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RE: Rt 35 Oregon I 84 to Mt Hood Village Resort
I think the climb up the east side of 12 is about the same as the climb up 35. Same distance (starting at 410 junction); about the same rise.
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paulj
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05/24/12 02:32pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Rt 35 Oregon I 84 to Mt Hood Village Resort
White Pass is basically the same altitude, 4000'. In current WSDOT images White Pass pavement is dry, but there is snow (old probably) by the road side. Tripcheck images show wet pavement around Mt Hood. Immediate forecasts (from the WSDOT site) are for snow to the 4000' level in the south Cascades - that may extend to the Mt Hood area. The Gorge looks like it will be wet, but not particularly windy.
Tripcheck also has the 'snow zone, carry chains' message, while (I think) Washington's chains requirements are past - after all it is nearly June!
I don't see any advantage to taking the longer drive over White Pass - compared to either I84 or OR35.
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paulj
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05/24/12 10:26am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Looking for RV Overnight Parking spot in Creston BC
It's not Centennial Park, but Millenium Park, 16th and Dogwood.
http://www.creston.ca/index.php?page_id=57
You can see this park with a few rvs on Google Maps streetview on 16th.
Some years ago the Visitor Center directed us to Centennial when we wanted a lunch time picnic place.
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paulj
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05/23/12 07:41pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Rt 35 Oregon I 84 to Mt Hood Village Resort
US26 and OR 35 meet on the SE flank of Mt Hood, close to their respective high points. So 35 has a steady and long climb from Hood River, but isn't particularly curvy, steep, or in my opinion narrow - at least no narrower than other 2 lane highways. US26 may have more passing lanes and 4 lanes stretches, but then it also has heavier traffic, being the main route from Portland over the mountains.
And since the resort appears to be at the west of 26 before it enters the National Forest, there may be a trade off between that pretty climb in the mountains versus Portland area traffic.
Google maps gives an extra 20 miles and 30 minutes for the Troutedale/Sandy route. Given the extra amount of freeway, I surprised that the time is so much longer. Must be the suburban segment, which is mostly 4 lane, but probably has a 40 mph speed limit.
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paulj
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05/23/12 09:58am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: route to Frenchglen, Or
205 is basically the same in both directions, good state highway. No significant grades or curves.
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paulj
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05/23/12 07:23am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: BC Campground maps and school schedule
My experience is that in June, weekends can be full with families, but midweek is still mostly RVs. I don't know the exact date, but school seems to get out near the end of the month, with Canada Day (July 2?) being the first long weekend of summer vacation. So that's about a week or two later than Washington schools.
At the other end, I've had no problems getting campsites after Labo(u)r day. It's worth checking the opening and closing dates for specific Prov Parks. They start closing loops, and removing table boards for refinishing in September. And as in Washington and Oregon, weather in Sept can be variable. I've hit rainy periods, and had beautifully dry weeks.
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paulj
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05/22/12 10:17pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: BC Campground maps and school schedule
My suggestion for a BC first timer is to focus on BC Provincial Parks. Few have hookups (see RV parks for that), but the sites are usually large and well spaced, and access from the highway is good. There is also a lot of information, starting with the government web site. Usually the campgrounds are close to good hiking trails, in some cases just right for an evening or morning walk, in others for a whole day.
Rec. Sites, former forestry campgrounds, tend to be more primitive, with small sites, and rougher access. While there is a government web site with maps, the Backroads Mapbooks are the handiest source of information. These sites are great for locals with pickup campers; not so good for visitors with large RVs. When the forestry people got out of the campground business, they took bear proof garbage cans away, leaving only a few tables and outhouses in many of the sites. Those with no services are free. Some others were adopted by local groups and/or private operators. If access is via logging roads you need to understand something about operating hours and protocol when meeting logging trucks.
BC visitor centers, located near border crossings and various towns, have lots of good information on camping and attractions.
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paulj
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05/22/12 10:13pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Rt 60 Bridges
Rt 60? What is that? I60, US60, OH60 or something else? 'Rt' is quite ambiguous. Between which states?
OK, since you are asking about both rivers, it probably is near where the two join. I recall some old bridge in the Cairo area was closed last year (or before that) for major repairs.
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paulj
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05/22/12 09:26pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Interstate 80 road condition
Road destruction on I-80 starting in PA through IL. No shoulders, two-lane/two way traffic. ...
Is that a current construction report, or what was going on when you last drove the route? 2 lane/2 way traffic generally only occurs in 10-30mile stretches. Location differs from year to year in each state. But that is a potential issue on any freeway, not just I80.
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paulj
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05/22/12 05:51pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Nashville to Denver best route
At the moment they are forecasting strong-severe thunderstorms in Kansas I70 and north, while Oklahoma will be clear. Also strong winds in Kansas. This is from the NOAA 7day forecast.
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paulj
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05/22/12 05:47pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Nashville to Denver best route
I don't think there are any real hills on either route, are there?
As to tornadoes, check weather forecasts. If a system is coming through with thunderstorms, either route could be affected.
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paulj
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05/22/12 02:17pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: North Cascades HWY 20 vs Hwy 2
Both roads have 2 parts - the Cascades crossing, and eastern Washington.
WA 20 (east bound) follows the Skagit River up to a set of 3 dams used to produce power for Seattle. One of the reservoirs extends to the Canadian border. It then climbs to Rainy Pass and Washington Pass, before taking a long and scenic descent to the Winthrop area. Winthrop has converted itself into a Western themed tourist town. After Twisp 20 crosses another, lower pass (Louploup). Then it crosses the rolling mountains of NE Washington. Sherman Pass is actually the highest highway pass in the state.
