what's hwy 15 from Pocatello through Montana onto the border

[look 171]

during Christmas normally? Hwy is usually plowed?

Now I am having second thoughts about taking my 81 year old mother with us to visit relatives in Calgary. She 's in great health, but I may not want to end up in a ditch for hours before someone yanks us out.

Coming back through Vancouver down the 5. That's should be ok and have done the west coast many times in the cold. I know, a couple spots to watch out for through the big hills

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by look 171

during Christmas normally? Hwy is usually plowed?

Now I am having second thoughts about taking my 81 year old mother with us to visit relatives in Calgary. She 's in great health, but I may not want to end up in a ditch for hours before someone yanks us out.

Coming back through Vancouver down the 5. That's should be ok and have done the west coast many times in the cold. I know, a couple spots to watch out for through the big hills

I-5 is closed at Ashland...but you've probably discovered that by now. Not a good time to be out there....

[LakeCleElum]

I just followed snow plows 3 wide thru Salt Lake City mid-day, yesterday, 11-26. I've taken that part of I-15 many times to snowmobile in Bear Lake. Although storms come thru, it's always been bare and dry for us; except one time....Idaho and Montana DOT do a great job of snow management...Weather radar maps and DOT updates are your friends.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I-5 is closed at Ashland...but you've probably discovered that by now. Not a good time to be out there....

That's pretty typical when a storm comes through. Last time I was up there, HWY patrol let me through because of 4WD. I discovered at a auto parts supply buying windshield wipers after having lunch at Medford the 5 had been closed.

[unclebilly]

Yes it’s plowed. I did it in my 90 Carrera 4 in the first week of January many moons ago...

[billybek]

The Monida Pass. Try to hit it in the daylight hours. It was pretty well maintained but the snow can overwhelm the maintenance crews. I remember there being one snow covered track in each direction and it was mid November.

Coming home from Cabo with the camper on my old truck, I did this pass in the dark, during a snow storm. I ended up having to stay in Dillon and had the best beef dip that I had ever eaten at some little restaurant there. Drove from San Diego early that morning.

[recycled sixtie]

Have you thought about taking the west coast route in both directions? It would add some extra miles but taking an 81 year old mother would reduce the anxiety. Presumably you have a four wheel drive with snow tires?

As mentioned above if you have a laptop with you you can google any state or province for weather. Example is Montana doppler interactive radar which will show significant areas of snow and which direction it is moving. I can understand why you want to drive as flying in holiday seasons is crazy.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

. Example is Montana doppler interactive radar which will show significant areas of snow and which direction it is moving. I can understand why you want to drive as flying in holiday seasons is crazy.

AND - Google maps/Waze to show traffic backups and road closures....

I say no to going thru Vancouver: You add 240 miles and still have to cross the Canadian Rockies, and then fight the traffic of Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland. No thanks....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Yes it’s plowed. I did it in my 90 Carrera 4 in the first week of January many moons ago...

Normally, that's a 16 hour hump in summer weather without a trailer. Man, long day in the saddle.

I drove that route several years ago but that was during summer time. I don't remember Monida Pass at all, maybe I was enjoying the scenery too much but I do remember the long climb near Helena on the 15. This was on my first time coming up way back in college during Christmas.

Oops, sorry not for you but meant for Billy

[look 171]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Have you thought about taking the west coast route in both directions? It would add some extra miles but taking an 81 year old mother would reduce the anxiety. Presumably you have a four wheel drive with snow tires?

As mentioned above if you have a laptop with you you can google any state or province for weather. Example is Montana doppler interactive radar which will show significant areas of snow and which direction it is moving. I can understand why you want to drive as flying in holiday seasons is crazy.

Oh yeah, I will be keeping en eye out on weather condition. Road closure should normally last for few hours. We have plenty of time. My travel plans are to take 5 days instead of the normal two days. 5-6 hours drive daily. My supreme commander can't take sitting in the car that long, She goes nuts.

