Road Closures BC

[Ed_Rana2]

Planning our return to the lower 48. After a few days in Stewart/Hyder later this week, will be starting south. Anyone with inside scoop on road closures on 97 due to the wildfires and if so, suggestions on alternate. Ultimately heading for Portland, considering a few days in Vancouver but don't really want to deal with Seattle traffic. Thanks for any insight.

[Flyboy320]

garyhaupt wrote:

Ed Rana2 wrote:
Planning our return to the lower 48. After a few days in Stewart/Hyder later this week, will be starting south. Anyone with inside scoop on road closures on 97 due to the wildfires and if so, suggestions on alternate. Ultimately heading for Portland, considering a few days in Vancouver but don't really want to deal with Seattle traffic. Thanks for any insight.

As far as Seattle traffic...that whole I5 corridor is hard and Seattle-Tacoma is hardest. As a suggestion? try just holing up in maybe Bellingham Wa. for the day and along about 7pm, NOT a weekend tho...head down to south of Tacoma. Make it an adventure, not a punishment.
Gary Haupt

The Tulalip Casino in Marysville has a great buffet. RV parking behind the casino. Good place to hole up before striking off down I 5.

[garyhaupt]

Ed Rana2 wrote:
Planning our return to the lower 48. After a few days in Stewart/Hyder later this week, will be starting south. Anyone with inside scoop on road closures on 97 due to the wildfires and if so, suggestions on alternate. Ultimately heading for Portland, considering a few days in Vancouver but don't really want to deal with Seattle traffic. Thanks for any insight.

As far as Seattle traffic...that whole I5 corridor is hard and Seattle-Tacoma is hardest. As a suggestion? try just holing up in maybe Bellingham Wa. for the day and along about 7pm, NOT a weekend tho...head down to south of Tacoma. Make it an adventure, not a punishment.


Gary Haupt

[garyhaupt]

For up-to-date and accurate info...http://www.drivebc.ca/#listView

However...you are still a number of days away from the problem areas. As of this morning, highway #97 is open southbound to support evacuations, so you could go that route from Prince George..straight down to Cache Creek..then most likely an eastern turn towards Kamloops and onto the Coquihalla..#5, to the lower mainland and the borders crossings.

If you are concerend about 97...you could go right across 16 to the junction with #5, turn south..to Kamloops and southward then thru the Okanagan and down into the US at Oroville/Osoyoos. If you are nodding your head for this..you will maybe want to grab #5 from Kamloops, to Merritt and turn east onto the #3 Connector..there is fire to be avoided on that portion of #97..Monte Lake Fire...you pop out onto #97 again...and carry on. It's a great drive but it's not the fast way, that's for sure.

The quickest as of Monday morning...straight down 97 from Prince George, over to #5 from Cache Creek and down the hill.


Gary Haupt

[Orion]

Here is a site worth bookmarking. Link