4 ms·

I just tried to get Google Maps to route me over a difficult and dangerous 4WD road in Colorado and got it on my second try: https://goo.gl/maps/FWU1jANHAPA487D

I just tried to get Google Maps to route me over a difficult and dangerous 4WD road in Colorado and got it on my second try: https://goo.gl/maps/FWU1jANHAPA487D37 https://goo.gl/maps/FWU1jANHAPA487D37 This takes you over Hayden Pass Rd. Here are some 4WD driving tips for the route: https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/3939-hayden-pass.html https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/3939-hayden... "It’s a real challenging road and a true test of your vehicle and your stamina because the road abounds in twists and turns with wheels sometimes hanging above the precipice." "There is a very narrow section of shelf road before you get to the top that is very dangerous if icy. There are no rocks to stop you from sliding off the side. This section should not be attempted if there is any ice at all." I'm a little surprised that Google gave this route to me with no warning. It's also comical to say you can get the drive done in 30 minutes.

ineedasername 7y ago
That's... rough driving. It does appear to significantly cut down on the distances involved, but I'd think it takes at least as much time as the less direct route.
ineedasername 7y ago
Also: what are those circular things that look like giant petri dishes about 14 miles south of the pass? Edit: nevermind, I saw more further south that looked like crop fields, a bit of google-fu revealed them as center-pivot irrigation systems. Interesting trade of resources-- some loss of arable land due to the circular arrangement, presumably in return for lower costs of the irrigation setup. Still looks like some weird biohazard outbreak from the aerial viewpoint of google maps.
- planteen 7y ago
  Yeah the San Luis Valley is full of center pivots. It's a very dry and cold place, but has an aquifer that gets reliably replenished by snow melt.
- Haga 7y ago
  Some plant trees in between to increase water sponge ability of landscape.
King-Aaron 7y ago
A couple of years ago I did a drive from Port Headland (Northwest Western Australia) to Perth. When we got onto Nanutarra road (Near Paraburdoo), the maps decided we should take a road that was actually the Lyons River - if we were foreign tourists it would have led us into a spot where we could easily have died. Unfortunately in outback WA, many tourists have experienced this and succumbed to it.
zrobotics 7y ago
I've been over that route--32 minutes is absolutely laughable, in my case (stock height IH Scout 80) both ladders and winch were required, and is absolutely not a road to take unprepared. Plus, the detour required after an unsuspecting traveler realized this could easily cause them to run out of fuel.
rendaw 7y ago
On the topic of time estimates, why doesn't Google Maps let you add extra padding time to trips? Especially with public transportation!
chris_wot 7y ago
A few years ago we followed Google Maps directions, and it took us into the middle of a farmer's field in Victoria, Australia. I don't know how it happened, but somehow Google had picked up a very informal sheep track, and it was most definitely not a public road. Google also sent thousands of tourists to a small residential street in the middle of the Australian Blue Mountains. It wasn't until a major masthead picked up on the story[1] that they bothered to do anything about it, despite the dozens to hundreds of requests to make a change. https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-google-got-lost-in-the-blue-mountains-20171004-gytvdx.html https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-google-got-lost-in-the...

ineedasername 7y ago

That's... rough driving. It does appear to significantly cut down on the distances involved, but I'd think it takes at least as much time as the less direct route.

ineedasername 7y ago

Also: what are those circular things that look like giant petri dishes about 14 miles south of the pass? Edit: nevermind, I saw more further south that looked like crop fields, a bit of google-fu revealed them as center-pivot irrigation systems. Interesting trade of resources-- some loss of arable land due to the circular arrangement, presumably in return for lower costs of the irrigation setup. Still looks like some weird biohazard outbreak from the aerial viewpoint of google maps.

planteen 7y ago
Yeah the San Luis Valley is full of center pivots. It's a very dry and cold place, but has an aquifer that gets reliably replenished by snow melt.
Haga 7y ago
Some plant trees in between to increase water sponge ability of landscape.

King-Aaron 7y ago

A couple of years ago I did a drive from Port Headland (Northwest Western Australia) to Perth. When we got onto Nanutarra road (Near Paraburdoo), the maps decided we should take a road that was actually the Lyons River - if we were foreign tourists it would have led us into a spot where we could easily have died. Unfortunately in outback WA, many tourists have experienced this and succumbed to it.

zrobotics 7y ago

I've been over that route--32 minutes is absolutely laughable, in my case (stock height IH Scout 80) both ladders and winch were required, and is absolutely not a road to take unprepared. Plus, the detour required after an unsuspecting traveler realized this could easily cause them to run out of fuel.

rendaw 7y ago

On the topic of time estimates, why doesn't Google Maps let you add extra padding time to trips? Especially with public transportation!

chris_wot 7y ago

A few years ago we followed Google Maps directions, and it took us into the middle of a farmer's field in Victoria, Australia. I don't know how it happened, but somehow Google had picked up a very informal sheep track, and it was most definitely not a public road. Google also sent thousands of tourists to a small residential street in the middle of the Australian Blue Mountains. It wasn't until a major masthead picked up on the story[1] that they bothered to do anything about it, despite the dozens to hundreds of requests to make a change. https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-google-got-lost-in-the-blue-mountains-20171004-gytvdx.html https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-google-got-lost-in-the...