US 395, as Mike, said is your easiest bet, however should you want to cut
north at Biggs and take US 97/I-82/I-90, you would cross Satus Pass north
of Goldendale, WA.  Satus is the least difficult of the Washington passes,
but it can get treacherous from December on.  As a matter of general info,
the potentially most difficult east-west passes are White Pass (US 12) west
of Yakima, WA, Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 east of Seattle, and Stevens Pass on
US 2 east of Everett, WA.  They are all weather passes, though chains are
sometimes required from late December into spring.  It takes some pretty
severe weather, though, for chains to be required, though snow tires are
often required.  Other passes, such as Chinook and Cayuse near Mt. Rainier
and the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) east of Arlington, WA close for the
winter, usually in November when the first heavy snows hit.  As Rachel
said, you won't need chains this time of year, but I agree with Gary, you
should always carry them anyway.  When the weather gets rough, (including
in the Columbia Gorge which can be a real bear), you should also have a
shovel, tow cable, sleeping bag, hot tea or coffee and a cell phone with
you.  Having landed in a ditch in a blizzard near Blewitt Pass (US 97 north
between Ellensburg and Wenatchee) at midnight one January, I can tell you
we've got some pretty lonely stretches out here.  Being prepared is the key.
t
Charles
'85 Westy
Ellensburg, WA

At 08:11 AM 10/15/01 -0700, gary hradek wrote:
>We will be driving from Portland Oregon to Coeur d'
>Alene, ID in late October.   This is a route I am not
>familiar with and  I am uncertain about the highway.
>I will be driving during daylight only.   Should I
>expect snow and will I need chains?   What mountain
>passes should I be most concerned about with regards
>to the weather?
>Does anyone out there use chains on their vanagons an
>if so regular chains or can I get by with the plastics
>chains?   I hate putting chains on.
>        thanks gary
>
>
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