US2 starts in the Everett urban area, and passes through a string of old railroad towns, now distant Seattle suburbs. It too follows a river, until the final climb to Stevens Pass. The mountains views along this stretch are nearly as good as on 20, especially in the early summer when there is still snow on the peaks. The descent on the east side isn't as spectacular as on 20 (except for Tumwater Canyon). Leavenworth is another logging town turned tourist, with a Bavarian theme. It is larger than Winthrop. Then US2 passes through orchard country and crosses the Columbia River. Then it climbs to a wheat growing plateau, where it runs relatively straight and flat to Spokane. Here you either join I90, or turn north to join 20 and head into Idaho.
As noted you can make a loop that is promoted by local Chambers. You can cross between the two at the west end, along the Columbia, via Grand Coulee, or near Spokane.
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paulj
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05/22/12 01:55pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: NV Rt 6--between Yosemite & Capitol Reef NP?
I suspect the Tonopah to Ely leg (170 miles) is the most remote. As far as Tonopah you are sharing the road with traffic to Tohopah, and NS traffic from Reno to Vegas. At Ely you join US50, which you follow to I70.
An alternative is to turn off 6 toward Rachel (subject of a recent thread), Caliente (190 from Tonopah) and Cedar City. If you want even more scenic driving, take UT12 past Bryce and Escalante to Capitol Reef. That route is frequently discussed.
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paulj
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05/21/12 08:20pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: NV Rt 6--between Yosemite & Capitol Reef NP?
... Semi trucks drive the route, too and they need fuel. ...
I imagine a few of the ranch trucks use diesel as well. Not everyone in Nevada drives a Prius.
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paulj
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05/21/12 08:08pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Yellowstone or Grand Canyon
You could also get some canyon views on the way to Yellowstone from SW Colorado. In the Moab area there's Canyonlands with views of the Colorado River from Island in the Sky and Deadhorse Pt (SP), with Arches as a bonus. And continuing north from Price you could pass through Flaming Gorge on the way to Wyoming.
Yellowstone to Seattle via I90 is the boring route. US12 from Missoula is more interesting. Or see the Idaho mountains via Salmon, Challis and Stanley.
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paulj
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05/21/12 03:14pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: US-191/189 from Rock Springs WY to Jackson WY
On my old copy of S&T that boundary on 191/189 is marked 'The Rim'.
http://www.sublettewyo.com/index.aspx?NID=287
Is a county road report that makes reference to 'The Rim'.
It is apparent from Google Maps Terrain mode that the highway has gradually climbed to 8000' from the SE. At the forest boundary it starts dropping down along a river canyon. None of it looks very steep.
It may also be called the Hoback Rim. Rim seems to be a Wyoming name for a ridge, and gap a common name for a pass.
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paulj
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05/21/12 12:58pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Yellowstone or Grand Canyon
While Yellowstone has a lot going for it, in many ways it isn't that different from what the OP can see in Ontario (conifer forest, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife). Grand Canyon, and all the potential sights along the way will be quite different.
Several years ago I returned from SW Colorado to Seattle via:
Glen Canyon (Halls Crossing)
Capitol Reef
UT 12
Bryce
Cedar Breaks
(could have take a side trip from here to Zion and north rim GC)
Nevada
east side of Sierra Nevadas (US395)
Lake Tahoe
Lassen
east side of the Oregon Cascades
It would have been easy to include the north California and Oregon coast in this return.
If the OP is returning from Seattle to Ontario, he could include Yellowstone in that drive (or US Glacier, or the Canadian Rockies).
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paulj
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05/21/12 09:58am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Looking for RV Overnight Parking spot in Creston BC
Things can change in two years.
And maybe there was a reason they did not want you there?
http://www.chahkomikamall.com/about-us
This Walmart is in a mall, so probably does not have say in whether overnight parking is allowed or not. Malls don't normally allow it, do they?
Also, proximity to city downtown and waterfront may be a factor. Nelson is hemmed in by the mountains and lake, so does not have space for suburban sprawl.
The Trail Walmart is on the outskirts of town, along Hwy 3 as it runs east.
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paulj
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05/21/12 12:07am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Looking for RV Overnight Parking spot in Creston BC
The nearest Walmarts are in Trail, Nelson and Cranbrook. The Nelson one shares its parking with other stores and the town waterfront, so it probably does not allow overnight parking. Cranbrook would be the easiest drive. I think I see some RVs in the parking lot of the Cranbrook one on Google Maps streetview.
Have you considered a Provincial Park? I have stayed for free at a Rec Site on the other side of Cranbrook, but that was essentially a cow pasture around a small lake.
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paulj
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05/20/12 08:37pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Interstate 80 road condition
To avoid I80 across the NW Indiana and south side of Chicago, you need to go quite a ways south. US30 goes smack through suburbs, so is not going to be fun driving - unless you like stop lights. US24 is the next federal highway south. By then you are half way I74.
In the past when we drove from South Bend to Chicago, and were too cheap to take the tollway, we would take IN 2 and US20 across to I94. Now with the US31/US20 bypass extending past the tollway, that alternative does not make as much sense. It's so much simpler to just hop on the tollway and sail all the way to Gary.
It's one thing to take 2 lane highways in Idaho and west Texas. Taking them through all the little towns and farm land of Indiana and Illinois is not nearly as fun - unless you want to check out small town museums and cafes. And where the states have upgraded those routes to divided status you loose the virtuous feeling of driving something historic.
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paulj
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05/20/12 07:41pm |
Roads and Routes
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