Snoqualmie Pass

Have u ever driven in mtns before? If not it may be a challenge . If u have driven in mtns in say wyoming and montana , idaho, etc then it is nothing to worry to much about , mostly all the dumb container drivers thru there is the worst u got to watch out for

 

Just go drive it.
It is what it is. Keep your speed in check for the conditions.

 

Just take her slow n easy , its more long than it is steep . Meaning it takes awhile to get thru it but no grades that are to crazy . I dont even think it hits 6%

 

Write on your heart no more than 60 on curves and no more than 45 on those curves with rain and ALWAYS be down 5 below posted. So if a curve is posted 45 you are at 40. IF Mr ICE is up there no more than 25 with a SPECIAL dose of fear directed towards pavement that curves you away from the mountain and leans you off the same hill at the same time.

Its a one hell of a pass. With a epic snow shed somehwere up there as well. Generally.

Ive learned to include I-84 Oregon in my tripplanning, Whomsoever worst road is not for me. SOMETIMES once in a blue moom I scoot a series of US Highways or the Dalles (*84) or even Yakima etc.

 

I have talked in the past as if I am not afraid of anything downgrade and pass everyone going down. The reality of the matter is I would be the biggest coward and the slowest pain near the top all alone while you all hoot and hollar rolling on down with lots of whees and squeals. (To paraphrase...) It really depends on any given moment or even many moments during a single hill.

That pass east of Seattle is a royal pain some days. Do 45 all the way across. And not worry about am I in the 55 mph zone can I do 55? And get a ticket for busting 45 in the end. If the storm is bad enough or just winding up I'll cross at 35. I don't care usually. (I always care, but if I did not take a break from work now and then I would be the one mentally broken in some insane ward somewhere.

Like most hills it's something to be respected. Particularly westbound once over the top. It seems to be straight down all the way into Seattle, like what? 40 mile maybe?

 

See page 1 of the What If It Snows thread.

 

If you drove I90 thru Idaho and Montana to get to Washington. Much of the same.
Pay attention to the variable speed signs.
I believe 7 snow chains are required to be carried until April 1st.

Washington State Department of Transportation › permits
Commercial Vehicle - Chain requirements | WSDOT

Good luck.

 

Yep,They sometimes want to count 7 chains at the scales. 2 extra or they may write you up.

 

SnoQ is the least of them all to worry about.. IMO.

It's not overly steep, and when it does snow more than 4 flakes and falls below 34°F they'll throw the chain law out, so you're not gonna wreck.

Make sure you have chains and know how to put them on BEFORE you need to and you'll laugh that you even asked this question after you're on the other side.