We have been invited to Sun Valley for Trailing of the Sheep Festival in mid October. We have never driven an RV in the snow and aren't familiar with how much snow to expect in Oct. Would be traveling north on Idaho 75 to Sun Valley. Any advice from those who have?
Helen & Rob
Mark Serley said
03:37 AM Feb 23, 2013
you can google the weather around that time and it will give you an average. i would expect some snow sometime as last june we were at the grand tetons eating our picnic lunch in our truck because of the snowstorm! it was still beautiful, probably my favorite place so far, or maybe sedona, or maybe...... mark
bjoyce said
05:31 AM Feb 23, 2013
We have driven I-84 at that time of year with no problems, but once you go into the mountains things can be more dicey. My gut is you will be about 80% safe.
MarkS said
07:27 AM Feb 23, 2013
I have driven I-84 many times and never hit snow when it was miserable up on I-90. Let me find some wood to knock on. There is one heck of a climb just east of Pendleton that I wouldn't want to make in the snow. In October you will probably be fine. The key will be what the weather looks like leading up to it. November through March are usually a lot sketchier than October. But it is the northern Rockies. Most weathermen up there are issued both a ouija board and a pair of dice.
bjoyce said
06:39 PM Mar 4, 2013
You can also camp or boondock at the casino east of Pendleton just before you climb the high passes. There are good Passport America campgrounds in Hermiston OR, Caldwell (Boise) ID, and Hagerman ID that we have stayed at through the years.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 4th of March 2013 06:40:12 PM
NWescapee said
12:46 AM Mar 5, 2013
The area between Pendleton and La Grande can be a bit dicey so allow plenty of time. OR has a nice state park near Pendleton, that's a little noisy because it's close to the Interstate but is a nice and convenient place to stay when traveling through there, it's probably about your halfway point if you want somewhere convenient to stay.
Hwy 75 north into Sun Valley / Ketchum can also be a bit tricky if they've had snow. We were in that area a couple of years ago over Labor Day weekend, driving through the Saw Tooths and were surpised by snow on our way to Stanley ID from just outside of Sun Valley as we crossed Galena summit. We had hiked there 2 days earlier in sun and dust, so it can change quickly. We were definitely not expecting snow at the begining of Sept.
If the weather holds for you, the drive north of Sun Valley on Hwy 75 should be beautiful with leaf changes that time of year.
Will you be returning to Portland or heading south after that festival? Note the in WA / OR (not sure about ID), chains are required to be carried after Nov. 1 when driving through the mountain passes. Our theory is that if you're driving in an area where chains are required, you need to know how to use them.
RV Guests said
02:24 AM Mar 5, 2013
We hadn't even thought about chains. We will be headed back to Oregon as that is home. We haven't stayed at that park near Pendleton, but we'll check it out. Thanks! That is all great advice. The city RV park in Boardman is really nice albeit windy. Each site gets about an acre.
Helen & Rob
NWescapee said
02:40 AM Mar 5, 2013
Thanks for the tip on the Boardman RV park, looks like it might be a fun place to explore once we sell the house.
Terry and Jo said
03:57 AM Mar 5, 2013
This is no help to the original poster, but it is a general thought for traveling. From my point of view, if an area even "might" need chains for travel, it is likely a place I will avoid like a plague during winter months, especially if my travel include towing our fifth wheel.
Terry
RV Guests said
04:11 AM Mar 5, 2013
Good advice too. Avoiding snow sounds like an all around good idea.
Thanks Terry,
Helen & Rob
MarkS said
05:24 AM Mar 5, 2013
Terry, That's not as easy as it sounds. The first place I ever chained up my big truck was... Wait for it... Atlanta!
Lucky Mike said
03:38 PM Mar 5, 2013
Trust me !!!!!........................stay away from the snow.....this year..2 Nor'Easters...1 Blizzard...and a storm for Wed. .....I figure Im a pro at it nowShhheeeeeesh!!!!
NWescapee said
07:57 PM Mar 5, 2013
Terry & Mike - I totally agree that we want to avoid the possibility of snow, but you know, even in Seattle we once in a while get a little bit of that dreaded white stuff, another reason we'll be happy to not be here next winter. 2 years ago we had the TT in for service and it just had to snow right before we needed to pick it up and get packed for an out of town art show. We actually had to use chains just to get it into our neighborhood. We NEVER want to do that again.
Hi,
We have been invited to Sun Valley for Trailing of the Sheep Festival in mid October. We have never driven an RV in the snow and aren't familiar with how much snow to expect in Oct. Would be traveling north on Idaho 75 to Sun Valley. Any advice from those who have?
Helen & Rob
You can also camp or boondock at the casino east of Pendleton just before you climb the high passes. There are good Passport America campgrounds in Hermiston OR, Caldwell (Boise) ID, and Hagerman ID that we have stayed at through the years.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 4th of March 2013 06:40:12 PM
Hwy 75 north into Sun Valley / Ketchum can also be a bit tricky if they've had snow. We were in that area a couple of years ago over Labor Day weekend, driving through the Saw Tooths and were surpised by snow on our way to Stanley ID from just outside of Sun Valley as we crossed Galena summit. We had hiked there 2 days earlier in sun and dust, so it can change quickly. We were definitely not expecting snow at the begining of Sept.
If the weather holds for you, the drive north of Sun Valley on Hwy 75 should be beautiful with leaf changes that time of year.
Will you be returning to Portland or heading south after that festival? Note the in WA / OR (not sure about ID), chains are required to be carried after Nov. 1 when driving through the mountain passes. Our theory is that if you're driving in an area where chains are required, you need to know how to use them.
We hadn't even thought about chains. We will be headed back to Oregon as that is home. We haven't stayed at that park near Pendleton, but we'll check it out. Thanks! That is all great advice. The city RV park in Boardman is really nice albeit windy. Each site gets about an acre.
Helen & Rob
This is no help to the original poster, but it is a general thought for traveling. From my point of view, if an area even "might" need chains for travel, it is likely a place I will avoid like a plague during winter months, especially if my travel include towing our fifth wheel.
Terry
Good advice too. Avoiding snow sounds like an all around good idea.
Thanks Terry,
Helen & Rob
That's not as easy as it sounds. The first place I ever chained up my big truck was... Wait for it... Atlanta!