Posted: 10/18/2024 5:42:34 AM EDT
| I may have to drive that route a few times this winter. I've never driven it. Are there any mountain passes? Does it get much snow and ice, like any worse than I-5? |
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It can get pretty hectic, TBH. The stretch by the river gets iced frequently, Cabbage Hill pass is the steepest grade in Oregon, and drivers are careless. Like anything else, it's doable with an appropriate vehicle and skill, but I avoided it when I was going between Portland and Boise and the weather was bad. |
God's children are not for sale.
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Keep an eye on the weather. They'll close the eastbound side at Troutdale if it's iced up east of there. You're typically OK once you get part way between Cascade Locks and the Dalles. Here's an article on Deadman Pass just east of Pendleton. It can be pretty bad so you need to listen to the radio to check local weather. The drive is beautiful through the gorge when the weather is good. I used to drive from Salem to Richland quite frequently and switched between the Oregon and Washington sides. Fantastic views on both sides that are quite different from each other. You can see several of the cascade mountains at one time if you make a side trip up to Goldendale and there is good visibility. The "fruit loop" west of Moser is also a good detour if the roads are clear and you have good visibility. |
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Originally Posted By MMcCall: It can get pretty hectic, TBH. The stretch by the river gets iced frequently, Cabbage Hill pass is the steepest grade in Oregon, and drivers are careless. Like anything else, it's doable with an appropriate vehicle and skill, but I avoided it when I was going between Portland and Boise and the weather was bad. Wow, I remember going over cabbage years ago, watched a u haul smoke it's brakes, I didn't know that was on 84. I couldn't remember but I remember the name cabbage. I'm actually coming from the Roseburg area to Boise. The first route Google maps gave me was highway 20, but I didn't feel comfortable driving through the middle of nowhere. Is there a better route I should be looking at? |
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Originally Posted By AASG: Wow, I remember going over cabbage years ago, watched a u haul smoke it's brakes, I didn't know that was on 84. I couldn't remember but I remember the name cabbage. I'm actually coming from the Roseburg area to Boise. The first route Google maps gave me was highway 20, but I didn't feel comfortable driving through the middle of nowhere. Is there a better route I should be looking at? Not really. Even if you went over one of the other passes to 97 and then up to Biggs, you'd still hit I-84 west of the mountain. At least 84 is maintained and patrolled. I've done the Hwy 20 route out from Bend to Boise in the winter, and was not comfortable with it. |
God's children are not for sale.
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Originally Posted By AASG: Wow, I remember going over cabbage years ago, watched a u haul smoke it's brakes, I didn't know that was on 84. I couldn't remember but I remember the name cabbage. I'm actually coming from the Roseburg area to Boise. The first route Google maps gave me was highway 20, but I didn't feel comfortable driving through the middle of nowhere. Is there a better route I should be looking at? Hello neighbor. From the Burg it's easier to go over 138 to bend and out 20. In the winter 97 is pretty clear. I haven't spent much time on 20 in the winter but the lack of shaded areas tell me it shouldn't be bad at all. Fill up your rig in bend and you'll be fine. There are a couple places for fuel off 20 but it's mostly just flat nothing. |
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Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Hello neighbor. From the Burg it's easier to go over 138 to bend and out 20. In the winter 97 is pretty clear. I haven't spent much time on 20 in the winter but the lack of shaded areas tell me it shouldn't be bad at all. Fill up your rig in bend and you'll be fine. There are a couple places for fuel off 20 but it's mostly just flat nothing. Do you have to go over any passes on that route? Another route Google maps gives me is through Christmas valley to 20. |
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Originally Posted By AASG: Do you have to go over any passes on that route? Another route Google maps gives me is through Christmas valley to 20. Just diamond lake. I'm not sure Christmas valley to 20 is any faster or better. It may cut some time off if you live down hwy 31. It's ~150 miles to LaPine and another ~30ish to bend. If you have a large fuel tank you can go down 31 but there isn't really any fuel down that way until Xmas valley or until you hit burns. Xmas valley doesn't have much at all. ~200 miles to Christmas valley. ~300 to burns. If your rig will do 350-400 miles on a tank I'd say Christmas valley route and fill up in burns. Going through Christmas valley is a bit more straight shot going through bend. |