[Roly Poly]

I’m curious if there are others out here who find some forest service roads a bit intimidating? I just got back from the Darrington area having two failed attempts to get to two different THs on account of the roads being too narrow and “exposed” for my taste. I wondered as we drove higher and higher what we could do if another vehicle came the other direction. Driving forward was tense enough but I can’t image reversing down a steep narrow road on a steep slope. I was the passenger and saw the wheels go over a section that had collapsed and I was looking straight down a couple of hundred feet. I am definitely a weenie and was wondering if there are others out there that have ever balked on a forest service road. I am very disappointed we didn’t make the TH, especially the grade creek TH. The tenas creek road is the one with a collapsed piece. Would the thickness of the forest prevent a fatality if one were to off the edge?

[kiliki]

I know people that have had full on panic attacks on some FS roads, and others that do research in advance to avoid driving on roads with exposed places, so you're definitely not alone. You always do have to hope that everyone is going slow enough and being respectful so that you can maneuver out of any tricky situation safely. One of the scariest moments of my life was years ago, driving to the French Cabin Creek trailhead and having a logging truck come screaming around the corner at me going... well I don't know how fast, but very fast. He managed to stop in time and then I inched around him in my old little pickup to safety. I sat at the trailhead just shaking for ages before getting out of the car. You had an experience trying to drive a collapsed road where some of your wheels were hanging off?

[Ski]

Some roads are better than others. Some roads are just damn scary. Crowell Ridge Road. The road up to Mud Lake (Hamilton Butte trailhead.) They're all over. Slow down. Be ready to shift into reverse and back down the hill to safety when a big truck comes roaring down the hill in your direction. Going too fast + being stupid = off the road into the ditch a long ways from a tow truck.

[Roly Poly]

KIliki, thanks for sharing that. I felt like a real wuss but the moment when I looked at the missing vegetation as we were driving and realized that teeny bit of road that we had just driven over had collapsed, I did not want to go further. I definitely do not drive fast but honestly would be terrified to have to back down some of the stuff we went up today. Super bummed that we didn’t make either TH.

[Randito]

Often it's the last couple miles to the trailhead where it gets progressively sketchier. Often it is possible to find a place to park and walk up the last couple miles of road. Practicing backing down a gravel road in a section where edging off the road wouldn't be lift threatening could boost your confidence. You mentioned that you were a passenger and not the driver? I've noticed that many people are more on edge when they aren't the one white knuckling the wheel. Gripping the wheel gives one a greater sense of control -- much as people have a fear of flying, even though statically flying is safer in terms of fatalities per mile travelled.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

Many times I think "I sure hope I don't meet a car going the other way here." Can't think of many times I had a problem. I did meet another car when I was going up toward Hidden Lake Peak TH in a narrow section. Scooted over as far as I could get, tires were a bit off the road bed at that point. Tight squeeze. I was worried I might be stuck but was able to get back on the road when I put it in reverse. To clarify this wasn't along a cliff, just a ditch. I try to approach every blind corner as if there will be another car there. Slow down and don't take your half out of the middle of the road is a good starting point. If someone else is driving recklessly, not much you can do about that. I think the road is wide enough for two cars, but going up to Harts Pass is probably the freakiest road I've driven on.

[Joey]

Me (driving) to passenger: You're in charge of making sure we don't meet anyone coming down. Passenger: How do I do that? Me: Sure hope you figure it out quick.

[texasbb]

[Waterman]

Logging trucks were part of driving on forest service roads in the 70s,they were usually driving too fast and i went for the ditch more than once. One guy folded his pick up radiator around our diamond plate bumper on Coulter creek one year. Driving too fast and snow covered road = bad outcome. Just drive slow take it easy watch out for morons.

[zephyr]

[Kim Brown]

I've become wussified over the years. Being a passenger is a lot scarier than being the one behind the wheel; so your fear was heightened, no doubt. The edge of most unpaved forest logging roads is comprised of side-cast material - it's not likely stable to the edge, and when I'm passenger, I do freak when the driver gets within 2 feet of the edge (well sometimes even more than 2 feet). I will never again drive to North Lake, Salmo Lookout, Crowell Ridge (as Ski points out), or to the Tronsen Ridge trailhead, among others. So you are not a freak; it is scary. No advice.

[Chief Joseph]

[Roly Poly]

Chief Joseph, I’m pretty sure you have been up the grade creek road? Can you remember that one? I saw a TR from Kitya and she mentioned the tenas creek road was narrow and brushy. I honestly don’t see how a big truck could get up that one? Especially since the edge is collapsed in that one small spot.

[Kim Brown]

[Chief Joseph]