Illinois isn't flat

[dvferyance]

I am surprised nobody is talking about the NW part of the state. Take Hwy 20 west of Freeport you will be surprised. You will think you were in West Virginia or Pennsylvania. In fact there is even a place where the EB and WB are far apart you can't see one from the other.

[Max Rockatansky]

I am surprised nobody is talking about the NW part of the state. Take Hwy 20 west of Freeport you will be surprised. You will think you were in West Virginia or Pennsylvania. In fact there is even a place where the EB and WB are far apart you can't see one from the other.

I'm aware of Northwest Illinois and the hilly terrain.  Nonetheless I still stand by my statement that Illinois is one of the flattest states.  I would certainly agree with the notion that Illinois isn't "the flattest"  state.  In fact out of the states I've lived in I would rank Florida as more flat than Illinois.  I think the juxtaposition for this thread is due to the OP recently rebranding the name of his YouTube Channel from "Crash_It"  to "Let's Ride Illinois."   Suffice to say I think the OP might have actually listened to some of the "input"  a couple forum members had regarding his video content.  I know that I would be more inclined to view road content that promoted attributes about a state that doesn't get much attention outside Chicago (if that is where the OP is going with things). 

[thspfc]

Far northwestern Illinois is part of the Driftless Area that includes southwest Wisconsin, northeast Iowa, and southeast Minnesota. Illinois has the smallest chunk of it though.

[thspfc]

I'd say that in terms of the total amount of flat land, Illinois ranks behind only Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. In terms of "flatness" , I'm guessing that only Florida, Delaware, and Texas rank above Illinois.

[Rothman]

I'd say that in terms of the total amount of flat land, Illinois ranks behind only Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. In terms of "flatness" , I'm guessing that only Florida, Delaware, and Texas rank above Illinois.

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

[Scott5114]

I thought purple text from non-mods was strictly prohibited unless color itself was the topic of discussion.

Not that I'm aware of.  The forum guidelines don't include the word 'purple' anywhere in them, so far as I know.

If non-mods can't use purple text then that option should be taken away from the "post reply"  screen, or explicitly stated in the rules . . .

It's not explicitly listed in the rules for a few reasons: we don't have the technical ability to limit the formatting options available in the post edit box, we also don't have the ability to add a "don't use this" disclaimer in the box, we're now up to 30 rules so we're not really keen on adding more unless it becomes a major problem (the list is already long enough I fear people don't bother reading the whole thing), and sometimes there might be a legitimate reason for a non-staff-member to use purple text (e.g. to help color-code the legend to a map in one of their posts that includes a purple line).

That being said, clearly the convention of purple text denoting moderator action is well-recognized among the community, so it shouldn't be used in contexts where it might actually be mistaken for moderator action. To use an analogy, you're allowed to buy red and blue lightbulbs to put on your Christmas tree. You just can't put them on the roof of your car.

[jeffandnicole]

I thought purple text from non-mods was strictly prohibited unless color itself was the topic of discussion.

Not that I'm aware of.  The forum guidelines don't include the word 'purple' anywhere in them, so far as I know.

If non-mods can't use purple text then that option should be taken away from the "post reply"  screen, or explicitly stated in the rules . . .

It's not explicitly listed in the rules for a few reasons: we don't have the technical ability to limit the formatting options available in the post edit box, we also don't have the ability to add a "don't use this" disclaimer in the box, we're now up to 30 rules so we're not really keen on adding more unless it becomes a major problem (the list is already long enough I fear people don't bother reading the whole thing), and sometimes there might be a legitimate reason for a non-staff-member to use purple text (e.g. to help color-code the legend to a map in one of their posts that includes a purple line).

That being said, clearly the convention of purple text denoting moderator action is well-recognized among the community, so it shouldn't be used in contexts where it might actually be mistaken for moderator action. To use an analogy, you're allowed to buy red and blue lightbulbs to put on your Christmas tree. You just can't put them on the roof of your car.

Some people just like pushing limits and buttons. They want everything stated as a rule. What you can do...what you can't do. Many people want lesser restrictions and rules, and yet instantly get pissed that there wasn't an explicit permission or ban on something when they're called out on obvious misbehavior.

See also: Common sense is no longer common.

[thspfc]

I thought purple text from non-mods was strictly prohibited unless color itself was the topic of discussion.

