Trip Advice for Journey from Phoenix to Vancouver?

[mbrewer566]

I've accepted a nice new job opportunity with my company that will involve a temporary transfer to Vancouver, B.C. starting March 1. I'll be in Vancouver from 6-12 months. I've got a nice apartment picked out downtown with a great waterfront view. Anyway, I'd like to bring the ST up when the weather breaks and would like advice from the residents along the way (AZ to NV or CA to OR to WA to Canada) as to when the earliest "practical" time would be to take the ride, and any route advice from past experience.

Should be a good one!

[Horst]

There are a few Vancouver members here, I'm in Victoria.

We had talked about a VanSTOC in April, just an informal get-together at Carter Honda near Granville Island, do lunch there, and head for a ride up to Whistler and maybe beyond.

If interests you, let me know and we'll try and put something together.

Horst :biker:

PS: I don't know Phoenix, but have ridden WA and OR extensively ... the 'quickest' way up is no doubt I-5 ... I-5 becomes Hwy 99 and next thing you know you're there ... and, the portion from Redding to Portland is pretty scenic, too ! (do Seattle at night - less traffic !)

[Mark]

Depends on how many days you have to get up there....


Up the coast on Hwy 1 from San Luis Obispo north is the best route due to scenery and the road itself.
I5 will be the fastest, most tedious, most boring slab ride.
395 will take you up the east side of the Sierras: pretty ride, but, again not really any thing but a long slab ride. Of course if you put in; Tioga, Sonora, Ebbits and Monitor passes you will redeem 395. There are a couple on routes north beyond Tahoe/Reno.

The nice thing about up the coast is, you always can pop east to I5 when you find you have used up all your time and just drone north to finish.

Good luck,
Mark

[alan]

Be sure to sample Route 12 through Lolo pass in Idaho. Then up to Route 20 across northern Washington state. Lots of interesting routes from Arizona to Washington. My son lives in Sedona, AZ and my daughter in Prosser, WA, so I get to try lots of different routes between them.