Killer drive?? Live in Kellogg ID work in Spokane WA? (Sandpoint: ski resorts, house)

[Texas Snowflake]

Hi, My family is hoping to be moving from Texas to the Pac NW soon. There is a job for my husband in Spokane but the house i have found on the internet that i love is in Kellogg. I see that it's a 60 mile drive. How horrible is that commute? traffic? weather? general unpleasantness..

I am an avid snowboarder and my husband went to school in Pullman WA so we've both driven in the snow alot... Only been in TX 2 years. Time to come home... i'm melting.

Any input on how killer that commute would be will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[Sage of Sagle]

If he only had to do it 3 days a week (like 3x12 work schedule) I'd certainly go for it. But 5 days a week? ACK. that's at least 90 minutes each way in the winter weather. I'd look at Rathdrum and Spirit Lake area, or even some areas northeast of Spokane on the WA side...

[brokencrayola]

That is really too far, especially in winter. I know I'd never want to make that drive 5 days a week and not even 3 in the winter.

[Trouthunter]

I would have to concur with the other posts. I commuted 40 miles (Palmer AK, to Anchorage AK) 5 days a week during winter. The drive was on a similarly maintained highway that I-90 (Kellogg to Spokane) is. It’s certainly not the best way to start the work day out all stressed over driving conditions, and other driver’s horrible driving.
Your husband’s commute will be 20 miles longer and he will have to go over 4th of July pass twice daily. It is maintained very well, until you get caught in a snow storm on the pass. Then you need to have all-wheeled drive capabilities and you can add another15- 25 minutes to the drive time. If you are dead set on the house and live in Kellogg, make sure your vehicles are up to the N. Idaho icy conditions.

If you just want to live close to a ski hill live north of Spokane, say Deer Park, then you will have access to three ski resorts (49 degrees north ski resort in Chewelah, WA 49 Degrees North Mountain Ski Resort and Mt. Spokane Ski Resort Mount Spokane Ski Area), and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in Sandpoint, ID. All of these resorts are 30-60 minutes to Deer Park, and season passes are reasonable at most of them. Granted it isn’t a gondola ride, but it might be a reasonable compromise to 240-300 minutes/130 miles daily driving your husband will have to do.