British Columbia

chessie4905 · August 09, 2022, 08:03:20 PM

Travelled through part of British Columbia last two days on the Cassier Highway.Would never go that way again. About 100 miles of it is coarse abrasive tar and stone. They have been resurfacing great sections withvthis crap. spread the tar and dump excessive quantities of dusty coarse gravel on it. One section we travelled was 30 miles. Fortunately, I was in front this time. Huge clouds of dust coming off my rig, which trailing cars had to eat this time. Tried to keep speed down, but two impatient drivers passed fast and resulting dust cloud was like thick fog. Same when semi passed opposite way. About 50 miles of this stuff is still good and loose.
Then we stay at provincial campground, due to none other available. No electric, water, or dump. Not a problem, but only allowed to run gen 6 to 8 pm and 9 to 11 in the morning. WTH??? Also, there are signs everywhere in province- NO IDLING! In BC? glad just passing through.

dtcerrato · August 09, 2022, 11:11:50 PM

Sounds like some nasty travel conditions. We did the Cassier in 2016 and it wasn't that bad! The way home doesn't ever seem to be as much fun as the trip North IMHO. We went East from the Cassier under Hyder AK to meet up with Brian Evans & family. Then I remember the Icefields Prkwy in AB - can never forget the brake burn on a really steep downhill I chose too low a gear on - yep stood on the brakes all the way down - at the bottom I realized I should have took the toad off & had wifey drive it. Live & learn. Safe travels John & Linda. Freeze warnings here in the morning - you'll probably be running air-conditioning before too long...

john frehlich · August 09, 2022, 11:17:36 PM

Wat part of bc did you run through on you way to Alaska ...

luvrbus · August 10, 2022, 06:42:50 AM

Chip and seal is used here too in a lot of states,it is a good surface but a windshield and paint chipping beast, I don't know about other states, but Neveda has a anti idle law, and they enforce it

Utahclaimjumper · August 10, 2022, 11:07:25 AM

Chip/seal has been around forever and we just had our area resurfaced this way,, only took one day to complete 10 miles of 5 lane.. the crew was well prepared and the loose crushed stone was swept up on the second day with no tar residue or loose stone..Paint stripes went down the next day to complete the job.. Speed restriction thru the area was 35 MPH..>>>Dan

buswarrior · August 10, 2022, 01:36:16 PM

Fancy name, "thin membrane road".

Without " tar and chip", there'd be nothing else but mud and gravel.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Utahclaimjumper · August 10, 2022, 05:04:54 PM

Crushed rock has been shown to be the toughest surface known when placed over tired asphalt to hold up under weather,, wear,,& deterioration over time.. The high tack 8000 (tar) just holds the rock in place,, it also provides good traction in bad weather conditions..>>>Dan

rancher · August 11, 2022, 12:45:32 PM

They do a lot of chip and seal in my state during the summer months. Hundreds of miles get done each summer. We just got home from a four day tour around the state doing the pass port program and ran on to four different crews doing chip and seal.

dtcerrato · August 11, 2022, 01:45:38 PM

Probably the worst road surface we've ever experienced & I don't fully understand it was on the unpaved Denali hwy. Going 40 miles into it to camp for a week we were so impressed on how an unpaved road was so good to run on (around 40 mph) but on the way out in much wetter conditions to the point where a repair crew signaled us through road under water due to a culvert failure- when we finally made it back to the Parks hwy that was paved we immediately pulled into a lot next to a gas stationed & used every bit of the potable water we had left on board (approx 25 gal.) To use our portable pressure washer to uncover the entire bus (except the roof) & the entire toad. After talking with some people in the station they said if we had not done that while it was wet - it would have hardened to like concrete and would have only been able to be removed very difficultly with hot water/steam pressure wash. They use a chemical on that unpaved stretch of hwy that controls dust and forms a jell like surface to prevent erosion from heavy rains! We weren't smart, just lucky about it I guess.

luvrbus · August 11, 2022, 02:57:01 PM

Quote from: dtcerrato on August 11, 2022, 01:45:38 PM
Probably the worst road surface we've ever experienced & I don't fully understand it was on the unpaved Denali hwy. Going 40 miles into it to camp for a week we were so impressed on how an unpaved road was so good to run on (around 40 mph) but on the way out in much wetter conditions to the point where a repair crew signaled us through road under water due to a culvert failure- when we finally made it back to the Parks hwy that was paved we immediately pulled into a lot next to a gas stationed & used every bit of the potable water we had left on board (approx 25 gal.) To use our portable pressure washer to uncover the entire bus (except the roof) & the entire toad. After talking with some people in the station they said if we had not done that while it was wet - it would have hardened to like concrete and would have only been able to be removed very difficultly with hot water/steam pressure wash. They use a chemical on that unpaved stretch of hwy that controls dust and forms a jell like surface to prevent erosion from heavy rains! We weren't smart, just lucky about it I guess.

That would be magnesium chloride it helps to keep roads from icing too, common here in the west and nasty stuff

Dave5Cs · August 11, 2022, 04:22:59 PM

Here in Kansas too and everyone's cars are white on the back windows. Can't see most license plates on the back and they don't need one on the front, LOL

dtcerrato · August 19, 2022, 09:38:23 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on August 09, 2022, 08:03:20 PM
Travelled through part of British Columbia last two days on the Cassier Highway.Would never go that way again. About 100 miles of it is coarse abrasive tar and stone. They have been resurfacing great sections withvthis crap. spread the tar and dump excessive quantities of dusty coarse gravel on it. One section we travelled was 30 miles. Fortunately, I was in front this time. Huge clouds of dust coming off my rig, which trailing cars had to eat this time. Tried to keep speed down, but two impatient drivers passed fast and resulting dust cloud was like thick fog. Same when semi passed opposite way. About 50 miles of this stuff is still good and loose.
Then we stay at provincial campground, due to none other available. No electric, water, or dump. Not a problem, but only allowed to run gen 6 to 8 pm and 9 to 11 in the morning. WTH??? Also, there are signs everywhere in province- NO IDLING! In BC? glad just passing through.

John:
Hat's off to You & Linda!
You's know how to travel!
The FIRST time is ALWAYS the BEST! (Alaska)
Oh, & my compliments to Linda's Facebook postings of the entire trip including many awesome photos.
Hope you're moving slow towards that heat.
We're gonna stall at the Nappanee Rally so we can get closer to fall before home to Florida, LOL
Great meeting You & Linda.
Safe travels...

chessie4905 · August 19, 2022, 09:59:21 PM

In Vancover last few days. Really hot here, high 80's to just into 90. After used to 70's, don't like it. looks like no rain here in last month.

lvmci · August 20, 2022, 09:45:43 AM

In northern AZ they use red chat for unimproved roads. Only time it's ok is after sprinkles. Too much rain or snow, it grooves. Dry it might as well be dirt...

Jim Blackwood · August 21, 2022, 09:07:26 AM

In W.Va. and some other 'coal country' you often see Red Dog used on unimproved roads. It's the overburden from the coal seams and is actually a form of extremely low grade partially converted coal that can burn but not well enough to be a practical fuel. If you use it for your campfire ring it pops, cracks and sparkles. Fun stuff. But it does make pretty decent gravel.

Jim