Need Advice on Planning mid-December ride to CA

[Murph]

I am seriously considering riding from Chicago to the Sacramento area during the week before Christmas. The tentative route would follow the interstate to Denver, I-70 west, and then US-50 thru Nevada and into California.

My top concern at this point is, of course, weather and the conditions of the roads at that time of year. Specifically, how rideable will the roads be in the Rockies west of Denver and the Sierra around Tahoe at that time? Is this idea even worth exploring or ... as so many respond when hearing about my riding adventures ... am I crazy?

(BTW - I'm looking at that route because I want the most direct westbound route to Northern CA. On the return, however, I would be departing San Diego and would return via the Southwest and I-40, etc.)

 

[madmike2]

I-80 and Hwy 50 over the Sierras each suffer road closures because of snow, though they are normally open w/o chain controls from 1000-1400. There is no way to predict the Winter. There have been rumors of El Nina conditions which could mean less moisture (snow) this Winter, but there is no way to predict this far in advance.

 

[exskibum]

Having spent several years living in North Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, Reno, Gardnerville and in the Auburn area, I'd say you are really taking your chances that time of year.

First, the week before Christmas will have people on vacation, and most of our flatlanders don't know how to drive in the snow. Truth. And ice is often a problem, even if snow isn't, even during the day that time of year in the Sierras. RenoJohn will ride in and through anything, but I'd prefer not to make an insurance claim or rack up hospital time.

Long cold ride across western Utah and Nevada, but good chance of clear roads, but that's a bitch if it did snow.

Hwy 40 through Steamboat Springs on the way back??? No way I'd plan that. (Used to live there, too.) You go over the Divide at Rabbit Ears Pass. My mogul skiing buddies and I used to go up there early season to stomp out and ski bump runs on some pitches a couple hundred yards from the road there -- in November.

Like Mike said, it's nearly impossible to predict what you'll get in weather that time of year in the Rockies, Sierras or even across the flatter area between the two (pretty much ALL of that is 4500 feet elevation or considerably higher) -- except that I'd bet on it being COLD. And on nearly every road you've mentioned, I've been stranded by a pass closure (in a car or truck) over the last 34 years by that late into the winter season -- at least once. Taking your chances with the weather, for sure.

That doesn't sound like an enjoyable ride I could relax on -- too many potential hazards. But YMMV.

 

[Toecutter]

You could take a more southern route (at least into CA) and breeze on in to the San Joaquin Valley via Hwy 58. Then all you have to worry about is tule fog.