late winter trip

[old_guy]

we are having a new grandson the last of October this year. we also are planning our first snowbird trip to Yuma but we are not going to miss the birth and the joy of being grandparents again. SO we are planning to leave eastern Oregon some time about the 1st of Feb for Yuma. just don't know which way to go. have been talking to my friends here in town they say it depends on the weather window. if it's nasty in Oregon, Idaho and Utah then go as far west as the Oregon coast to head down and drive through Calif. that might be the dry way, but I am really reluctant to drive in Calif if I have a choice. Let's face it, the traffic and the roads are some of the worst around. and the farmers almanac is saying the snow is going to be deep this year. You guys who live in Calif, just how good are the roads?

[WyoTraveler]

If you stay on trucker routes you are good pretty much all year. Of course you have to watch the wx closely. Every state pretty much has the 511 number for highway closures. Pass closures etc. If wx gets bad we pull over at truck stops for a few hours or the night. They work hard to keep the truck routes open in the winter. All that said. Do not leave a standard truck route even if it seems shorter in the winter. If you are on some low traveled secondary road you could get in real trouble in the winter.

[artguys]

I84 is good to Pendleton...then it's Cabbage(or as the locals call it "the hill"...after it's a bunch of working the canyons before and after Baker City...then it's either hit or miss with the weather after that. This if working the northern latitudes is your preference.

[SteveAE]

old guy,

Congratulations.

Depending where in Oregon you are when you head out, I have had good success using the Cascades/Sierras as a "storm shield" and heading east on Hwy 20, and then south from Burns into Nevada. Western Oregon and N. California can be getting pounded (with road closures), where that route may only have light snowfall. Then again, it may not be so light, so just look at it as an option.

Hope you have a great trip,
Steve

[jmtandem]

we are having a new grandson the last of October this year. we also are planning our first snowbird trip to Yuma but we are not going to miss the birth and the joy of being grandparents again. SO we are planning to leave eastern Oregon some time about the 1st of Feb for Yuma. just don't know which way to go. have been talking to my friends here in town they say it depends on the weather window. if it's nasty in Oregon, Idaho and Utah then go as far west as the Oregon coast to head down and drive through Calif. that might be the dry way, but I am really reluctant to drive in Calif if I have a choice. Let's face it, the traffic and the roads are some of the worst around. and the farmers almanac is saying the snow is going to be deep this year. You guys who live in Calif, just how good are the roads?

Not sure where you are coming from with your perception of California roads. Millions of folks take to the road system every day and get where they are going on California roads. You, too, will get to where you are going as well. Some can be a little busy but if you have a weather window take US 395 that follows the eastern side of the Sierras and you will find it is not too busy and the road is in good conditon. Otherwise, as previously mentioned, US 95 south to Las Vegas and then south to Yuma. Snow south of Tonopah/Goldfield on US 95 or Bishop on US 395 rarely presents a driving problem.

[timmac]

I don't know what part of eastern Oregon your at but I have driven there a few times from Vegas and would have to say get to Nevada how ever you can and bring 95 down into Vegas and take 93 south of Vegas and head that way to Yuma.

Utah might not be good in Feb, driving west to I-5 than down would be out of the way and to many miles, thru Nevada is what I would do.