Not that I'm aware of.  The forum guidelines don't include the word 'purple' anywhere in them, so far as I know.

If non-mods can't use purple text then that option should be taken away from the "post reply"  screen, or explicitly stated in the rules . . .

It's not explicitly listed in the rules for a few reasons: we don't have the technical ability to limit the formatting options available in the post edit box, we also don't have the ability to add a "don't use this" disclaimer in the box, we're now up to 30 rules so we're not really keen on adding more unless it becomes a major problem (the list is already long enough I fear people don't bother reading the whole thing), and sometimes there might be a legitimate reason for a non-staff-member to use purple text (e.g. to help color-code the legend to a map in one of their posts that includes a purple line).

That being said, clearly the convention of purple text denoting moderator action is well-recognized among the community, so it shouldn't be used in contexts where it might actually be mistaken for moderator action. To use an analogy, you're allowed to buy red and blue lightbulbs to put on your Christmas tree. You just can't put them on the roof of your car.

Some people just like pushing limits and buttons. They want everything stated as a rule. What you can do...what you can't do. Many people want lesser restrictions and rules, and yet instantly get pissed that there wasn't an explicit permission or ban on something when they're called out on obvious misbehavior.

See also: Common sense is no longer common.

Interesting. Couldn't be me though. 

[kphoger]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the northwest corner of Illinois yet, the good ol' Driftless Area. Jo Daviess and Stephenson Counties are very much not flat.

Stagecoach Trail east of Galena is a nice squiggly road for motorcycles and sports cars.

https://goo.gl/maps/j8gtKcz2hqVLJfWMA
https://goo.gl/maps/dS18P2TCdb1pdE6k6
https://goo.gl/maps/G7PULpCNtiGeCEGR8

The area of Chesnut Mountain desserve to be more well known but on the other hand, it will be overcrowded with tourists. Talk about being stuck between a rock and an hard place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BSf2hTiuK4

There's also a video about Charles Mound, the highest point in Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIAuzRxwtIc

I am surprised nobody is talking about the NW part of the state.

We aren't?

[Konza]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

[kphoger]

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

By that reasoning, the Sand Hills don't exist in Nebraska because I-80 is boringly flat.

[Rothman]

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

By that reasoning, the Sand Hills don't exist in Nebraska because I-80 is boringly flat.

Nebraska is flat.

[kphoger]

Had that one coming, didn't I?

[thspfc]

Are we seriously going to do the flat debate again? Yes, there are areas in Illinois that are not flat. I am aware of that, so there's no need for kphoger to link us to a state route in the middle of nowhere with a 500 VPD count.  But Illinois is really, really flat. So is Nebraska.

This is really, really flat: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8343161,-89.0362425,3a,75y,182.55h,92.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D242.38774%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

This is regularly flat:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1130969,-102.7077341,3a,56.7y,89.87h,88.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1smfxPewGztSDyXBiAQzGREw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DmfxPewGztSDyXBiAQzGREw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D179.05127%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

This is somewhat flat:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.6657092,-91.3169262,3a,54.4y,218.3h,79.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOGZidSLqWqoJ1KbFICeSNw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This is not flat:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1142693,-79.2565931,3a,75y,115.07h,88.9t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sF1k0SN8y4cOoL2x-nfnsjA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DF1k0SN8y4cOoL2x-nfnsjA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D208.03362%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[Crash_It]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

False, the only section of I55 that is truly flat is the portion from around Pontiac to Lexington. There are some hills in Logan County and the stretch through Springfield and south of it.

[thspfc]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

False, the only section of I55 that is truly flat is the portion from around Pontiac to Lexington. There are some hills in Logan County and the stretch through Springfield and south of it.

Link us to an example of a "hill" on I-55 in the places you mentioned.

[kphoger]

Did I seriously lose a post again?

[kphoger]

Link us to an example of a "hill" on I-55 in the places you mentioned.

Yeah, when I think of "flat" and "Illinois" in the same thought, I-55 is what immediately comes to mind.

[Crash_It]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

False, the only section of I55 that is truly flat is the portion from around Pontiac to Lexington. There are some hills in Logan County and the stretch through Springfield and south of it.

