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

[BeerSampler]

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

[jamesu]

"Beersampler" I believe you have had plenty of preparatory information and warnings concerning supplies needed and possible inclement weather and road conditions between here and Salt Lake City in the dead of winter over 2 major mountain ranges and through flat lands east of the mountains where ice and white outs are not unknown under the right conditions...in an RV no less.


Your statements lead me to believe that you are either young or Inexperienced or both. Would hate to see get in over your head here...but then weather conditions might be fine and you'll get to SLC no problem. Been there. Done that. Good luck.

[The_Texan]

There is a winter weather warning in affect for the entire length of I-84 from central OR, all of Idaho and most of western UT, starting at noon tomorrow in Idaho and early AM in OR. Be careful.

[Idahoan]

Weather is bad currently. Freezing rain last night, over to snow this morning. Had 3-4 inches in Ogden when I left for work, still coming down and very very slick.

[BeerSampler]

jamesu wrote:
What "WyoTraveler" said: unless your RV is rigged for cold weather my concern is frozen pipes. There's a reason campgrounds are closed and/or empty right now.

I-84 through the Columbia Gorge can be extremely icy and dangerous especially if it gets windy.

Snow in W. Washington is predicted tonight and tomorrow. That affects everything. Take chains and throw in a shovel. Be a good Boy Scout and Be Prepared: It's too to late to get what you need If your stuck somewhere. I have experienced many times what you MIGHT be heading into. I do
not envy you.

Enumclaw got a nice dusting last night, I got a smattering of hail. PERFECT TIMING lol ... Off to the big box store to check out goodies.

First, heat tape. Camping World has some tank heaters in but they sound too small and over priced. Foam insulation for water lines, and foil/bubble on inner basement doors. Chains for both front and rear if needed. Shovel, sand, grammas knitted fluffy wool mittens. Electric blanket.

I record my trips in HD with a GoPro. Maybe I can get some good shots of terrible weather to post. The high in Salt Lake yesterday was 19 degrees.

In the very least, I get to tinker with the coach. I saw those automatic chains on city busses and was impressed. I was also afraid to ask how much they would be for a retrofit. Do newer rigs even have those yet??

[The_Texan]

We had snow last night and they are calling for another 6"-12" starting tomorrow. Here is a link to Idaho I-84 highway cams, so you know what you are driving into.

[jamesu]

What "WyoTraveler" said: unless your RV is rigged for cold weather my concern is frozen pipes. There's a reason campgrounds are closed and/or empty right now.

I-84 through the Columbia Gorge can be extremely icy and dangerous especially if it gets windy.

Snow in W. Washington is predicted tonight and tomorrow. That affects everything. Take chains and throw in a shovel. Be a good Boy Scout and Be Prepared: It's too to late to get what you need If your stuck somewhere. I have experienced many times what you MIGHT be heading into. I do
not envy you.

[donn0128]

I have dually chains for my truck. Never used them, but when ODOT says you must carry them in the mountains and if I got caught in a storm I could be in for a hugh ticket. Better safe than sorry.

[BeerSampler]

Nice replies. This brings up another question: Chains. I read some posts here. Has anyone in this thread ever used them on a larger rig? I have seen a lot of debate about that. In many states you are required to have them onboard even if you never use them.

One school of thought is that if the road requires chains to move around, you shouldn't be pushing a 30,000 GVWR non-CDL vehicle and just wait it out. Avoid danger and not have to apply chains. But how careful is too careful when everyone else is still moving and a long DP is considered stable (on straight roads, barring any sudden stops or turns?

The counterpoint is to keep it moving if the plows have come through and sanded. Let the trucks keep the pace, and if you are experienced you will be OK. I do know that experience doesn't help much when someone else loses it and quick maneuvers are necessary that can put you off-kilter. Harder to stop/turn once the tires start sliding on a coach or any vehicle for that matter. I do not have the luxury of waiting for than a few hours.

I chained up a big-rig once and I never want to do that again. I wonder how it is on just one set of dualies?? And yes I know it is my obligation and responsibility to learn this before I hit the road 🙂 I would hate for one of our first meetings in our travels for me to be waving as I slide backwards in the wrong direction....

[The_Texan]

Watch the weather VERY closely. Eastern OR, western ID and southern ID are supposed to get snow tonight through Friday, with some of the western & southern ID areas forecast to be HEAVY snow. The treasure valley (I-84) area has been in an inversion situation for over a week with temps below freezing 24/7 and HEAVY fog.

[BeerSampler]

Islandman wrote:
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.

Yes, Class A. It is my only home away from home especially when travelling with the dogs. Company is less inclined to make exceptions when they provide hotels. Opting out of hotels brings in a small amount extra anyway. It helped pay off the MH early. I have seen the need for a Class C for the places I go to. Even more so the need for a nice B class conversion since I tend to stealth camp in the urban areas. A decent B class can cost me more than I paid for this beast. But I'm getting off-topic. I would much rather hit any pass with my truck but I'm not gonna live out of it with a dog unless I have to.

[n7bsn]

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]

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]

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]

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.