Date:         Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:05:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: winter driving to Spokane
In-Reply-To:  <5740C255-DE9A-41A3-A634-EB39C7681957@q.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I've lived in both Spokane, and the *wetside* of the Cascades, and the
lower humidity in the former, tends to make ice less of a factor.  I do
think you can trust figures from WSDOT, as I used to work for them.  As a
gov employee, I drove all around the state in Gen I Priuses and a Ford
Taurus.  I got caught in a freak snowstorm in the Prius coming back from
Wenatchee.  We didn't have snow tires or chains, but it still made it
through several mountain passes just fine.  I drove the Taurus from Olympia
to Walla Walla during another statewide snow flurry, and counted at least
eight SUVs flipped over in the median.  But that car plowed on undaunted,
even without snow tires.  I find the Prius to be a dreary little car, but
wouldn't hesitate to drive one on a major interstate in all but the worst
snow accumulations.  DOTs tend to keep major highways plowed, like I-5,
I-90 and I-84, so I'd just stick to those.

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 10:34 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:

> Re: my previous post, Hanson is one of those in the larger eastern part of
> the state. He knows of what he speaks.
>
> Karl Wolz
> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
>
> > On Nov 10, 2014, at 9:03 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> >  You may want to re-think no studs.   Here in the Northwest we frequently
> > get precipitation that freezes after it hits the pavement, yet it still
> > appears to be just water..  We also get freezing fog at times and my all
> > time favorite, very thick black ice, interspersed with melted
> > potholes..This last road condition sometimes causes closure of the
> > interstate because it busts up vehicles and causes multiple crashes.
> >
> >   If I were commuting daily all winter I'd have studded tires.   If I
> > drove a Vanagon all winter in snow I would certainly have studs in the
> > tires....
> >
> >> On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 7:44 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks Dennis.  If we do make the drive (and I will know/decide soon) I
> >> will put on a set of Blizzaks before, and keep them on to use in
> Spokane.
> >> I've read several reports from state DOTs and independent engineers,
> and I
> >> am convinced that studless winter tires are preferable to studded ones.
> >> The only condition under which studded tires are preferable is smooth
> ice
> >> at or very near to the freezing point.  Washington DOT in its reports
> >> states that that condition represents <1% of winter driving conditions
> in
> >> Washington, and that dry/wet pavement represents >50%.  Studded tires
> are
> >> the worst alternative on either dry or wet pavement.  "All season tires"
> >> are no better than non-studded winter tires even in dry cold conditions.
> >>
> >> We may ship the Prius and fly up.  That will cost a bit more, but not a
> >> great deal more.
> >>
> >> Dave
> >>
> >> ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>> The Prius equipped with real winter performance tires does surprising
> >> well in winter conditions like most front wheel drive cars. If looking
> to
> >> stay with an all season tire look at some of the Nokian offerings. The
> new
> >> WRG3 are performance winter tires with all season capabilities and low
> >> rolling resistance rating which the Prius benefits from.
> >>>
> >>> Dennis
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> >> Of Dave Mcneely
> >>> Sent: Sunday, November 9, 2014 4:25 PM
> >>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>> Subject: winter driving to Spokane
> >>>
> >>> I may need to drive to Spokane, Washington from Edmond, Oklahoma in
> >> December, maybe late December.  I have been trying to work out the
> safest
> >> (meaning least likely to encounter serious winter weather) route.  I may
> >> have settled on driving a long way  around route involving taking I-40
> to
> >> California, then up I-5 to Portland, then from there back NE to Spokane.
> >> Or even dropping further south to hit I-10 and I-8 to get into
> California.
> >>>
> >>> These are likely to involve at least 5 days of driving,  more if I do
> >> hit winter weather on I-40 (quite possible anywhere along that route
> until
> >> dropping off the plateau at Kingman, AZ) or even on I-20 in Texas.
> >>>
> >>> Anyone have anything to suggest, including taking my chances through
> the
> >> plains and mountains rather than one of the these long way around
> routes?
> >>>
> >>> Of course we would be winter prepped, with proper tires, emergency
> gear,
> >> food and prepared for multi-day stops if necessary.
> >>>
> >>> My apologies, but this drive will not involve my camper, which has
> >> already been moved to Spokane, but rather my Prius.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks, Dave McNeely
> >>
> >> --
> >> David McNeely
> >>
>



--
Casey