W6KME

How wrong has Google become?

Today I tried to drive to Magic Mountain with AJ6CL. We both asked our phones to plot a route. We got different routes with conflicting info on road closures. Eventually we found that ALL potential routes had road closures, but Google couldn't handle that info. They used to handle it very well.

The only route it gave us that didn't involve a temporary road closure used RAILROAD TRACKS for several miles instead of a road.

Yes, we carry paper maps and Garmins.

May 19 at 9:42pmWeb
Show threadW6KME2d ago

So in the end, we could not access Magic Mountain (the actual mountain), Snow Benchmark, and Peak 4020. Eventually drove north on 5 to another SOTA peak, coincidentally ALSO called Peak 4020. The bands were utter dog barf, and the flies were indescribable. But we got our contacts and four points, all that matters!

And a very fun day driving around Angeles National Forest of course. 70ish with the gentlest of breezes.

#hamradio #sota

Show threadW6KME2d ago
Oh, the two phones still disagreed on closures, *even when we were at the barricades*.
Show threadOnno (VK6FLAB)2d ago
@W6KME that's disturbing. Same mobile carrier?
Show threadMsMerope2d ago
@W6KME wow
Show threadFinitum2d ago
@W6KME google tried to suggest we drive through a private gate, up a washed out dirt gravel road to get to Pinos one time because it had assumed Cuddy Valley road closure. Cuddy wound up being open anyway & we'll never trust google up there again.
Show threadRev Mook1d ago
@W6KME That road up to Magic Mountain keeps washing out from what I hear.
Show threadW6KME1d ago
@rev_mook We drove up late last year, and repairs had been complete. Could have been more washouts this year but ANF site listed it as open. We just couldn't reach the head of the road on Little Tajunga/Sand Cyn. That was closed on both sides, from Placerita to the turnoff to Bear Divide.