OBCDR - Route 5 - prelude

[Toy Man]

I am getting ready to post a series of trip reports on Route 5. The route is divided into 4 sections starting with section one at the California border.

Leonard Kerns (and others) working with the Forest Service and the BLM designed the route. The FS and BLM objected some areas as maybe being environmently sensitive even though the route is all on public roads. Leonard re-designed the route to go around these areas.

The FS and BLM agreed to post a few route markers to help people find their way and did place them on several sections. The envro-nazi's then filed suit to prevent the placing of route markers as 'thousands' of vehicles might drive over these public roads. The FS and BLM said the hell with with it, pulled the markers and withdrew their support. Leonard said "great" and issued a new set of maps running the route thru the 'sensitive' areas that the FS and BLM objected to.

My trip reports for sections 1 and 2 represent the 'original' maps and not the current ones. We ran part of section 3 with the original maps and part with the current maps.

We ran the sections on long weekends over several years.

Section 4 starts at Meacham and runs north to the Washington border just south of Walla Walla. I found it boring as it is mostly high speed gravel and paved roads. The part north of Toll Gate to the border was mildly interesting.

Great route. Even though it is on all public road, some of the roads are VERY obscure. Several times we had to look pretty hard and long to discern even a faint trail. If route designers had a choice between an easy road and a difficult one, they choose the difficult one.

A two wheel drive high clearance pickup could drive most of the route. I can only remember one place that requires 4x4 (north of Hiway 20)

You will need to pay CLOSE attention to the maps. About 1/2 way thru I finally started plotting the route on my laptop in advance. BIG help. I could instantly see when I was 'off track'.

Be aware that the route as drawn on the maps be be mis-leading in a few places. Use the intersection waypoints if you get confused.

Also the route is always changing due to roads closed, fires, washouts, etc. If you go earlier than July you may get snowed out in some places. Sept. is a great time to drive the route.

And I plan on posting at least a few pictures after the trip reports.

Dick - Toy Man