Comments on: Suggestions – Rogue River Road Safety including Bear Camp Road

By: aihfl

aihfl — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:15:09 +0000

How about billing the people needing rescue for the costs of the search and rescue operation? For example, there is a state law in New Hampshire that charges people for rescue if their need for rescue arose from negligence, and I’d say ignoring warning signs to avoid this road would qualify as negligence. Given the frequency with which people get stuck on this road, I think word would get around pretty quickly once the sheriff’s offices of these two counties start handing people bills going into the thousands of dollars.

BTW, I noticed Google Maps will not route you on Bear Camp Rd between Merlin and Gold Beach, although Yahoo and MSN Maps still will.

By: FoolsGold

FoolsGold — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:16:30 +0000

Opening and closing gates is an annoying nuisance.
Main road is difficult to determine at times, the side road is often more appealingly deceptive.
Main Road, side road, skidded off the road, whatever… the important point is: Rugged Terrain with No Motorist Services or SnowPlowing: Carry Complete Survival Gear.

Then whether it is misadventure along a side road or whatever, its a question of having been warned and of being prepared. Leave an Interstate Attitude behind when entering The Outback. Just tell people that its the outback.

By: d breher

d breher — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:56:35 +0000

one sign I saw that gets your attention is ROAD CLOSES BEHIND SIGNS EXCEPT LOCAL RESIDENTS. ROAD NOT MAINTAINED IN WINTER.and in bright orange letters.ENTER AT OWN RISK NO SERVICES AT ALL.

By: d breher

d breher — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:31:46 +0000

dumb question but does anyone live along this road,? If not just close it for the winter. If it is needed than make sure all side roads are closed off from nov1 to march 15.At least than they have to stay on main road such as it is,during the winter. As for signage how about WARNING ENTER AT OWN RISK. ROAD NOT MAINTANED IN WINTER.(DONT GO HERE DUMBASS OPTIONAL)

By: polarized sunglasses

polarized sunglasses — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:15:40 +0000

People never stop looking for new ways to feel the thrill and excitement they are longing for. Rogue rivers may be dangerous to most of us but these attracts thrill seekers. They want to experience the adrenaline rush. There is no problem with that as long as they have enough experience and they know what to do in case something goes wrong. It would be best if they are equipped with all the necessary protective gear and that includes heavy-duty eye-wear to help them see better as they ride the crazy currents of the river.

By: Mark Saunders

Mark Saunders — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:24:22 +0000

More details on the signs and more signs on Bear Camp Road. Permits should be required to drive during the winter months.

By: paulj

paulj — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:51:58 +0000

I chuckle when I encounter a S curve sign (next 3 miles) half way through a winding mountain road. I ask myself, what were the previous 10 miles? straight?

A S curve sign with a big ‘next 30 miles’ under it might catch the attention of some drivers.

But often it’s not the steepest and curviest parts of the road that are most tiring, but the unexpected curves toward the end. For example on the drive to Gold Beach, the part after Agness is 2 lane and generally level since in follows the river. But it has nearly as many curves as the mountain part, along with a number of pavement slumps.

Even OR 42 can be tiring if you drive it with the wrong expectation. It doesn’t climb very high, but still has to follow a river valley. I imagine the same can be said for the highway to Crescent City which winds along the Smith River.

paulj

By: FoolsGold

FoolsGold — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:46:22 +0000

Actually, I think those smaller rectangular signs that are often at the botton of the sign depicted are the ones that are informative. So its not the ‘Windy Road’ but the ‘next thirty miles’ that conveys the message. 25 could be one curve or something but a clear statement of next umpteen miles would convey significant information that the driving was not going to be a picnic.

By: paulj

paulj — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:39:14 +0000

This 25mph sign on Galice Access Rd should also give an indication that this road is not a freeway:
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p135/Oregonpix/th_SignonGaliceCreek2.jpg
I don’t recall seeing this when I drove the route in May, however I was paying more attention to the new sign Roper placed.

I wonder if there is a way of clearly conveying the fact that it is going to take you nearly 3 hrs to drive the 60 miles to Gold Beach. The 25mph sign gives some indication of this. Eventually GPS units might be able to give a realistic estimate of travel times. It takes some skill and experience to make such estimates from state level maps.

paulj

By: FoolsGold

FoolsGold — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:37:52 +0000

Variable width road is somewhat bland and would perhaps be interpreted as being solely of interest to large commercial vehicles rather than automobile motorists about to be faced with single lanes but two-way traffic.