Question about travelling across the rockies in the winter

[Steve Dallas]

OK...so I'm going to be driving from North Carolina to Seattle, leaving in a few days. I've done cross country trips before, however never really in true winter conditions. I'm an experienced snow driver, and my SUV I'm taking is an Audi and I'll have Pirelli Scorpion Snow tires for the trip.

Here's my question. I basically leave on the 2nd or 3rd and want to e there on or before the 9th. I'll have extra days to take a more southern route through Arizona and California if I really wanted. I'd prefer going more of a northerly route, however I mainly know the West Coast winter issues on I5 and the western rockies, and where things can storm up and get dicey. I've never travelled in the winter through states like South Dakota, Montana, etc...ie; taking I90. Even I70 will be wintry, however I'm really curious how drivable these highways are most of the time.

Also, I really haven't located any weather condition traffic sites that are more nationwide. Most of those are statewide, so it's great for local trips but not long distance ones as far as planning routes in winter. Was curious if any truckers or others had some resources along those lines.

[Bulldog3071]

Take the Camaro it will do just fine. Plan ahead and just weather on a regular basis which it pretty easy these days with phones. If you take a north route make sure you have good gear with you, blankets, food , water, candles for heat, just in case you get stuck in a mountain pass some of them can get scary especially at night just drive slow.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Bulldog3071

Take the Camaro it will do just fine. Plan ahead and just weather on a regular basis which it pretty easy these days with phones. If you take a north route make sure you have good gear with you, blankets, food , water, candles for heat, just in case you get stuck in a mountain pass some of them can get scary especially at night just drive slow.

1) No longer have my SS. I have replaced it with something a little nicer (see below).

2) I'll have tons of supplies, a cooler for food/water/drinks

3) The SUV is far better suited to carrying a grill (for tailgating at games), as well as a few larger suitcases. I've done a road trip to Seattle in September in the Stingray already. No need to do it in ice/snow and road salty conditions.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Curts14

Hey Steve, It sounds like you are an excellent driver and your vehicle should be one of the best for the trip, so you should do just fine. I don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but I live out here and know the driving conditions. Winter weather doesn't bother me as much as the wildlife on the roads. These Mule Deer will appear in front of you out of nowhere. If you take I-70, be careful up around Green River, Utah. There is a stretch of highway there I call "Deer Alley". I was towing the race car to Vegas one time and the pavement was covered with blood and deer guts through that area. Dawn and dusk are the worst time for them to be out. A thousand pound Elk is another matter all together. Curt

Last couple of times I've done I70 to Denver, it's just been a deer slaughterhouse. Didn't actually see any on the highway...just dead deer everywhere.

It won't be a problem driving to conditions. Biggest factor will likely be other drivers or unexpected black ice. I test traction often and have spent a LOT of time driving in snow with chains and without skiing. What is different to me is that you don't use chains on a SUV like mine. Chains were always that backup plan you could rely on getting through tough snow/pass conditions. I am getting new Pirelli Scorpion winter tires tomorrow though, so we'll see how those compare to chains if there is snowpack on the road.

My biggest unknown is I90. I mean, it's straight and level through a LOT of that drive from Wisconsin to western Montana. I90 is a major interstate though, so I expect that unless it's a blizzard, it should be pretty passable.

Heck, I kind of expect the roads will be something like from the movie Fargo...

[DesertCamaro]

Weather wise, you'd be better off taking I-40 all the way to Barstow, the 58 across to Bakersfield and then the 99 north through Sacramento. Not the prettiest ride but your only chance of some bad weather is between Barstow/Bakersfield (Tehachapi Pass). Have fun!

[mikel441]

Originally Posted by DesertCamaro

Weather wise, you'd be better off taking I-40 all the way to Barstow, the 58 across to Bakersfield and then the 99 north through Sacramento. Not the prettiest ride but your only chance of some bad weather is between Barstow/Bakersfield (Tehachapi Pass). Have fun!

This is the route we took moving up here in February. It might be a good route for your trip.

[DesertCamaro]

Originally Posted by Curts14

Hey Desert Camaro, One of the worst ice storms that I was ever in was in Amarillo on I-40. That's why we love the West - right - our weather. I bet it's nice in Pheonix this morning.

Oh yeah? No idea it got that bad out there! Phoenix had its chiliest morning of the year today, 33 degrees. It's funny, you drive around and everybody puts sheets over their bushes and cacti in their front yards. Hilarious looking.