High voltage power lines off rode highways

[Mudder.Mitch]

Off road high ways sorry guys auto correct strikes again lol

Ok now not to sure how many people have this idea but where my camp is their Is high voltage power lines about 5 miles north west of my camp now we fallow the power lines all the time use it as like the off road high way with small trails breaking off to many different lakes and so on what I'm getting at is any one thinking of going off rode and using the power line trails to get around as their main net work so that way they can stay off the high ways and out of city's where trouble will no doubt be or is it just me with this idea? or has an one else thought of this and think its a bad idea and if so why? Just looking for every ones thoughts on this idea me and a few friends have bin tossing around THANKS!

[rickkyw1720pf]

This is why you need topo maps because they show everything you might need to get out of town and not use the congested highways. Railroad tracks, power line, gas lines, creeks, streams, rivers, access roads, dirt roads used by forest rangers and other companies. Best yet get a hand held gps with topo maps and paper topo maps. One thing to think about also is if you are on foot railroad tracks are the easiest to follow because of their gradual grade makes travel so much easier. And yes when I used to go off road we would use either the power line or the access roads to them.

[AsteroidX]

you are on foot railroad tracks are the easiest to follow because of their gradual grade makes travel so much easier. And yes when I used to go off road we would use either the power line or the access roads to them.

odd thats one of my bug out plans. See ya on the rail I guess

[rickkyw1720pf]

odd thats one of my bug out plans. See ya on the rail I guess

Railroad track are not only the easiest to travel on but they also offer a lot of natural protection from the elements. Just about every time they go over a stream or gully, you can go under the bridge or trestle for protection from the elements or spending the night which is also on the topo maps.

[AsteroidX]

I imagine the people smart enough to use the rails for travel wont specifically be the shoot first ask later looting type. But being armed is likely the norm in that scenario.

[Mudder.Mitch]

Ya I agree with you rickkyw1720pf having hard copy topo maps is a must as much as I love my GPS dead battery's at the wrong time falling in a lake or where I am up in Canada some technology does not like working In the cold but I like what you guys are saying about rail lines only thing with them for me is the rail lines by where I live they are about 30 feet off the high way and flow the high way from town to town so not much cover for me but every ones location is different so makes seance we will all be doing different things

[Fluffie]

I thought the same thing about the railways to bet home I just hope my stock tj can handle it if the time ever comes.

[Ripon]

Where I have property the trails surrounding the power powls (its not on my property but some distance away) do not coincide with the towers/poles. In other words they often cut into to place their tower, then cut in another location to place the next tower and so on. They didn't - in many places - go in between. (for good reason - great difficulty). That would make following the lines next to impossible unless you knew where the cut out trails lead to the next cut in for the next tower / pole. I'm thinking you are FAR better off with rail lines - particularly abandoned rail lines.

[Southern Dad]

From having worked on high tension power lines, I will suggest that you add a winch to your vehicle. While spans vary greatly across the country, they are generally 300 to 500 feet. The longest span that I recall is one that is nearly 1500 feet where power crossing the Mississippi. But anyway back to using a winch. These power lines travel some rugged terrain. Usually power company crews use roads to find the closest access point then drive along th e right-of-way. I have seen crews actually follow the span and drag their vehicles tower to tower using huge power take off winches.

[Leon]

Both of my current hiding places are on the power lines. Hell, I go out there to wheel in the FJ it's some great space with very few people to bother me. Power lines all the way. Recently I was in a WMA (wildlife management area) where they had power lines running through it. I followed them out a ways and it turned out to cut clean past the town I had to go through and wound up right at I-85. Was cool.