Where are the "big" mountain passes in the Northwest?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by mjfreespirit, Aug 21, 2016.

  1. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

    9,705
    61,614
    Jun 13, 2011
    PNWET
    0
    Actually WC only hit 400+ twice in the last 10 years. Average is 330 or so.
    Skibum.jpeg
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    So I finally moved to Oregon, and got with an owner operator who runs nothing but Kent, WA to Salt Lake City, UT. I-84 doesn't seem so bad NOW. I'm actually pretty concerned with how it's going to be come winter time. There's many grades before and after Cabbage, and I've seen many signs indicating "Snow Zones" and areas for chaining. Is it going to be that bad when winter hits the fan? Really, simply put, how should I approach these hills in the Winter? Slowly for sure, but I'm most likely going to have to put my big boy panties on an sling some chains to get up and over cabbage or other pass on that route. Any advice on this route?
     
    G13Tomcat and Lepton1 Thank this.
  4. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

    3,219
    8,651
    Feb 1, 2011
    Dallas, TX
    0
    Ladd Canyon between La Grande and Baker City can get icy at times. The grades between Huntington and Ontario also get slippery at times. Then 84 from the weightstation/restarea at MM228? eastward to Tremonton, UT can be icy at times. A lot of the area eastward of Boise is affected by the winds blowing also.
     
  5. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,584
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    Get a CB and keep it on, especially during the winter. Also, keep in mind when conditions get bad there are plenty of inexperienced truckers chaining and driving in those conditions for the first time. Therefore be extra careful. Many of them will be driving at dangerously slow speeds, with loose chains smacking their fenders and trailers and flying off into the road. Those broken chain links are bad news for truck tires, so avoid them if safely possible.

    I ran westbound over Cabbage a couple of years ago in a heavy snowstorm with temperatures around 10°F. As we were running the hills and flats approaching Cabbage we kept hearing eastbound traffic warning us about the "choo-choo" train coming down the hill. We didn't grasp exactly what that meant until the last turn before the final long descent to Pendleton. In the right lane at least 100 trucks going THREE MILES AN HOUR. Chains slapping around, gripping the steering wheel hard with a death stare. The "hammer lane" was moving all of ten miles an hour.

    Learn to chain. Do it several times in dry conditions. Make SURE your chains fit the tires. Learn to dance the dance in slick conditions. Find an empty snow or ice covered parking lot and play a little. Figure out how the interaxle differential lock changes how the truck behaves.
     
    mjfreespirit Thanks this.
  6. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    Are There any cb shops along the route from Seattle tov Salt Lake?
     
  7. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,584
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    The only place I know along that route, and a tad out of the way if you are going east on I-90 from Seattle in in Milton, WA, almost to Tacoma. Truckcity CB an Solar.
     
    mjfreespirit Thanks this.
  8. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

    9,705
    61,614
    Jun 13, 2011
    PNWET
    0
    For the looks of this Winter you'll be a professional chain slinger in 1 season. Have some good winter gear whrn you Iron up. Keep your eye out for idiots when your on the traffic side. I use to park at an angle tail out to block any random morons that might slide into you. Remember under your truck is the safest place.
     
    mjfreespirit and Lepton1 Thank this.
  9. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

    6,459
    43,714
    Jul 11, 2011
    Missouri
    0
    Is cabbage the same as dead man pass?
     
  10. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,584
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
  11. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

    6,459
    43,714
    Jul 11, 2011
    Missouri
    0
    Ok I've heard y'all mention Cabbage but wasnt sure where it was.

    In that case Cabbage was the first big western hill I went down. Weather was good , road was dry, but was still nervous lol
    I remember snoqualmie and 4th of July pass in the winter holy cow. We almost got stuck on one of em one time. Lost momentum and started sliding back. :eek: Made it up though.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2016
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.