how bad is the commuting in montana?

[rickers]

A few months ago I was driving just east of Browning durring a blizzard and my air filter froze up. I was stranded for a while but it wsn't too cold. It was still scary, no cell phone and no one would stop !

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Radek

N
I keep hearing people complain about Bozeman Pass on the way to Livingston... I'll be honest, I've never had a problem on that pass. I get much more freaked out by Homestake by Butte, and Lookout Pass on the MT/ID border. Even those two are starting to not scare me to death anymore.

I went over the Bozeman pass hundreds of times in the worst sort of weather. Exactly ONE time, I had to stop and put chains on because of Truly Amazing Ice (even studded tires had no grip at all). Otherwise, I never had a problem with it. Admittedly sometimes a person had to take it slow around Trail Creek (which is a cold pocket and keeps ice longer than the rest of the road) and again near the crest of the pass, but otherwise the road was usually pretty good.

I've been over Homestake and Lookout during soggy spring blizzards, no real problem, but don't think I ever had to do 'em in midwinter.

The one that's truly HORRIBLE in midwinter is whatsisname just west of Helena on the interstate, going toward Butte. (Who in their right mind uses that road, when the Boulder cutoff is so much easier?) I guess it's better now (did they ever finish four-laning the whole thing??) but back in the 1970s it was more like tobogganing than driving.

Another one that's bad in winter is the old road through Wolf Creek Canyon... you're not sure where the road ice ends and the river ice begins tho I never had any trouble at all with the beautiful new interstate. ("New" I still call it, 30 years later!)

Interesting roadway photos:
Historical Information and Photos

Especially good pictures for frightening tourists
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/photogallery/i...oldsnowcar.gif
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/photogallery/i...ooth/plow2.gif
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/photogallery/i..._slide_101.jpg
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/photogallery/i...ory/carmud.gif

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[Radek]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I've been over Homestake and Lookout during soggy spring blizzards, no real problem, but don't think I ever had to do 'em in midwinter.
.

Thanks for the pics. The only one that ever scares me is the slide one. a year or two ago a couple people got caught by a rockslide over Snoqualmie pass and died.

Yeah, the problem I have with homestake and lookout, is that from Bozeman to Seattle, I have 4 mountain passes in a day to get through, and I'm just not a huge fan of 4 passes in a day, regardless of how bad they are. And yeah, mid-winter can be a bit nasty.