I-5 Travel on Jan. 4, 2017

[Donna D.]

I-5 from N. California to Roseburg is a mess of snow and ice. If you're planning a trip anytime in the next week, plan ahead. And do check the Trip Check cameras frequently.

Safe travels!

[thoer]

Another example of why it is really important for folks who plan to pick up an Escape during winter months to plan in extra days. Good info Donna.

[Donna D.]

"The Mail Tribune reports up to 3 additional inches could fall Wednesday in Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass, and up to 18 more inches could fall higher up along the Siskiyou Pass and around Crater Lake."

[Greg A]

Ughhh..... Beautiful if you don't have to be anywhere and have a nice fireplace.

[Ron in BC]

Thanks for posting Donna, well sort of thanks I guess because I'm planning on being on that stretch in a little over a week.

Not looking good. Wouldn't give it a second thought if I wasn't towing. A weird winter for sure. Maybe might have to do the coast route which would be a nuisance when the objective isn't sight seeing.

Ron

[MyronL]

Just keep it in snow-mobile mode and Gertie will meet Josie.

[Red Dog]

Hi Donna. Thanks for the posts and links. We will ride I5 till Redding and cut to the coast, then north.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by Red Dog

Hi Donna. Thanks for the posts and links. We will ride I5 till Redding and cut to the coast, then north.

Fred,
Keep watching the road status Division of Traffic Operations - Road Information - California Highway Information . Redding to the coast, connecting w/US-101 N. of Eureka, is via CA-299, which is now closed due to at least one slide.

Another possibility is further south. From I-5 at Williams, take CA-20 west past Clear Lake to connect with US-101N south of Willits. You avoid some mt. passes, and get to drive through more redwoods as well! US-101 from there north to WA is two lane, but the whole way is a beautiful drive (assuming you can see that far out your windshield). Take care, drive slow, enjoy.

[gocamp]

When the OR and WA passed require chain-up, does anyone know if chaining RV bumper pull trailer tires is also required? Thanks.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Red Dog

Hi Donna. Thanks for the posts and links. We will ride I5 till Redding and cut to the coast, then north.

A friend posted a video taken at Depot Bay yesterday. These are a couple of screen shots I grabbed. While the Oregon Coast does get snow occasionally, this amount is almost unprecedented. Depot Bay is west and a bit south of Salem.



We're finally going to claw out of the below freezing weather in Portland on Sunday. Saturday night into Sunday is calling for Snow to Wintery Mix/Wind. It's the transitional time where we get freezing rain and the roads are a mess! At least it will be the weekend with fewer employees trying to get to work. Monday on it's supposed to be totally above freezing 35/43 degree and rain. Hallelujah!

[Jim Bennett]

A wee skiff of snow then, eh?

[Rossue]

We met a couple in a Trillium 2 years ago who said they were stuck in a campground on Oregon coast for five days due to snow. I wouldn't be going for a new trailer with current conditions.

[Jim Bennett]

Is there bad icing along with the snow in Oregon? If so travelling in general might be a problem, no? Pulling a trailer on snow covered roads is not a problem with just a wee bit of care taken.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Is there bad icing along with the snow in Oregon? If so travelling in general might be a problem, no? Pulling a trailer on snow covered roads is not a problem with just a wee bit of care taken.

I'm monitoring some Facebook pages and right now the areas between Gold Hill to Ashland are an icy mess on I-5. Making a messy commute for those needing to get to work. Give it a few hours and it will change, either better or worse.

[Red Dog]

Donna, thanks for the info. Glad to have you on the west coast watching out for us!


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[tdf-texas]

I'll be passing through Ashland friday - will let you know how it goes.

[steve dunham]

By the looks of the snow in the pictures , it appears that temps are in the 20's , 30's so hopefully it will warm up a little and nature will help clean up the roads . We have some snow / ice on the roads but it is too cold for road chemicals to do any good so all we can do is wait for the January thaw.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

I'll be passing through Ashland friday - will let you know how it goes.

If you're planning on driving through Portland over the weekend, you may want to plan ahead. PDX is a nightmare when we get snow, ice is worse! Looks like that transition will be Saturday night into Sunday morning.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by gocamp

When the OR and WA passed require chain-up, does anyone know if chaining RV bumper pull trailer tires is also required? Thanks.

WA and OR requirements are essentially the same as California's (and other states): if you have brakes on the trailer, at least one set of trailer axles/brakes must have chains (one chain on each side of trailer for CA and OR; WA says one side is minimum).

In preparation for a trip to the northern Arizona mts. (5000-7000 ft. elevation), we just ordered a set of cable chains for our Escape 17, from Glacier Chain, in Anchorage, AK. (not a plug, just a suggestion based on our research).

Also, regarding all those bridges on the Oregon coastal routes (and other bridge locations as well): At this week's temperatures close to freezing, black ice can be encountered at any time on the bridges. Take care.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Fred,
Keep watching the road status Division of Traffic Operations - Road Information - California Highway Information . Redding to the coast, connecting w/US-101 N. of Eureka, is via CA-299, which is now closed due to at least one slide.

Another possibility is further south. From I-5 at Williams, take CA-20 west past Clear Lake to connect with US-101N south of Willits. You avoid some mt. passes, and get to drive through more redwoods as well! US-101 from there north to WA is two lane, but the whole way is a beautiful drive (assuming you can see that far out your windshield). Take care, drive slow, enjoy.

I do it even earlier, usually going across highway 12 at Lodi or through Oakland and the San Rafael bridge, if I've planned to go that way.