you are willing to allow dirt roads in your definition of "getting away", you can get a hell of a long way from civilization in the western US. A few places come to mind: The Deep Creek Range of western Utah (simply stunning) The North Rim of the Grand Canyon SSE of Hurricane, Utah. Not the popular tourist areas but the extremely remote canyon rim around SB Point. The Toiyabe and Monitor Ranges of Central Nevada. Pick any valley in the Range-and-Basin country, drive halfway down it, and then head east or west into the mountains. The Owyhee Desert. Google for Crutcher's Crossing. The Henry Mountains of south-central Utah. The Magruder Corridor of Northern Idaho.
- diebir 8y ago
  Right west of Henries is a very remote place. Yes, agreed.
adyavanapalli 8y ago
Perhaps it is more "speaking" to give what that distance means in terms of area. A radius of 50 mi. would mean an area of approximately 7854 square mi. Doesn't that sound like a lot now?
ISL 8y ago
In one of the places on this list, quite near the stated "most remote spot", the realization, "Whoa, we are considering bailing off this route because of poor/dangerous conditions, and the shortest bail is about two days' walk." was quite a revelation. When terrain and conditions are challenging enough, a few miles' distance might as well be the distance to the moon, when it comes to isolation. If that notion pulls at you, follow it, but take small and reversible steps.

zippzom 8y ago

Some of these roads are likely extremely remote logging or dirt roads though. Some of them might not see a car for weeks at a time I would imagine.

Fomite 8y ago
Yeah, some of these roads are "semi-cleared suggestions for directions of travel", not really "roads".
spott 8y ago
I expect some of these roads haven't seen anyone (person or car) for years. "Roads" don't really seem to die. Once they are mapped, they show up forevermore -- even if no-one is taking them and no-one is checking that they are still navigable.
- scruple 8y ago
  > even in ... no-one is checking that they are still navigable. Which can be a startling and frustrating experience in a bad, or even a good, situation...
- s0rce 8y ago
  The forest service, at least in some of the more "popular" areas in WA, CA and OR sometimes rates the road on their motor vehicle use map so you know the likelihood you'll actually be able to use it. On BLM land I've found map roads that there is little no evidence of at all.

maxxxxx 8y ago

50 miles is a long distance. Even in Death Valley there will likely be some road in some direction. And Death Valley is a f...ing big place.

chrissnell 8y ago

If you are willing to allow dirt roads in your definition of "getting away", you can get a hell of a long way from civilization in the western US. A few places come to mind: The Deep Creek Range of western Utah (simply stunning) The North Rim of the Grand Canyon SSE of Hurricane, Utah. Not the popular tourist areas but the extremely remote canyon rim around SB Point. The Toiyabe and Monitor Ranges of Central Nevada. Pick any valley in the Range-and-Basin country, drive halfway down it, and then head east or west into the mountains. The Owyhee Desert. Google for Crutcher's Crossing. The Henry Mountains of south-central Utah. The Magruder Corridor of Northern Idaho.

diebir 8y ago
Right west of Henries is a very remote place. Yes, agreed.

adyavanapalli 8y ago

Perhaps it is more "speaking" to give what that distance means in terms of area. A radius of 50 mi. would mean an area of approximately 7854 square mi. Doesn't that sound like a lot now?

ISL 8y ago

In one of the places on this list, quite near the stated "most remote spot", the realization, "Whoa, we are considering bailing off this route because of poor/dangerous conditions, and the shortest bail is about two days' walk." was quite a revelation. When terrain and conditions are challenging enough, a few miles' distance might as well be the distance to the moon, when it comes to isolation. If that notion pulls at you, follow it, but take small and reversible steps.