Driving from PA to Monroe in a couple of days!! (Seattle: how much, closing)

[blondesofmonroe]

We have received ample warnings from friends (and our local Monroe family I mentioned in another post). But waiting till summer next year is not an option.

We have two medium-sized dogs, one with a respiratory problem so flying is not an option. We will be driving a Nissan Quest 08, with chain-tires, and a small tow-cart from U-Haul. National advisory is that unless its grisly weather, the Hwys should not be a problem.

Any advice from veterans?

Thanks a shovel!

[Ira500]

My advice is not to go the most direct route, but to head south before heading west. It's what I'm doing right now, on my way back to Seattle from New Jersey...If you're in a hurry and have to take the most direct route, you will run into snow, and maybe even highway closing blizzards...Or you can head to Florida and take I-10, or I-20 a little further north...We just spent a couple of very enjoyable, warm days in Mississippi, and are now in Texas...No snow, great Creole food and BBQ, what more could one want?

[allforcats]

Ira500 knows what he's talking about -- and I've been providing him with the horrific weather reports almost every day on his trip.

The ENTIRE NORTHERN HALF OF THE U.S. is covered in ice, snow, high winds, blizzards, whiteouts, avalanches, highway closings, other road closings..... Death trap.

Go way south, and then go west through the southern and southwestern states into California. Hang a right and take I-5 north. YOU WILL NEED CHAINS, good tread on your unchained tires, slow careful driving, and a lot of emergency supplies for only one place in that journey -- the California-Oregon border crossing the Siskiyou Mountains. Because of the current amazingly powerful storm conditions, chains will be required by the Highway Patrol for that section of I-5.

Drive safely. Take it easy.

[blondesofmonroe]

IRA500 - I'm envious! Thanks for the valuable input. You are right we are in a hurry, my husband has a few days off and I want to be able to spend sometime with him and my sister before they return to the east coast.

AllForCats, you are absolutely right. What do you think is worse the Siskiyous or the Snoqualmie Pass.
Is there a detour option?

And if I follow all your advice, going south that is, how much time should I plan for travel? When we drove to PA from Seattle last summer, it took us six days at a leisurely pace. But this is the middle of winter so how many more days?

Thanks for all the great advice!

[allforcats]

I'd plan on adding 2 to 3 days to your expectations, depending on weather and traffic.

The Siskiyou pass is much easier to negotiate than Snoqualmie. I've done both in snow and cold. For safety, maneuverability and frequency of help, I'll take the Siskiyous any day. I-5 also has pull-outs constantly which I-90 doesn't have, and less wind.

There is an alternative route to the Siskiyou pass, Hwy 101 an older 2-lane scenic route. HOWEVER, these massive, several-days-long snow and ice storms have covered 101 with snow, layers of ice, wind, and many areas of complete impassibility.

I-5 is the main commercial truck route from British Columbia into Mexico. It is always the best route in snow and ice because it is the widest route and the one most plowed and de-iced or chopped up by the trucks' chains. Today, Monday, alternative routes are basically not an option. I-5 will be your safest best. It also has constant State Trooper patrols which will help people in trouble, and a very healthy number of gas stations and restaurants.

BUY AS MUCH GAS AS YOU CAN IN SOUTHERN CALIF. Up here in western Washington many gas stations have simply run out of gas because the tanker trucks can't get to the stations in the unbelievably icy and snowed-in conditions. Since I-5 is the main commerical route for the entire west coast, it's likely that gas stations on I-5 will be supplied, since they'll be better plowed than in the cities and towns. In the past 3 days, the snow has just been falling faster than plow crews in the cities can keep up with. They're working on 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day in western WA and western OR.

Northern California is likewise buried. A friend living in Weed, CA near Mt. Shasta and of course at elevation, reported a temp of 10 degrees during the day yesterday which he says is unusually cold. Make sure your antifreeze is good for 0 temp or -10.

When you get to snow -- pull over and chain up. Drive slowly. Be awake, relaxed and thinking. Drive carefully and fully awake. If you go into a skid DO NOT BRAKE DO NOT BRAKE DO NOT BRAKE. Steer INTO the direction of the skid. Try just a bit to steer in a better direction. Stop steering if the car won't change direction. DON'T BRAKE. Try steering again, just a bit. Don't brake. Eventually the tires will find a spot where they can get a bit of traction and you can SLOWLY bit by bit steer into a better direction.

I send you all strong energy for safety and happiness. Don't be afraid, or its cousin worried, because fear clouds thinking and wisdom. Just be careful and wide awake. I wish you well!