route question December 13, 2009, 12:09:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108448I want to go from Port Orford to I5, so I can visit friends in Redding, Ca. I was warned that one of the routes, 299 [? I believe?] is really really twisty, up and down and hard on cars let alone an RV. Another possible route is to go back up to Bandon and across on 42S, to 42, to I5.Or, go all the way down to Crescent City and take 199 across to I5....either way, re-tracing seems to be necessary to end up in Redding....Anyone here have any advice as to a good route for the RV? Distance isn't an issue, I'm not on any time schedule, and view/scenery/nice traveling is the #1 consideration.It's sunny and warm so we're hitting the beach for one last frolic before heading out--hope someone has a thought or two to share by then! Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "Kooch" our little red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
Re: route question Reply #1 – December 13, 2009, 12:17:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108449Gini,No route info, sorry. However, with the recent storms, please check highway conditions. Many of the secondary roads are not maintained in the winter, or if they are, not with a "bet your life on it" consistentcy. I'd stick with the well traveled roads at this time of year, unless you are really sure about road conditions. People have died up there for not heeding this advice.bumper[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: route question Reply #2 – December 13, 2009, 12:19:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108450Hi Gini-- I'd agree that 299 is probably the worst of your choices. If you'd enjoy more of Coastal Ore, head south to Crescent City and then inland on 199. Otherwise, north back to Bandon and across 42 is good. Travel safe /noel/
Re: route question Reply #3 – December 13, 2009, 12:45:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108451Quote "I want to go from Port Orford to I5, so I can visit friends in Redding, Ca."... Or, go all the way down to Crescent City and take 199 across to > I5...."Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire GiniIn my estimation, having driven this route, Hwy 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass and I-5 is the best choice. It's somewhat winding on the western end but good road none the less. However, that having been said, you will then have to contend with the Siskiyou Pass coming down into California. There are a number of Traffic Cameras you can Google which will give you a visual of what the road conditions will be by the time you reach that area.Safe travels.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: route question Reply #4 – December 13, 2009, 12:47:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108452We have driven all of the routes. US299 has an undeserved bad rep. It does have ups and downs and turns, but nothing exceptional. It's a scenic route, much it along the Trinity River. Several FS CG's along the way, which may or may not be open this time of the year. This would be my preferred route from Port Orford, IF you have time to enjoy the many scenic coastal places south you.If you are not interested in stopping, by all means take 42 over to I5. Quick and painless, except for the folks with a need for speed on the two lane sections. You will find some ups and downs on I5 also. The route I would NOT take is US199, since it will be uphill all the way to I5. It's a great road downhill along the Smith River when the weather is good. I would suspect it has some icy sections by now, as it has a few shaded spots where water accumulates. http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgihttp://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCmap.asp?curRegion=0&mainNav=RoadConditionsOn Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:08:11 -0800, Gini Free dobergini@...> wrote:
Re: route question Reply #5 – December 13, 2009, 12:56:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108453QuoteI want to go from Port Orford to I5, so I can visit friends in Redding, Ca. I was warned that one of the routes, 299 [? I believe?] is really really twisty, up and down and hard on cars let alone an RV. Another possible route is to go back up to Bandon and across on 42S, to 42, to I5. Our first driving in snow was on the 299 from Redding to the coast, maybe 12 yrs ago, around Xmas time too. Even though cars were scattered crosswise all over the road going up, stuck in the 6" or so of snow, our old '83 4bbl Chevy LD just cruised easily up without a hitch on its 4-season tires, threading through the mess, and with a whole line of grateful drivers following in our tracks. I don't remember the road as particularly winding, but the coastal side of the mountains was fairly straight and the snow had mostly melted. Then the line of cars zipped around us and sped on ahead.Steve
Re: route question Reply #6 – December 13, 2009, 01:27:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108456QuoteWe have driven all of the routes. US299 has an undeserved bad rep. It does have ups and downs and turns, but nothing exceptional. It's a scenic route, much it along the Trinity River. Several FS CG's along the way, which may or may not be open this time of the year. This would be my preferred route from Port Orford, IF you have time to enjoy the many scenic coastal places south you. I agree with Don's assessment. We drove this road in our Lazy Daze towing a car and found nothing wrong with it. Of course, this was during the spring/summer, not at this time of year. Before traveling this route at this time of year, I'd certainly check the weather reports and road conditions.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: route question Reply #7 – December 13, 2009, 01:44:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108457Don Malpas wrote: We have driven all of the routes. US299 has an undeserved bad rep. It does have ups and downs and turns, but nothing exceptional. --- Agreed. I've driven each of the proposed routes several times, and 299 between Eureka and Redding is not a difficult route at all, *especially* for a small rig. If the main travel objective is to make time (and the weather is not snowy/icy; see below), 42 from north of Bandon over to 5 below Roseburg is a good choice; the roadway is very good. Taking 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass and 5 is a *northwards* "half-circle" back to 5; the road is fine, but there are a few narrow, curvy stretches that begin a couple miles east of Patrick Creek campground. (Not a big deal at all, just a heads up.) An additional comment: the latter two route choices take one over the Siskiyou Pass on 5. Again, no big deal at all, *unless* it's snowing and/or the road is icy. One should expect rain and often heavy fog over the pass this time of year, and, if the highway patrol thinks it's necessary, they do require "chaining up" -- or waiting on one side or the other until the road is again opened for "unchained" traffic. Before committing to heading over the Siskiyous, *check the weather and road conditions reports* at the Oregon DOT and the California CalTrans websites. Even if the weather is halfway decent and the road clear, it's a good idea to go over the Pass between late morning and mid-afternoon; that timing allows for most of the ice melt-off in the shade patches.Joan
Re: route question Reply #8 – December 13, 2009, 02:06:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108458Gini, I have driven 299 hundreds of times. It is all good road from the coast to Redding. The section from Buckhorn Summit to Whiskytown is a bit twisty but all down hill. Black ice is the biggest winter problem on this section. Just wait until about noon to traverse this section. The transit time from the coast to Redding is 3.5 to 4 hours. It is a beautiful area.John, '04 23.5FL
Re: route question Reply #9 – December 13, 2009, 05:36:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108478GiniWe have crossed 299 many times, towing out Jeep It is a long but easy drive with the road in good condition. Do check with CalTrans for winter highway conditions. http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi We crossed this year on October 1, making a detour through the Hoopa Indian reservation and then cutting back to 299 via Blair Road. I do not recommended this scenic but very steep and twisty gravel road while towing.Larry