Truck Driver's hard hill
July 17, 2010 5:58 PM Subscribe
On the Road filter. What's a famous hill for truck drivers, probably in OK or Arkansas?
In the mid-70s I knew an old dishwasher in Denver. He was a well-traveled man who talked about Old Mexico -- and a truck driver's nightmare called ____ Hill, a famous long grade in the country's midsection. What was that hill?
In the mid-70s I knew an old dishwasher in Denver. He was a well-traveled man who talked about Old Mexico -- and a truck driver's nightmare called ____ Hill, a famous long grade in the country's midsection. What was that hill?
Ranger Hill in Texas on I30 between Ft Worth and Abilene? Its really not that bad though so maybe not.
posted by leetheflea at 6:46 PM on July 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by leetheflea at 6:46 PM on July 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's a site that lists a few: http://www.overdriveonline.com/killer-hills/
Perhaps it was Monteagle in Tennesse?
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:52 PM on July 17, 2010
Perhaps it was Monteagle in Tennesse?
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:52 PM on July 17, 2010
According to my husband, those types of hills are colloquially known as "agony hills" so maybe that term would help your search? (you'll have to filter out a bunch of non-driving-related results, though)
posted by amyms at 8:06 PM on July 17, 2010
posted by amyms at 8:06 PM on July 17, 2010
In AR, in the northwest corner of the state in the Boston Mountains--part of the Ozarks--is the Pig Trail, a scenic but very tight and twisty mountain road. Truckers going up and down would have a hard time of it, I imagine.
posted by zardoz at 11:03 PM on July 17, 2010
posted by zardoz at 11:03 PM on July 17, 2010
zardoz wrote: "In AR, in the northwest corner of the state in the Boston Mountains--part of the Ozarks--is the Pig Trail, a scenic but very tight and twisty mountain road. Truckers going up and down would have a hard time of it, I imagine."
Truckers don't really take the Pig Trail, but prior to I-540 being built to Fayetteville, they'd have to travel old US-71, which is also very curvy and hilly, although not as quite bad as the Pig Trail, given that it has very few switchbacks. I used to travel up and down 71 on a regular basis and most times there would be a semi off the road down a cliff somewhere, despite the guardrails, flashing lights, and big signs saying "YOU WILL DIE IF YOU MESS UP" (ok, more like "27 people killed in the last 3 years, you could be next")
These days old 71 is a joy to drive, as it's quite wide for a mountain road, thanks to all the work they put into it over the years to make it "safe" for the heavy truck and passenger car traffic.
All that said, I don't know of any particular hills on that stretch of road with a name. I can still smell the burning brakes, though.
posted by wierdo at 12:56 AM on July 18, 2010
Truckers don't really take the Pig Trail, but prior to I-540 being built to Fayetteville, they'd have to travel old US-71, which is also very curvy and hilly, although not as quite bad as the Pig Trail, given that it has very few switchbacks. I used to travel up and down 71 on a regular basis and most times there would be a semi off the road down a cliff somewhere, despite the guardrails, flashing lights, and big signs saying "YOU WILL DIE IF YOU MESS UP" (ok, more like "27 people killed in the last 3 years, you could be next")
These days old 71 is a joy to drive, as it's quite wide for a mountain road, thanks to all the work they put into it over the years to make it "safe" for the heavy truck and passenger car traffic.
All that said, I don't know of any particular hills on that stretch of road with a name. I can still smell the burning brakes, though.
posted by wierdo at 12:56 AM on July 18, 2010
Well, I shouldn't say exactly that. Many of the peaks have names, but the inclines in the road don't.
posted by wierdo at 12:57 AM on July 18, 2010
posted by wierdo at 12:57 AM on July 18, 2010
There's a pretty big valley that those going west on I-70 between St. Louis and Columbia have to descend into and climb out of—the Loutre River Valley. It has a gorgeous view, but there are signs at the top of the grade noting that it's a "No Stopping Zone."
posted by limeonaire at 7:50 AM on July 18, 2010
posted by limeonaire at 7:50 AM on July 18, 2010
(I guess technically those going east to St. Louis also have to pass through this valley... there goes my St. Louis–centric perspective coming into play. Heh. Actually, the grade's even steeper downhill going east.)
posted by limeonaire at 7:52 AM on July 18, 2010
posted by limeonaire at 7:52 AM on July 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rfs at 6:41 PM on July 17, 2010