Link us to an example of a "hill" on I-55 in the places you mentioned.

https://goo.gl/maps/4SSieCYmT4RbWq5a8

this stretch is pretty hilly

https://goo.gl/maps/kD3F5dQzb9oJbU1o8

as is this one

https://goo.gl/maps/HuvwPJ9rTikWRAhc7

and here:

https://goo.gl/maps/1wuJUxniJgGeEiUe8

[Crash_It]

Are we seriously going to do the flat debate again? Yes, there are areas in Illinois that are not flat. I am aware of that, so there's no need for kphoger to link us to a state route in the middle of nowhere with a 500 VPD count.  But Illinois is really, really flat. So is Nebraska.

This is really, really flat: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8343161,-89.0362425,3a,75y,182.55h,92.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D242.38774%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Not a good example, travel any short amount of mileage in any direction from that area and it's not flat.


https://goo.gl/maps/Sbh7GcafdCQZXSwL6


you want flat, try 57 between Champaign and Neoga, that area is flat. The flattest stretch of road in the whole state.

[Max Rockatansky]

On a large enough scale the whole planet would pass the tolerances for smoothness of a pool cue ball.  So by cosmic scales the whole planet is flat.  I don't see any Olympus Mons or Valles Marineris formations in any state. 

[tchafe1978]

Let's Get Flat

https://youtu.be/KiqYnJBWqaA

[sprjus4]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

False, the only section of I55 that is truly flat is the portion from around Pontiac to Lexington. There are some hills in Logan County and the stretch through Springfield and south of it.

Link us to an example of a "hill" on I-55 in the places you mentioned.

https://goo.gl/maps/4SSieCYmT4RbWq5a8

this stretch is pretty hilly

https://goo.gl/maps/kD3F5dQzb9oJbU1o8

as is this one

https://goo.gl/maps/HuvwPJ9rTikWRAhc7

and here:

https://goo.gl/maps/1wuJUxniJgGeEiUe8

Are we seriously going to do the flat debate again? Yes, there are areas in Illinois that are not flat. I am aware of that, so there's no need for kphoger to link us to a state route in the middle of nowhere with a 500 VPD count.  But Illinois is really, really flat. So is Nebraska.

This is really, really flat: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8343161,-89.0362425,3a,75y,182.55h,92.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D242.38774%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Not a good example, travel any short amount of mileage in any direction from that area and it's not flat.


https://goo.gl/maps/Sbh7GcafdCQZXSwL6


you want flat, try 57 between Champaign and Neoga, that area is flat. The flattest stretch of road in the whole state.

All I'm seeing in all the links is... flatness.

[Crash_It]

I see your guesses and value them as such.  Illinois is flat.

The highest point in Illinois is only 955 feet above the lowest point.  There are cities in Arizona with more elevation change.  Florida is flatter and there are states with less elevation change than Illinois (Delaware and Rhode Island come immediately to mind) but they are much smaller than Illinois.

There's little more boring than the drive on I-55 between East St. Louis and about Joliet.  Why?  Illinois is flat.

False, the only section of I55 that is truly flat is the portion from around Pontiac to Lexington. There are some hills in Logan County and the stretch through Springfield and south of it.

Link us to an example of a "hill" on I-55 in the places you mentioned.

https://goo.gl/maps/4SSieCYmT4RbWq5a8

this stretch is pretty hilly

https://goo.gl/maps/kD3F5dQzb9oJbU1o8

as is this one

https://goo.gl/maps/HuvwPJ9rTikWRAhc7

and here:

https://goo.gl/maps/1wuJUxniJgGeEiUe8

Are we seriously going to do the flat debate again? Yes, there are areas in Illinois that are not flat. I am aware of that, so there's no need for kphoger to link us to a state route in the middle of nowhere with a 500 VPD count.  But Illinois is really, really flat. So is Nebraska.

This is really, really flat: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8343161,-89.0362425,3a,75y,182.55h,92.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D3IZORcw--TGa77IOZSCqQw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D242.38774%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Not a good example, travel any short amount of mileage in any direction from that area and it's not flat.


https://goo.gl/maps/Sbh7GcafdCQZXSwL6


you want flat, try 57 between Champaign and Neoga, that area is flat. The flattest stretch of road in the whole state.

All I'm seeing in all the links is... flatness.

The camera doesn't do it justice but none of those areas are flat. Look at the terrain map. You can see plenty of muscle

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Illinois is flat. Most of the Midwest away from the Great Lakes and Mississippi River valleys is flat. Illinois fits right in with those.