Monday, February 20, 2012
Photoessay #1963 - Snoqualmie Pass
Central Washington University (Ellensburg) is a LOT closer than Washington State University (Pullman). But any way you look at it you have to go over the Cascades, most likely Snoqualmie Pass.
Naomi came home for the weekend to do some multi-cultural interviewing. No problem for our family and neighborhood as we have Korean, Cambodian and Filipino family members. Naomi ended up talking to Narronika (high school student in our neighborhood) and Jessica (Danny's girlfriend).
She was planning to stay until late this afternoon.
But the pass. That darn Snoqalmie Pass. I90; it's the main route. But it can get real dicey.
It's getting towards the end of February so we should be coming out of it, right?
Naomi has an older Toyota, you know the kind, at least 15 years old with 170K miles on it.
But the current conditions say "traction tires advised" with snow and ice on the roadway. Whoa, that's the kind of thing where moms say "You better not go over those mountains now, wait" But the forecast just gets worse through tomorrow, more snow, more wind. So, gulp, your best bet is to make a run for it now and try to get over the pass before it gets worse.
Do her all weather radials qualify as 'traction tires'? I don't think so. She assures me that if you don't have the right traction device the state patrol makes you turn around. We all know that this can easily deteriorate into 'chains required' or even closure.
One thing I've learned from my extended family is that people don't even have chains in other parts of the country that get a lot of snow. That's because the authorities plow the streets and there's no reason to use chains. Not here in the wild northwest. The Puget Sound area goes into complete paralysis when it starts to snow. There ARE times you need chains right here in Seattle. My sister and brother give me blank looks. Chains? Nobody needs chains. How primitive and old-fashioned.
Sometimes you need chains to get over Snoqualmie pass. And maybe soon. Maybe today. Naomi left here about 10:10am. She's going to fill up her gas tank. I sent her a lunch and an extra flashlight, coat and hat. Usually it only takes about two hours to get to Ellensburg.
But moms worry.
Picture from the WSDOT (state transportation department) of a place in the Cascades about around 10:45 am PST.
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