Surviving Wolf Creek Pass

Above, at a pull-out after traversing Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2016, I drove a cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend the celebration of life for actress Noel Neill (the original Lois Lane) in the RV. 

While on the trip, I made some detours to such places as Graceland in Memphis, the Lincoln Library & Museum and gravesite in Springfield, Illinois and the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas, just to name a few.

The route going west had me on U.S. 160 through Wolf Creek Pass. The road itself was no problem, but it was very windy, enough so that I considered pulling over and waiting it out. But I pressed on to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There, I treated myself to some coffee and some dessert. 

RV Travel has posted an article on Wolf Creek Pass by Nanci Dixon. It includes C. W. McCall's song video, "Wolf Creek Pass".

It begins with:

My husband and I drove our 40-foot motorhome towing a pickup truck down one of the most dangerous highways in Colorado, Wolf Creek Pass, and lived to tell the tale. This pass has a switchback curve at the top and a 200-foot drop-off. Forget the guardrails here, you’d go off the cliff!

Before we drove the pass, Googling Colorado US 160 brought me to the Colorado Department of Transportation article about runaway and rollover semis on Wolf Creek Pass. 47 semis in four years went over! Not the most convincing or calming…

 To read more, go here.

The Most Dangerous U.S. Roads For RVs

Above, the Million Dollar Highway near Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I first saw the title of a new article in RV Travel, "The Most Dangerous Roads U.S. Roads For RVs, my immediate first thought was the Million Dollar Highway near Ouray, Colorado.

I have driven the Million Dollar Highway twice in the past two years in my motorhome. I was headed to Ridgway, Colorado for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's "Grit Series" marathons. I will be doing so again later this year as I have volunteered to help with the watering stations.

Here's what they say about the Million Dollar Highway:

Million Dollar Highway/U.S. Route 550: Silverton to Ouray. This is a narrow road with no guardrails, hairpin turns, rockslides and very few shoulders.

The article also lists Wolf Creek Pass, which I drove in 2016.

They begin the article with:

Recently, a reader wrote in and requested an article listing some of the most dangerous roads for RVs. As you would imagine, there are many opinions on which roads should be on that list.

A couple of these roads my husband and I have driven with our RV and said never, ever again! There are also some on the list that we have driven with our car and said, “NO, no, no way” would we drive that road in our RV!

To read more, go here. 

Handling Your Class C RV In The Wind

Above, taking a breather after crossing Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have driven my Winnebago Class C motorhome through some "white knuckler" wind conditions. The worst I remember was driving through Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado in 2016. 

I almost decided to pull over and wait it out, but I made it. That called for a stop in Pagosa Springs for a nice coffee break.  

The area that seems to have the most windy conditions with powerful gusts is along Interstate 40 in eastern Arizona between the New Mexico border and Flagstaff.

RV Life has posted an article with tips on driving Class C motorhomes in windy conditions.

They begin it with:

Class C motorhomes are great. They allow you complete freedom as you wander the country. They tend to be smaller than their larger class A cousins—meaning they fit in more campsites—and some of the Class C rigs can accommodate as many as ten people. That said, Class Cs do have some drawbacks. One of the biggest cons becomes noticeable when driving a Class C in the wind.

The truth about Class C RVs is that they aren’t as aerodynamic as other types of campers. They are quite boxy, very top-heavy, and are essentially giant sails that catch every gust of wind. These big, heavy vehicles tend to steer quite differently than a traditional car, requiring more correction as you drive down the highway. These factors combined can lead to some seriously dangerous situations if you happen to be traveling in bad weather and wind.

Fortunately, there are ways to make driving a Class C in the wind a bit safer.

To read more, go here. 

Your Checklist For A Safe RV Road Trip

Above, The Beast at a pullout after crossing Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following is for RV owners who are either new to the RV lifestyle or seasoned pros. It is never too late to have some "refresher" tips to keep one at the top of their game or helping those new to it.

Explosion.com has posted a checklist of things to have a safe RV road trip. 

The begin it with:

Although it feels like the new year has just begun, spring is just a few weeks away. For many people, that means getting outside to enjoy nature and explore. What better way to be one with nature and see the sites than to plan an RV road trip? It’s a fun time for travelers of all ages and is often a lot more affordable than traveling by plane. Of course, the first order of business should always be safety.

From motor vehicle accidents and mechanical issues to altered routes and unpredictable weather, there are so many things that could arise during your road trip. While RVs are large durable machines designed to withstand some of the worst conditions, preparation is still important for your safety. Below is a list of things to check before your departure.

To read more, go here. 

Carriers Killing Off Some Cell Service

Above, The Beast between Wolf Creek Pass and Pagosa Springs in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you happen to own an older model cell phone, it is probably a 3G model. 

It has been reliable for you at home or while on the road. But all that is going to change in the months ahead when cell carriers kill off many features as they switch to 5G.

RV Travel reported:

As the quest for faster and faster cellular-based services continues, some changes may affect you. The three major wireless carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, are shutting down certain cell service features some have counted on for years. Are you—or someone you know—going to be affected?

Blame it on 5G

The switch to 5G networks is on the top of the list for carriers. To free up bandspace, older generation 3G is being turned off. For some, the 3G cellular shutdown may come as early as this month.

• AT&T is pulling the plug on its 3G network this month. 

• T-Mobile users will see an end to 3G cell service in phases. Equipment issued originally by Sprint will stop working March 31. T-Mobile originated 3G UMTS stuff will “stop talking” July 1. And T-Mobile supported Sprint LTE network equipment will croak on June 30. 

• Verizon says it’s 3G CDMA network will “decommission” no later than December 31, 2022. While the “Can you hear me now” folks have said they were going to pull the plug on their 3G network cell service on two earlier dates—then recanted—they say they’re sticking to this deadline.

