Our normal three hour drive on Saturday from Pasco to Seattle took seven; in an attempt to avoid snow on Snoqualmie Pass we ran right into it on Sutan Pass. The modern Ford Mustang, not know for its snow handling and sporting the wrong tires, was all kinds of fun inching over snowy, icey and remote Sutan Pass. Wby did we taken Sutan Pass (which turns out to also be higher than Snoqualmie)? Because my wife thought I knew the pass was there, even though I said I’d never driven over state highway 97 through Goldendale (we were heading south to I-84).
As I carefully steered up the pass, hoping not to slow down and lose traction, I asked why she thought this route was a good idea. She said she thought I had scoped out the pass. I said I had told her I didn’t know there was a pass at all! Well, this back and forth conversation lasted until we crested the pass and slid/drove our way down the other side.
Despite her cool exterior and her positive confirmation of my driving skills, she was very busy snapping pictures with her phone and posting on Facebook pictures of the snowy road with comments like “we are gonna die” and “if we don’t make it, we love you all”. She does have a sense of humor 🙂
So, after our long drive, we crashed in bed and have slept the night away. Updates later.
i’m all to familiar with the snow handling capabilities of a Mustang on snow!. even with snow tires. having lived on the lower mainland of BC and going over the Coquihalla Pass made for some interesting, pant filling trips back to visit family in Alberta. my daughter’s Mustang is now comfortably resting under a car cover on jackstands ’til spring and she’s driving my Cherokee. glad you made it safe (and maybe invest in a set of chains). by the way; Happy New Year.
The Goddess reccomends a Paul Simon song Slip Sliding Away as your travelling music thru the mountains. Doesn’t Ford Motor Company sponser the Luge competion during the winter olympics?
Man, can I relate to this story. One of the most difficult road trips I ever made was in a 1991 5.0 manual-shift Ford Mustang at night during a snow & ice storm in upstate South Carolina. It took every bit of concentration and driving skill I could muster to keep that car on the road. The traffic on the interstate was only averaging about 15 mph, and I had to ride the (very stiff) clutch almost the entire way. Thought I would end up off the side of the road somewhere for sure, but by the grace of God, after several hours I finally managed to make it home.
Well done, Dave!
its satus pass and the elevation is 3107 fyi
They make these vehicles, called “Jeeps” I believe…you may want to look into one.
Almost got caught on the Rt. 97 pass coming home from Benton City working right after Christmas. Looked good when I left but hit ice and snow before making it to 84. Going up the hill wasn’t a problem coming down with a trailer was. Dave, hope your around next time I’m up there working. Driving down 84 is a nice view of the river.
Thanks Napaguy … It must have auto corrected that one, because I am pretty sure I wrote Satus 🙂
Dan … there’s a river? All I saw was snow from the Yakima Valley until Troutdale, Or. lol.
We do plan on trading in my car (which handles no better than Ann’s) on a more fwd oriented vehicle. I’m thinking a jeep just might fit the bill Lylito. If I could only find one for sale on a site somewhere ….
Im glad you made it safely…if you had told me you were going over satus with a mustang and street tires I would have told you no way no how…:)
Hey, you guys are finally acting like you’re married. (lol) But your manhood prevailed. Your driving skills (and her patience) overcame your neglect of putting a top on Biscuit and making the journey in style.
**Steve E.**
About six years ago I pulled a Mustang back onto the road on a straight stretch on the east side of Satus Pass.