Yahooligan
Temecula, CA
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We have a 2-week trip coming up the last half of December. Starting in southern CA, the sections of the route that concern me in terms of weather-related delays are the grapevine out of LA, possibly parts of US-97? Never gone that route. Then we'd cut over to US-26 and take that to Portland, heading up I-5 to I-405 and into Redmond.
I had thought about staying on US-97 and then taking I-82 through Yakima, then over I-90 because that seemed like a more scenic route without adding much, if any, mileage or time but having never DRIVEN this route I have no idea what I should be expecting on any of those routes at that time of year.
The route back home would just be a straight shot down I-5 the whole way.
Can anyone enlighten me on what I might expect to encounter along these routes during late-December?
Thanks!
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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If you don't use US 26 I would suggest I-84 down trhough the Columbia River Gorge. Goos scenery.
Us 97 in southern Wa. has a pass, then there could be difficulties between US 97 and I-90 on I-82. We won't even talk about how bad I-90 Snoqualmie Pass could be in DEC.
Bud
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Yahooligan
Temecula, CA
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Thanks for the info, sounds like my gut was right for I-90.
In skipping US-26 are you saying take US-97 or US-197 to I-84 and then head west to I-5? That is definitely BEAUTIFUL country along the Columbia River, it's been quite a while since I've been there so that does sound like a good option as well. Thanks!  Looks like it'd add about 50 miles to that leg of the trip compared to US-26 to Portland.
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John95683
Sacramento
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I used to live in Sun River, OR, and I can tell you for a fact that it can snow and ice in December all along 97, especially north of Chemult.
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Yahooligan
Temecula, CA
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John95683 wrote:I used to live in Sun River, OR, and I can tell you for a fact that it can snow and ice in December all along 97, especially north of Chemult.
Thanks for the info. If the conditions along 97 don't look favorable then we'll likely end up cutting Bend out of our plans as it doesn't look like there's an easy alternative that wouldn't add a lot of time to our trip. Ice does concern me, snow not as much. I really don't want to come across a patch of black ice and that be the end of our trip.
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SBSJMS
Somewhere in the Pacific NW
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Check the weather DAILY, last year we had 18 inches of snow in Portland for Christmas. It lasted at least 10 days. This was a freak but in OR you never know! We had to wait until Dec 31 to celebrate Christmas! I would seriously reconsider Bend, you don't list what you are in, but there's lots of snow in Bend. The entire Columbia River Gorge was closed last year with the snow, and the winds through there are killer, if there is going to be ice anywhere its there.If your destination is Seattle, I would stick to I 5 unless we are having really good December weather, hey it could happen!
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RedRollingRoadblock
Oregon
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In case you don't know here are the road report links.
Oregon
Washington
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Yahooligan
Temecula, CA
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SBSJMS wrote:Check the weather DAILY, last year we had 18 inches of snow in Portland for Christmas. It lasted at least 10 days. This was a freak but in OR you never know! We had to wait until Dec 31 to celebrate Christmas! I would seriously reconsider Bend, you don't list what you are in, but there's lots of snow in Bend. The entire Columbia River Gorge was closed last year with the snow, and the winds through there are killer, if there is going to be ice anywhere its there.If your destination is Seattle, I would stick to I 5 unless we are having really good December weather, hey it could happen!
I've pretty much told my wife we'll have to postpone Bend and she has the feeling her relatives will be in AZ for the winter anyway so it all works out.
We'll be towing a 31' TT with a 4wd TV, for what it's worth.
Thanks!
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Yahooligan
Temecula, CA
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RedRollingRoadblock wrote:In case you don't know here are the road report links.
Oregon
Washington
Ohhh, bookmarked! Thank you!
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ramblemutt
Mountains of Utah-7000'
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I believe that the law requires you carry CHAINS in these areas at that time of year. Should check on this.
Yep.....if towing, carry chains.
* This post was
edited 11/04/09 09:25pm by ramblemutt *
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