Taking the Chevy diesel, 4 WD. I just bought these brand spanking new TOYO All Terran M and T tires 6 months ago. It should be OK.

[Seahawk]

Edit: Missed your post above, to quote Maxwell Smart, "by that much".

Have a great trip.

A post got deleted...Afterburns, which was spot on.

Have a winter emergency kit, never go around the barriers, and track the weather in advance and as you travel. Also, on these type of trips, the gas tank rarely get to 1/2 a tank.

I have driven the route many times and can't wait to do it again.

Enjoy.

[look 171]

I must have missed his post. Thanks, Seahawk

I am one of those that like to push my gas to the max and always wait until the next town, then the next but not this time. I think I have a 32 or 36 gallon tank, but it doesn't go too far in that big diesel. I suspect diesel should be all over the place even in smaller towns unlike socal. Not all gas stations carry diesel, so we go hunting for them. Learned my lesson in my old Cummins. I ran out of fuel and it stopped on the side of the road at Burbank after circling around for sometime. Back the, diesel was not popular at all.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by look 171

I am one of those that like to push my gas to the max and always wait until the next town, then the next but not this time.

I use gas/diesel full apps all the time to find the best deals. Yes, I am cheap!

Here is a good review: https://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/automotive-apps/road-test-of-4-fuel-finder-smartphone-apps.html

I will say, taking your Mom on this kind of trip is the coolest - my Dad rode his motorcycle daily until he passed at 84. We'd saddle up tomorrow and giggle all the way.

Really, good on you and your Mom for this: "Supreme Commander". Beautiful.

As was mine.

[look 171]

No, the Supreme Commander is my wife. My mom is super easy and very pleasant to deal with.

I have to give her credit. She suggested to bring my mother along and she was the one that asked her to come along. This was a spur of the moment trip that was decided two weeks ago. I just got truck serviced with lighter weight oil and all the good stuff.

Thanks. It will be fun. I wanted some bonding time between my kids and their grandmother before they grow too old for this. When my dad was alive, I made sure I stick all of us on a Alaska cruise ship so we can spend some quality time together. They were little then.

[recycled sixtie]

Speaking of gas and travelling with my mother. Back in about 1973 or so with a near new Austin Mini I took my mother from Winnipeg to Vancouver and back. The gas tank held 5.5 imperial gallons . Got about 40 mpg so range would be about 200 miles. On the way back the gas guage quit. So my mother had me stop at every gas station so we would not run out of gas. Now I always fill up at half full. Nothing worse than sliding off the road in -20F and having next to no fuel. Sounds like a great trip!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

https://www.yahoo.com/news/winter-storm-bomb-cyclone-snarling-143526731.html

Thanks for that. It sure look a bit nasty

I have not kept up with weather as we are still 4 weeks away

[look 171]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Speaking of gas and travelling with my mother. Back in about 1973 or so with a near new Austin Mini I took my mother from Winnipeg to Vancouver and back. The gas tank held 5.5 imperial gallons . Got about 40 mpg so range would be about 200 miles. On the way back the gas guage quit. So my mother had me stop at every gas station so we would not run out of gas. Now I always fill up at half full. Nothing worse than sliding off the road in -20F and having next to no fuel. Sounds like a great trip!

I aint playing that game this time around, tell ya that much. Too risky with kids and grandma in the car and one pissed off wife. I will have no where to go but sit there and allow my ears to bleed. Cheaper and easier to just fill up at half tank.

[carambola]

You did say Christmas, that is four weeks or so away.

[stealthn]

If you need anything while here drop me a line

[billybek]

Ok, I lied. I remember on that trip, I stayed overnight at a hotel/casino in Mesquite Nevada on the way home.
Was driving by and saw rooms advertised on the big sign for $19.95 and decided to have a meal and hang out for the rest of the evening.
Had a buffet meal somewhere and a good night sleep before hitting the road again.
It was one of those post separation/divorce trips that guys need to do if and when the occasion arises.