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Driving Seattle to Calgary in winter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Bannerprius, Nov 24, 2020.

?

Is this a good idea?

  1. Yes, go ahead

  2. Yes, if you do it right

  3. No, your car isn't up to the task

  4. No because of other reasons, but the drive itself wouldn't be an issue

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  1. Bannerprius

    Bannerprius New Member

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    Hey all, I created this account so I could post here because I'd like some advice. I am supposed to be in Calgary on January 1st for school reasons, and I'm planning on bringing my 2006 prius (185k) along from Seattle. Is anyone familiar with the route? I am planning on taking Highway 1 from around Abbotsford all the way to Calgary, but since I'm in the US now there are some other routes that could possibly have less snow. I am not worried about having a long reroute to avoid bad road conditions if anyone knows a good way to go. Really, what I'm asking is if anyone has any experience taking this route in a similar car, if you think my plan would even be possible, and what I should bring/do to prepare myself. Thanks.
     
    #1 Bannerprius, Nov 24, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Are the borders open again? If not, make sure yours 'papers' are in order.

    Do you have roadside assistance?

    Do you have chains and know how to install them?

    How long have you owned the vehicle, and is the HV battery original or something else?

    This list could go on for awhile.
     
    #2 SFO, Nov 25, 2020
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Presumably that means you're taking the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5). That peaks at 1230m (4,000ft) or about the same as Stevens Pass. The drive from Hope to the summit (old toll booth) is pretty much straight up with one flat section near Othello. Here's the gradient map if you're interested.

    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/driving/elevations/hwy_5_coquihalla_pass_grade-profile.pdf

    When it snows, it can get treacherous and there's almost always some sort of incident (either a collision, a jack knifed semi or a vehicle in the ditch) because when it snows, it snows hard (even if it starts off as rain).

    The alternate route is Hwy 1 - Trans-Canada Highway through Lytton to Cache Creek then hook a right towards Kamloops then continue on your way to Alberta. This is if the Coq looks bad or there's a road closure. It's about an hour - an hour and a half longer but the gradients are gentler.

    I've only driven it once in the winter with a rental Expedition on all seasons - not my favourite time as I have winter tyres on my own vehicles. (it was closed earlier that day and the day before due to freezing rain and collisions). It opened right as we were making plans for alternate routes at Hope. The road was wet with slushy sections. Every other time, I've driven it in the summer or at worst, rainy conditions.

    Look at DriveBC ahead of time for road conditions.

    Highway forecasts are found here: BC Traveller’s Routes forecast - Environment Canada

    There are variable speed sections along the highway and I found those two be very useful on that day I drove the Expedition on all seasons.


    I would be prepared with a full tank of gas before crossing the border and also a full tank of gas in Kelowna or Kamloops. The reason is that if you get caught in an incident between Sicamous and Golden, there are no alternate routes so you want enough gas in the tank to keep you warm (along with your usual winter emergency kit of blankets, water, energy bars, shovels etc)
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Nov 25, 2020
  4. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    There is no doubt the route through BC is more scenic, but if you really want to avoid trouble, it would be hard to beat I-90 to Coeur D'Alene, ID and then US-95 and BC-95 to Cranbrook, BC. Highway 3 to Alberta (called the Southern Trans-Canada) might be a little more problematic, but probably no more so than the northern route through the Rockies. After that it's clear sailing. Another advantage is that the Eastport border crossing near Yahk, BC is a lot less busy than any in Blaine, WA. (Eastport is open 24 hours, unlike the one further west at Porthill, ID/Rykerts, BC.) At present, Google Maps shows that route to be about 20 minutes faster than the northern route, although it is 29 miles longer.
     
    #4 davecook89t, Nov 25, 2020
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    ALL of the border crossings are "a lot less busy" since they still are CLOSED to all but "essential" travel by car.
     
    #5 sam spade 2, Nov 25, 2020
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    There are only certain border crossings open to non-essential travel (i.e. those travelling to/from Alaska) so he's limited in the choices of border crossings (if they're still closed in January).

    After Sumas (Abbotsford), the next crossing he can use is Coutts, Alberta/Sweet Grass, Montana.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Nov 25, 2020
    davecook89t likes this.
  7. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I just can't get used to this "new normal".:eek:
     
    #7 davecook89t, Nov 25, 2020
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I was hoping that he had something that qualified as an essential purpose. It seems very unlikely that Canada will see good reason to re-open the border that soon. And he should note that 14 days of isolation or self quarantine is currently required for those who qualify to enter, and also for returning citizens.
    Assuming you have border crossing choices at that time --

    You can often reduce foul weather exposure by bypassing the Coquihalla Highway, taking Stevens Pass or Snoqualmie & Blewett Passes to Wenatchee, then heading north on US-97, crossing between Oroville and Osoyoos. (Of course, Stevens and Snoqualmie can close for storms that don't reach the Coquihalla, so watch the reports.) This can be useful for heading to the Vernon-Kamloops-Revelstoke region, but unfortunately will still leave additional possibly nasty mountain crossings on the way to Calgary. Rogers Pass comes to mind.

    So for getting to Calgary, check out those Idaho and Montana routes.
     
    #8 fuzzy1, Nov 25, 2020
    Tideland Prius and davecook89t like this.
  9. Bannerprius

    Bannerprius New Member

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    The Canadian government informed me that they are considering my travel to be essential, and I have a 2 week stay in a hotel room lined up the second I get to Calgary where they can bring me food so I don't even have to leave. I am considering the northern Idaho border crossing but I'm also a little worried about remoteness, were I to have a problem.
     
    #9 Bannerprius, Nov 25, 2020
    davecook89t, fuzzy1 and Tideland Prius like this.
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The Coq is a highly travelled route and the rest of Hwy 1 from Kamloops to Calgary is a truck route as well so the OP will have people passing by in case he needs help.
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Nov 26, 2020
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  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Too late to edit: I meant Kelowna, not Kamloops. From Seattle, this is a terribly long route to Kamloops, so is useful only when the other routes are really bad, or closed. But it doesn't add all that much time to Kelowna, so can be attractive even when the weather isn't so foul.
     
    #11 fuzzy1, Nov 26, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2020
  12. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Agree with all of the above.
    Once you get to Calgary, Banf is easy.weekend drive.
    I thought this thread was going to be more about if the 06 Prius could do it.
    Treat it nicely, or you might have to get a new 2020 RAV4 hybrid like we did.
     
    #12 wjtracy, Nov 26, 2020
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