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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 24 Oct 2010
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Vancouver BC to Portland Oregon
What is the latest in the riding season that anyone has made this ride? When does it usually start to get icy and cold on the cascade pass from seattle to portland?
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  #2  
Old 24 Oct 2010
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Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
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There is no "cascade pass" between Seattle and Portland. The worst risk of snow and ice is usually just south of Bellingham, but there are several different weather zones along the way, including the dreaded "convergence zones" where bad weather sometimes funnels into narrow bands.

And people ride this route all year--I've done it myself in January and February. You just need to pay attention to the weather and choose your day wisely.

If you live in Vancouver, you already know what the seasons are like. Just multiply whatever you find outside your door times 300 miles/500 km or so.

Hope that helps.

Mark
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Old 24 Oct 2010
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The dreaded "cascade pass"
You seem like you know what your talking about. I was on the ferry up in Canada BC here heading home to the sunshine coast and i a fellow biker i drove on with said something about the "cascade pass", blah, blah blah....and that "could always get my bike shipped to Portland from here if it was impassable. He said that this area Seattle to Portland would be the worst area climate wise all the way to mexico...blah blah blah. He's probably right and i.???

Anyway, i appreciate your logic in regards to the weather here being the same as there with various climate zones along the way. Kinda funny, what gets a guy's shit in a knot.

Thanx
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  #4  
Old 24 Oct 2010
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Location: Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Cascades Pass is on Highway 20 in North Cascades National Park. But that's nowhere near the route between Vancouver and Portland. In fact, hwy 20 is closed entirely in the winter. The Interstate does climb a little bit into a winding wooded area just south of Bellingham. As Mark has mentioned there is increased likelihood of snow in that area.

As for the worst place between Vancouver and Mexico? It's probably Siskyu Pass in Northern California, AND some of the higher lying "escape" routes from the I-5 to the coast. This past March I had to head to the coast just south of Eugene, Oregon due to poor conditions in the pass. The last "escape route" before the pass had snow warning lights flashing when I passed it at the other end.

Anyway, snow and ice are a possibility in the winter along that corridor. Just like in Vancouver. Nothing that a little bit of patience can't solve.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com
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