B.C. hwy 97 south to S.E CA and S.W. AZ late Oct.

WA17 leaves US97 at the Columbia River, climbs to the wheat fields plateau and then heads south to US395. This by passes Blewett Pass (and two lesser ones on 97). But once in Oregon, US97 is probably easier bad weather driving. Once you've climbed out the Columbia it is relatively flat and straight, with an average altitude of 5000'. US395 crosses low mountains in NC Oregon, and doesn't become level and straight until it hits US20 (Burns).