To read more, go here. 

T+ L: 10 Mistakes to Avoid on a Road Trip

Above, The Beast at a pullout after crossing Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As more people are avoiding air travel and ocean cruises during the pandemic, they are taking to the road in cars and RVs to get away from "the four walls".

Mistakes can and do happen while taking a road trip and Travel + Leisure has some tips on what to avoid when doing so.

They begin with:

There's something liberating about heading out on the open road. You can pull off to look for aliens from a UFO watchtower (yes, it's a thing), spend the afternoon picnicking at an overlook, or cruise through the night fueled by gas station coffee and snacks. All you need is a reliable car, a killer playlist, and a plan that's flexible enough to allow for a little wiggle room — because that's where the fun comes in.

But even the most go-with-the-flow road tripper knows that without some solid pre-trip planning and smart on-the-road know-how, the most amazing road trip can be a bust. To help, we chatted with a few experts who know what you'll need to do (and not do) in order to make your road trip seamless.

 To read more, go here.

Should You Rent or Buy An RV? 7 Key Considerations

Above, taking a break after crossing Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The media and politician hysteria over the Delta variant of the coronavirus is hardly putting a dent in people's desire to travel. They're going anyway.

How to travel is the big question.

Many are seeing travel in recreational vehicles to be the safest way to travel as they aren't exposed to people as they would be on planes (along with being forced to wearing masks during entire flights) and ships. 

Should they rent or buy an RV?

Yahoo Lifestyle has posed this question in an article.

They begin it with:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, families increasingly turned to the outdoors (and the open road) for recreation and family vacations. As a result, recreational vehicles (RVs) gained a surge of popularity. In fact, 56 million Americans planned to take an RV trip this summer. And according to recent data from the RV Industry Association, this boom in RV travel isn't slowing down any time soon. But when is a rental the best value? Or is purchasing a recreational vehicle a better investment?

The biggest impact on whether you rent or buy an RV is how you plan to use it. "What are your goals?" says Paige Bouma, EVP of RV Trader. "Is it a lifestyle? Or do you just want to go on vacation and see what it's like?" Bouma has more than 15 years of RV experience, and she says answering this question is one of the best ways to approach RVing, whether that's deciding where to go, which type of RV to choose, or whether to rent or buy.

To read the full article, go here. 

Reader's Digest: How To Budget For A Road Trip

Above, The Beast at a turnout after crossing Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Road trips are making a big comeback in these pandemic days. 

Reader's Digest has an article on "How To Budget For A Road Trip" with plenty of good advice.

They begin it with:

Road trips don't have to be expensive if you follow these budgeting tips and tools.

Americans are rediscovering the joys of a classic road trip in droves, with 59 percent of families in a recent VRBO survey saying they’re planning to get behind the wheel on vacation in the near future. Road trips not only let you slow down, see the scenery, and explore new areas, but they also offer a respite from pricey airline tickets and all the costs associated with a flying vacation, including car rentals, airport shuttles, and long term parking.

However, you do need to plan ahead to be able to create a road trip budget whether you’re traversing the country in a Route 66 road trip or traveling around Big Sur so you can keep costs low. Some things to keep in mind include fuel prices, vacation rentals, RV and camping site fees, food costs, and admission tickets. Here’s everything you need to figure out how much your road trip will cost and create your road trip budget.

To read more, go here. 

RV Myths and Misconceptions

Above, at a turnout below Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many people have misconceptions on the "RV lifestyle" and RV travel in general. Most of these "myths" are either wrong or exaggerated.

Do It Yourself RV takes a look at six RV myths.

They begin with:

Spend any amount of time researching information about RVing and you’re bound to run into some common RV myths and misconceptions. For new RV owners, or those interested in pursuing an RV lifestyle, this can be problematic. These myths often lead people to make decisions based on information that simply isn’t accurate. 

To sort it all out and separate myth from fact, here are six widely-believed RV myths regarding the RV lifestyle and the truth behind them.

Above, The Beast at the Elk City (Oklahoma) KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Wolf Creek Pass

Above, looking up towards Wolf Creek Pass from a turnout on the Pagosa Springs side. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My route to Durango, Colorado on Highway 160 took me through Wolf Creek Pass, the pass made famous in the 1975 song by singer C. W. McCall.

That song, and stories about the pass, had me wondering how The Beast would be able to handle it. I had visions akin to "Deadman's Curve" by Jan and Dean.

Above, The Beast at the turnout below Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The pass wasn't too bad. It is a multi-lane highway these days. There were spots of snow on the ground in the surrounding hills. I was glad it made it through as a storm front was on the way (I caught a little bit of it in Cortez, Colorado the next day). I don't have any snow chains. It was easier than I thought. The views were beautiful.

Here's what Wikipedia says about Wolf Creek Pass:

Wolf Creek Pass (el. 10,857 ft.) is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song. The pass is significantly steep on either side (6.8% maximum grade) and can be dangerous in winter. There is a runaway truck ramp on the westbound side for truckers that lose control of their brakes.

Wolf Creek Pass, once a two-lane road winding through the San Juan Mountains between South Fork, Colorado and Pagosa Springs, has recently been expanded into a multi-lane highway, greatly increasing the traffic capacity of the pass and making it more navigable in bad weather.

Above, from the turnout, a view of the valley towards Pagosa Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After traversing the pass and coming downhill towards Pagosa Springs, I took some photos at a turnout. After this, I headed into Pagosa Springs and took a coffee break (along with some fudge cake topped with vanilla ice cream) there.

Here's a video of Wolf Creek Pass along with the song by C. W. McCall: