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MT to SLC drive

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BrightFrog
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,676
heading down from Bridger Bowl to SLC in a couple weeks; has anyone had a bad experience on the drive or recommendations? I’m from Michigan so I already consider myself the best winter driver in North America.
Dec 28 2019 9:34PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
Island park is usually an ice rink, otherwise its a very beautiful drive until you hit ashton ID
Dec 28 2019 11:35PM
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oldmanski
Posts: 3324 - Karma: 23,954
@eheath is correct. West Yellowstone all the way to Ashton on hwy 20 should be the worst of the worst. I have seen I-15 get pretty bad all the way from Idaho Falls to SLC but that is quite rare. Just watch the weather and ride it out if needed. Malad pass can get a little sketchy, watch for deer in this area(one of the last southern towns in Idaho) before Tremonton, UT. If you have any troubles, hit me up. I got some connects throughout the area.

**This post was edited on Dec 31st 2019 at 1:40:07pm
Dec 31 2019 1:37PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
oldmanski@eheath is correct. West Yellowstone all the way to Ashton on hwy 20 should be the worst of the worst. I have seen I-15 get pretty bad all the way from Idaho Falls to SLC but that is quite rare. Just watch the weather and ride it out if needed. Malad pass can get a little sketchy(one of the last southern towns in Idaho) before Tremonton, UT. If you have any troubles, hit me up. I got some connects throughout the area.


I must have had pretty good luck on 15, slc to idaho falls is always fine, even if its snowing I've had zero issues. As soon as you hit the mnts in ID it can get super sketch, I've had some really snowy drives through yellowstone and big sky to bozeman and if you're a good snow driver its not bad at all, just takes a lil longer.
Dec 31 2019 1:39PM
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oldmanski
Posts: 3324 - Karma: 23,954
eheathI must have had pretty good luck on 15, slc to idaho falls is always fine, even if its snowing I've had zero issues. As soon as you hit the mnts in ID it can get super sketch, I've had some really snowy drives through yellowstone and big sky to bozeman and if you're a good snow driver its not bad at all, just takes a lil longer.


Good, I have seen some nasty weather come through the area there and it can get nasty as all nasty.
Dec 31 2019 1:47PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6416 - Karma: 69,672
Just did it when they closed all of the wyoming highways and it wasn't that bad. Just take it easy if the road is not dry
Dec 31 2019 2:12PM
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,209
I've had some seriously gnarly drives from SLC to MT, unless it's sunny I'd probably avoid the Madison Valley route...
Dec 31 2019 3:18PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
chris.goodhueI've had some seriously gnarly drives from SLC to MT, unless it's sunny I'd probably avoid the Madison Valley route...


I know alot of people who will go the madison river route when it snows, definitely less elevation gain/loss, but i usually just send it over big sky, its never closed and its never that bad.
Dec 31 2019 3:29PM
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,209
eheathI know alot of people who will go the madison river route when it snows, definitely less elevation gain/loss, but i usually just send it over big sky, its never closed and its never that bad.


I've experienced the most intense wind / driving snow / zero visibility twice while driving at night through the Madison Valley...so bad we had to stop, wind was so strong almost couldn't open our door haha. The Madison Valley is so wide winds can just get going....but your right, less up / down.
Jan 1 2020 8:28AM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
chris.goodhueI've experienced the most intense wind / driving snow / zero visibility twice while driving at night through the Madison Valley...so bad we had to stop, wind was so strong almost couldn't open our door haha. The Madison Valley is so wide winds can just get going....but your right, less up / down.


Either way is brutal in the snow, classic montana.
Jan 1 2020 2:38PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51744 - Karma: 163,529
If you consider yourself a good winter driver nothing is really that bad imo.

Maybe I've missed the bad stuff but I grew up commuting to ice coast mountains and have done several winter full cross country road trips. I would say snow/wind storms in nebraska are the worst thing I ever hit because of shitty flat bullshit straight roads and 0 vis.

If you're legitimately concerned not a bad idea to carry chains. Also if you don't have awd/snow tires it's required some places.
Jan 1 2020 5:44PM
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