How is driving through Rogers Pass this time of year?

[ricosuave]

Never done it, so I'm wondering what I may be getting into.

Anyone got any good links to road and weather conditions?

[Barnes]

Never done it but here's the webcams.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighwaycam/index.aspx

Click on Southern interior on the left. Looks like lots of snow.

I've alsways found the kicking horse the crazier of the 2 major passes.

[JD]

Kickinghorse is crazier for turns, but the elevation gains in the Rogers makes it much more treacherous in the winter. There are some loooooongg steep hills with curves at the ends of them that makes the Rogers pass troublesome.

I've gone through there in March and April, seemingly after spring was well underway in Calgary, and it still seems like the desolate dead of winter there.

But the roads are well-maintained for the most part, so unless you hit a major storm, it should be OK.

[Sylvanfan]

It can be a total disaster, from having done it several times. The worst is that 140km stretch from Revelstoke to Golden where there is absolutely nothing in between and the traffic volume is far too great for that road. Make sure you have candles supplies etcetera in your vehichle because there is a chance you'll get stuck for a couple hours if there is an accident of some type. It doens't take much to block that road completely and there are no side roads detours to be had. I was lucky the last time I had to stop for a major accident because I was at the half way point where they have a gas station and hotel. At least I could go grab a coffee, and a paper and wait it out. Seriously that road is third world quality and an embarassment to our country.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

It can be a total disaster, from having done it several times. The worst is that 140km stretch from Revelstoke to Golden where there is absolutely nothing in between and the traffic volume is far too great for that road.

I had a friend killed on that stretch of road at about this time of year. You couldn't pay me to drive through the mountains in the winter.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I had a friend killed on that stretch of road at about this time of year. You couldn't pay me to drive through the mountains in the winter.

I too am worried about driving there, so when I take my road trip that i was planning on, I am going to hear south. And when i come back, even if I do go to Vancouver and Seattle, I will be going south and around... I hope.

Don't drive through there unless you have to. Have winter tires, and a true 4x4 if you really have to. Don't take a 4banger, that's for sure.

[Sainters7]

Even thinking about driving through Rogers Pass in this weather is making my palms sweat. I drove through there with the girl comin back from Vancouver at the end of last summer during a bad rainstorm, and the roads were quite slick. I'm not a wuss driver by any means, and I was seriously white-knuckling it the entire way. I don't even wanna know what those roads are like right now.

I have never seen that road at this time of year so Ill allow the more experienced drivers to answer that question, who have actually seen it firsthand. All I know is, if I were planning a trip right now that involved me going that way, I'd find an alternate route.

[Flames_Gimp]

it's crazy...

[JiriHrdina]

Did it a few years back and it depends a lot on the recent weather of course - conditions were ok when I went through - but even then its not a lot of fun. Although in parts its pretty incredible when you are driving through what are largely empty roads with slow pile hugely high on either side.

But yeah - not something that I would go out of my way to do again that's for dang sure.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Don't take a 4banger, that's for sure.

I appreciate all the info so far, but I dont understand this comment.

[Resolute 14]

Basically, make sure your car's engine has some guts.

[FlamesAddiction]

I've done it a couple of times in December and January.

It is absolutely hell.

[Sylvanfan]

Actually patience, smart driving and good tires is what you need to get through that stretch of third world goat trail. I did that drive several times with a 4 cylinder Cavalier and it was fine. You just have to be intelligent enough not to try and push the limits and do something that's unneccessarily risky. If you have 8 Semi Trucks and two tour busses in front of you, take your medicine and accept that you'll be going 50km an hour for long stretches. IMO plan on driving 65-80 kilometers an hour between Lake Louise and Salmon Arm and schedule enough time to take a break in Golden and Revelstoke. Try to have it so you're through that stretch in daylight hours. If you take those precautions you should be fine. But be careful and stay as alert mentally as you can because you need to be.

I'm horribly unpatient, I have about the worst possible personality you could to drive that stretch of road at that time of year but I've been able to do it. So it's not impossible, but you have to go in knowing what to expect and you'll be fine. Always take a cautious approach on that hiway because others have usually run out of patience and become angry and won't.

Going OT but the worst stretch of Winter road I've ever dealt with was going to Prince Rupert for Christmas three years ago. Windy road, heavy snow, and about -4 so it's icy as it could be. Than add in that I had 1500km of that in front of me. Good times.

[Dan02]

drove through there during the first snow of the year earlier, wasn't too bad, it's alot easier now they got that new bridge done, gets rid of some of the super slow whiteknuckle driving replace with a nice easy curve with some of the only 100 zone on the highway.

Going through it east in the dark with fog and snow was no fun though.

[flip]

you guys are all wusses. i lived in Golden for 2 years and i played minor hockey so we were always driving to all the other small towns every weekend all frickin winter.

actually it is quite treacherous but if you have a good pair of tires and a FWD or AWD car/truck you will be ok. i always found the people who were too scared of the conditions were the most unsafe drivers because they'd constantly be slamming on the breaks for no apperant reason.

[4X4]

The new bridge outside of Golden should save you at least a couple grey hairs.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

I appreciate all the info so far, but I dont understand this comment.

Do I need to call Mr. Slick to explain?

Anyway, I meant don't take a 4 cyl engined car right now, I would only go up there with a 4x4. Or the guy 4x4, since I am sure he'd be a ton of fun driving with.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Do I need to call Mr. Slick to explain?

Anyway, I meant don't take a 4 cyl engined car right now, I would only go up there with a 4x4. Or the guy 4x4, since I am sure he'd be a ton of fun driving with.

oh, i knew what a 4 banger was, but i couldnt understand how driving with one in the summer (as i have done) would be any different than driving in the winter with one...

[Hemi-Cuda]

i drive back to the Okanagan every Christmas, and as a result have driven through some pretty bad conditions. growing up in BC though and driving mountain roads all my life i've never thought too much about it, the only problems i have is having to follow a car with red or green plates who obviously has no clue on how to drive in the mountains. just stay calm, go with the flow of traffic, and for the love of god stay in the right lane if you don't want to pass when those stretches come up. nothing is more infuriating than being stuck behind someone doing 50 km/h the whole way only to floor it to 120 when the wide and straight passing lanes appear

but winter tires are a must. i'd wager that in all the accidents you'll see along the way, every car in the ditch or flipped on it's side has all season tires

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Basically, make sure your car's engine has some guts.

bah, i did a dozen trips back home in my 4 banger K-Car. ya it sucked when the car sounded like it wanted to die climbing a hill, but it's doable