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BeerSampler's avatar
BeerSampler
Explorer
Dec 18, 2013

ASAP Seattle to Salt Lake City-Routes,weather,experiences?

I was dispatched to Salt Lake City, UT on very short notice. As in tonight (Tuesday) and have to be there Saturday 6AM. I can be mobile and rolling by Thursday night but I am not familiar with the route and area at all especially in December. I am trying to research what I can find on short notice, but all businesses there that may give me advice are closed at this hour.

I perused the route on Google maps ( Federal Way, WA to Salt Lake City, UT Mapand did a couple of searches but could not find anything specific without further research later tonight. I thought I would open the topic here for comments while I continue looking.

My main concern is the weather this time of year (obviously) and what passes there are to worry about. Looking at a basic map, I am familiar with my own Snoqualmie Pass in WA which I could bypass by going all the way south to I-84 in OR then continue East. Then there is between Pendleton, OR and Grant's Pass, OR which looks like Deadman's pass or Cabbage Hill??

From there the unfamiliar eye sees flat open land.

Thoughts? Any timely help from route veterans is going to be extremely valuable and appreciated. I have a special-needs foster dog that I cannot board locally and she has to go with me. If they make me fly because I can't get my act together in time, I will have to decline and deal with the consequences. I will also lose a huge bonus and gain whatever wrath executive management throws around when their holiday wishes are not met.

I am in a 2000 Allegro Bus 37' pusher. If you are wondering what I do, I am a cell tech and travel when skilled work is needed. I made the Southern CA run a few times and loved it.

Thanks
Roads and Routes

17 Replies

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  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2013
    WyoTraveler wrote:
    I would pick I-90 to Butte MT and south. All you can do is 511 for weather and check Dot web sites. You may just get slowed by weather but just hunker down when it gets bad. I would winterize MH and carry bottled water and rv antifreeze to flush toilet. I would have tire chains for MH. I always carry them even if I will never need them.


    Ah NO

    This add's lets see... Ryegrass summit, 4th of July Pass, Lookout Pass and Monida Pass, crossing lots more mountain ranges.
    It does take out the Dead-man pass (I-84) and going over Manastash Ridge (I-82), but they are lower passes then Lookout and Monida...

    ...and it's lots longer.

    I've also done the I-5 to Portland, but that adds 5 hours to the trip (I only do it when I-90 is closed).

    I-90 to I-82 to I-84 to I-15 is the simplest route and the one I usually take.

    Coming back is less fun, and the west-bound (down) grade on Deadman/Cabbage is not fun
  • Islandman's avatar
    Islandman
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2013
    Sounds like snow is on the way so I'd take I-5 down to Vancouver, then pick up I-205 to east Portland where you can get on I-84. Take I-84 all the way eastern ID and then work your way to SLC. Be very careful around Pendleton and Baker City in eastern OR, the highway gets real slick there. Your best bet is to contact the Oregon DOT for info, they have excellent web sites. Am recommending going south to Portland rather than over Snoqualmie 'cause you won't have to worry about snow as much, at least for that portion of the trip. Do you need to take the Class A, seems like travel by car or whatever would be better at handling road conditions this time of the year.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2013
    State DOTs have good web sites with road conditions and web cams
    WSDOT.gov
    tripcheck (Oregon)
    Idaho

    Most have some sort of 511 service

    NOAA, National Weather service has maps with warnings. I also like to use their 7day forecast tailored to a specific location (adjusted for altitude, etc).

    I90 pass is listed as wet and bare; forecast is snow/rain, i.e. borderline temperatures. I'd go for it, especially if driving in daylight.

    Oregon I84 as no weather warnings.

    Idaho is showing 'good' for roads in the Snake River plain.

    http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pih/
    It looks like your chances of snow increase as you get closer to Utah.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2013
    I would pick I-90 to Butte MT and south. All you can do is 511 for weather and check Dot web sites. You may just get slowed by weather but just hunker down when it gets bad. I would winterize MH and carry bottled water and rv antifreeze to flush toilet. I would have tire chains for MH. I always carry them even if I will never need them.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2013
    I90 to I82 to I84 is going to be the fastest and least problematic route. Your biggest chances of worry is going to be Cabbage hill out of Pendelton and the Blue Mountains between Pendelton and LaGrande. Just south of LaGrande there is another spot of touchy road. Check ODOT traffic cams before you head out. I do not think we are expecting any serious storms for the next few days so it should be easy going. But be sure to have chains with you.
  • kknowlton's avatar
    kknowlton
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2013
    The passes between Pendleton OR and Boise can be problematic in winter weather. Chains may be required, and caution definitely so.
  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2013
    I would stay on Interstates like Google map shows. Pick up I-90 northeast of you and Interstates all the way. Probably your safest bet.

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