Driving the Coquihalla in winter
November 23, 2015 11:36 AM Subscribe
In two weeks I need to drive from Vancouver to Vernon, I've rented a car, as I don't have all season tires, it's cheaper to rent, plus if a car ends up in a ditch it won't be mine. My question is what site should I check for current road conditions aside from Drive BC? Also, how do I determine whether to go north through Kamloops or South through Kelowna? Who has the best real time updates?
I've always claimed a successful life will include the statement "never drived into the interior in the winter", yet another metric for happiness destroyed by my kids.
I've always claimed a successful life will include the statement "never drived into the interior in the winter", yet another metric for happiness destroyed by my kids.
oh hai, this is me in 2 months. (except -> Revelstoke-> nelson) I've been advised to go the Kamloops route, and that Drive BC is the way to go.
Also to have a shovel in the car and excess supplies for it being super cold. and to make sure I always have a full tank and wiper fluid.
Let us know how it goes! I could use any pointers you get too!
posted by larthegreat at 1:59 PM on November 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also to have a shovel in the car and excess supplies for it being super cold. and to make sure I always have a full tank and wiper fluid.
Let us know how it goes! I could use any pointers you get too!
posted by larthegreat at 1:59 PM on November 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
We drive Vancouver to Vernon at least once a year.... usually in the summer, but we had to go several times last winter.
We always take the Kamloops route and just take it slow and steady.
We've alternated between the Kamloops route and the Kelowna route many, many times. Every time we fancy a change of pace and drive through Kelowna, we always regret it and remember why we never do it!
posted by JenThePro at 2:17 PM on November 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
We always take the Kamloops route and just take it slow and steady.
We've alternated between the Kamloops route and the Kelowna route many, many times. Every time we fancy a change of pace and drive through Kelowna, we always regret it and remember why we never do it!
posted by JenThePro at 2:17 PM on November 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
DriveBC is a good place to get info. It's what we use when we drive from the Interior down south. Be aware weather conditions can change rapidly. I ask when we stop for gas in towns along the way if the clerk has heard any new info about road conditions--they often are keeping track with local radio stations etc.
Also, you didn't ask, but...I really recommend you ask for snow/winter tires rather than all-seasons when you rent your vehicle. This may cost more, but is worth it IMO. Winter tires/snow tires, in my experience, are much better than all-seasons, which seem pretty good when you're used to driving in Vancouver but are often not enough for winter driving in the Interior. (I say this as a former Vancouverite who got a quick and rather nasty education in winter driving conditions when I moved to northern BC.)
Safe travels!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:27 PM on November 23, 2015
Also, you didn't ask, but...I really recommend you ask for snow/winter tires rather than all-seasons when you rent your vehicle. This may cost more, but is worth it IMO. Winter tires/snow tires, in my experience, are much better than all-seasons, which seem pretty good when you're used to driving in Vancouver but are often not enough for winter driving in the Interior. (I say this as a former Vancouverite who got a quick and rather nasty education in winter driving conditions when I moved to northern BC.)
Safe travels!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:27 PM on November 23, 2015
Just adding to the chorus- I do this drive a few times per year, always prefer the north route through Kamloops. The drive down the valley after leaving highway 1 is one of my favorite in BC. Depending on weather definitely stop for a break at Monte Lake.
posted by mannequito at 5:00 PM on November 23, 2015
posted by mannequito at 5:00 PM on November 23, 2015
hurdy gurdy girl: "I really recommend you ask for snow/winter tires rather than all-seasons when you rent your vehicle"
This isn't just a good idea, it's the law. Your vehicle must be equipped with tires marked with either the mountain snowflake symbol or M+S symbol when traveling on interior highways during the winter.
posted by Mitheral at 5:48 PM on November 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
This isn't just a good idea, it's the law. Your vehicle must be equipped with tires marked with either the mountain snowflake symbol or M+S symbol when traveling on interior highways during the winter.
posted by Mitheral at 5:48 PM on November 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
You'll want to leave yourself lots of time; in perfect conditions you're talking five hours and the next day it might be a white-out where you inch along at 60kmph and it takes twice that.
Don't be afraid to throw on your four-ways and crawl along in the right lane with the transport trucks if you're not comfortable maintaining the 120 speed limit that many idiots in all-seasons continue to do even in the worst conditions. I've been nearly hit by a Mustang spinning out near the Summit, after they'd flown by sometime earlier. Put your ego aside in favour of safety when warranted.
Go for winter tires rather than chains; nobody wants to be standing beside the Snow Shed in a flurry applying chains for their first time while semis roar by. Wear/bring warm clothes for the worse case scenarios, and fuel up in Chilliwack or Hope.
Look at the road cameras before you head out and follow the forecast closely, so that if you have any wiggle room at all you can leave a day earlier or later.
And, finally, most of all drive it in daylight! Blizzard driving sucks between 8am and 5pm but it suuuuuuuuuuucks after that. Spare yourself the white knuckles.
posted by HoteDoge at 5:02 AM on November 24, 2015
Don't be afraid to throw on your four-ways and crawl along in the right lane with the transport trucks if you're not comfortable maintaining the 120 speed limit that many idiots in all-seasons continue to do even in the worst conditions. I've been nearly hit by a Mustang spinning out near the Summit, after they'd flown by sometime earlier. Put your ego aside in favour of safety when warranted.
Go for winter tires rather than chains; nobody wants to be standing beside the Snow Shed in a flurry applying chains for their first time while semis roar by. Wear/bring warm clothes for the worse case scenarios, and fuel up in Chilliwack or Hope.
Look at the road cameras before you head out and follow the forecast closely, so that if you have any wiggle room at all you can leave a day earlier or later.
And, finally, most of all drive it in daylight! Blizzard driving sucks between 8am and 5pm but it suuuuuuuuuuucks after that. Spare yourself the white knuckles.
posted by HoteDoge at 5:02 AM on November 24, 2015
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Everyone gets their information from the same company that supplies DriveBC (friend of mine here in Kamloops) and Drive BC is pretty timely about making updates. The travel advisories for the route are rarely wrong as it's pretty well understood forecasting.
Pay attention to the overhead announcement signs; it generally isn't any worse than they are saying though it is often better than what they are saying. If the signs are advising seat belt use or not drinking and driving you'll have smooth sailing.
However be prepared to sit in your vehicle by the side of the road for several hours. If there is an accident ahead of you involving a semi it can take quite some time to clear it.
posted by Mitheral at 11:47 AM on November 23, 2015 [2 favorites]