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Questions about best route to escape Oregon right before Thanksgiving:

simp5782

Feo, Fuerte y Formal
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I'd sure appreciate some input regarding my Cabbage Hill question too...
If I remember right. Cabbage hill is only 3k ft or so. It should not be bad in November. If you see storms expected then just wait a day. You shouldn't have any real bad passes that time of year along your route. I.e. 6500ft and higher.

I went over an 11,500ft one the other day with a 9% grade. Try to avoid those which are on scenery routes
 

MTVR

Well-known member
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Waco Texas
I'm not worried about snow- I can do the math on that myself. What I want to avoid, is starting down some hill that ends up being much steeper, longer, and/or twistier than I anticipated.
 

simp5782

Feo, Fuerte y Formal
Supporting Vendor
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Location
Mason, TN
I'm not worried about snow- I can do the math on that myself. What I want to avoid, is starting down some hill that ends up being much steeper, longer, and/or twistier than I anticipated.
Nah. Its only 6 percent grades. You have an engine brake. You are fine.
 

Wolfen

Active member
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Location
Woodburn Oregon
Sisiyou pass can be very treacherous in the winter. I would watch the weather forecast and time my departure for when there is no snow storm forecast. I-84, through the gorge, can be a nightmare in the winter time, Snow, high winds, freezing rain, and ice. If vbthere is no bad weather forecast, than you should be fine.
 

MTVR

Well-known member
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Location
Waco Texas
Yeah I’ve got a Michelin 16.00x20 you can have if you pick it up, in Cedar City UT. I should be home around Nov 1st/2nd, and nothing planned through Nov/Dec.
Thank you.

We are planning to leave Portland on November 22, and I do need a spare tire. Between you, alpha tread, and Boyce equipment, it looks like there are more resources along that route...
 

MTVR

Well-known member
698
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Location
Waco Texas
The wife wants to try the California route. She really wants to avoid driving the Columbia gorge in winter.

If we're gonna go the California route, she wants to visit Joshua Tree National Park and White Sands National Monument along the way.

Any recommendations for a route that connects those dots once we turn east at Bakersfield? Again, our ultimate destination is Waco Texas...
 

Steve92307

Active member
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Location
California
It appears likely that we will be moving from Portland Oregon to Waco Texas on or shortly after November 20th.

My wife would like to head down I-5 south into southern California and then cut across, to minimize our chances of snow, as opposed to heading out I-84 east through the Columbia Gorge.

But that means that we'll have to deal with the Siskiyou pass. I've driven it several times over the last 35+ years, but almost always during the summer, and it's been about 15 years since the last time I did that. I've only done it once during winter- it was during a snowstorm back in '84, and I was driving a new Cadillac.

I grew up driving in the snow, but my wife will be driving too, and our other vehicle will be a U-Haul truck towing a car trailer with her BMW on it.

I know we have some members here that are truck drivers- can you guys please educate us a little on our escape route?

I did order a set of four new Oshkosh military surplus 16.00R20 tire chains, and they should arrive in time for us to test fit them before we leave.
I'm down in the Socal area and I just got back from a trip to Oregon that I have taken many times. Dont think you will be able to avoid the hills and snow coming out of Oregon to California on the I5, I would cross over in the Sacramento are and hit I99 then truck all the way down to the 58 east towards barstow, on the I40 east, to the I95 south then I10 east. Most of your hills will be at the Oregon/CA border, heading towards barstow thru tehachapi and some smaller ones in the parker area. Cant comment much on anything past Phoenix. That's your best bet for avoiding as many hills and still making good time.
 

Steve92307

Active member
119
85
28
Location
California
The wife wants to try the California route. She really wants to avoid driving the Columbia gorge in winter.

If we're gonna go the California route, she wants to visit Joshua Tree National Park and White Sands National Monument along the way.

Any recommendations for a route that connects those dots once we turn east at Bakersfield? Again, our ultimate destination is Waco Texas...
If you want hit Joshua tree take the 58east to i15 south, to hwy 18 east through apple valley (that's where I live) that runs into hwy 247 and stay on it all the way to Yucca valley, turn left onto hwy 62 east and go into the Town of Joshua Tree. The entrance is on the south side of the Hwy. Dont know how long you plan to stay but they built a new Indian casino hotel in 29palms which is 20min further east and there is also an entrance to the park thru 29 palms.
 

SCSG-G4

PSVB 3003
Steel Soldiers Supporter
5,368
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Location
Lexington, South Carolina
From the Phoenix area, going south and picking up I-10 will get you out of snow from there east through the southern Rockies. Then switch onto I-20 where it joins I-10 and head toward Dallas. I've been that route in January and only saw snow on the distant peaks.
 
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