Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

whelanbio t1_ix28415 wrote

Just take hwy 97 through central WA instead of I5 and hwy 2 -basically same distance and you avoid the worst pass (hwy 2). If the weather is really bad take an extra detour at Ellensburg to go through Wenatchee. Typically not much snow via this route.

Get chains and learn how to put them on your car before the trip, you'll be fine. Be prepared for the drive to take a long time if the weather turns shit.

IMO the rental idea isn't very good -somebody's random 4WD that you aren't used to driving isn't going save you if you don't know how to drive in snow. I see tons of people in very capable vehicles crash in pretty mild snow, while the careful drivers going slow with chains on their fwd cars do just fine.

23

starmadillo t1_ix2kh8v wrote

If there is or has been bad weather on Blewett pass (97) around when you’d take it, don’t take it. Especially if you’re not used to winter driving. Stevens (2) will be safer and easier to drive over. Granted with the recent fire 2 might be in rough shape.

But if it’s been clear for awhile then Blewett should be fine.

9

TSAOutreachTeam t1_ix2lcjp wrote

I drove from Leavenworth to Cle Elum a few years back in a major snow storm. I would not recommend it. That was in a CR-V, and I felt like death was around every curve.

5

whelanbio t1_ix2pw2q wrote

100%! I forgot the name of Blewett thats why I said go around through Wenatchee and avoid all passes.

3

jeep-n-dogs t1_ix3ux3t wrote

F150s at U-Haul are 19.95 just saying lol

Not all of them are 4WD though

−3

whelanbio t1_ix4ti39 wrote

The mileage cost taking a U-Haul from Oregon to Leavenworth would be crazy.

A 4WD pickup still isn't that great unless you put some heavy stuff in the bed to even out the weight distribution on the wheels and know how to drive in snow. An RWD pickup is one of the worst possible vehicles for snow and ice.

2