As long as you drive safe and use common sense, you’ll be fine. I grew up in Spokane and made the trip over the pass many times for the holidays now that I live west of the Cascades. Mainly in small FWD hatchbacks or sedans too. The pass is typically well maintained. Just watch the forecasts for heavy snow and bring a set of chains that fit your tires just in case. Also a roadside emergency kit, which you should have regardless. Aim for driving the pass in the day for visibility if it’s your first time doing it.

The only sketchy situation I’ve had on that stretch of I-90 was with a sudden, heavy snowfall in Vantage going downhill before the bridge over the Columbia River which was totally my fault. It was well forecasted but I ignored it in a rush to get back to the west side.

A good rule of thumb is if you don’t see anyone else on the road, you probably shouldn’t be on it either.

A longer route isn’t always safer: the southern route via Hood River (I-84) will add 4 hours to the 4hr trip, and frankly, Hood River is the only place I’ve ever experiences a complete road closure in 25 years of driving (just last year).

Like everyone else here has suggested: just drive slow, avoid distractions, carry snow chains—and bring water/snacks/TP—and you’ll likely be just fine. Always be willing to turn back to get a hotel or something.

Enjoy the ride I see have

I5 is probably bare and dry. Side roads can get dicey.

Solid advice.

Go slower than you think is necessary. If people are passing you, flipping you off, you're at the right speed. And allow 4x as much space between you and the car in front of you.

Keep the speed down even if the road seems clear, because you don't see black ice. That is especially likely around bridges and overpasses because of the cooler air flow underneath them.

Does the job pay enough so you can potentially purchase property? If so… yeah, you should think about it. At least then you have a guaranteed spot to park your boat.

Slow right lane over the Indian hill and a summit its good then right to tunnel and hold your corners . Hit summit 80 + downhill and your good. You need to own this

Watch episodes of Twin Peaks and you’ll know all you need to know about living in Washington.

Eyyy the peninsula is super nice port orchard is small but if you have a car you are pretty close to Olympic national park and maybe an hour and a half from Seattle

Bye Felicia.

It’s not close to you but a great off leash area in double bluff beach.

Do some research

I moved here from the phx area 17 yrs ago. Seems like yesterday. I still love it. Hope you continue to enjoy it as well.

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Depends. Do you own firearms and want to bring them with you? The weapons ban about to pass will make that impossible.

Yep that’s the thing about Western Washington. There is rain most days but it doesn’t rain all day. You can always find breaks

Be very careful. People get hurt going down into the falls in the winter (it is quite steep) so go at your own risk!

I moved from Phoenix to Port Orchard over a year ago. It is a great place to live ! I find it to be a nice mix of rural yet accessible since it is the county seat the infrastructure is good. The downtown is nice and people are generally nice overall, in the winter everyone doesn’t want to talk but summers is amazing. The parks and schools are good for the area and the outdoors is one of the best concentrations of everything you can find. We haven’t even left kitsap and haven’t seen every amazing outdoor nature trail and state park. DM for any questions but overall it’s a good little town that’s close to most things

Mashel Falls has been mentioned here, so I’d like to just go ahead and throw in all of UW’s Pack Forest in Eatonville. I think the falls themselves may be on that land, but am not sure. There are all kinds of cool trails through experimental plots there. Really neat area.

sales tax is 6.5% which is the same as mass. property tax is also lower than the national average, compared to MA like 2% higher than the national average.

No love for the WTA (Washington trails association) app or site I see lol. But that’s what I use

No love for the WTA (Washington trails association) app or site I see lol. But that’s what I use

Even if your trees are valuable (like cedar) the cost to have them hauled away eats up a LOT of that profit

Cedar River Trail is worth checking out. I prefer the Landsburg end of it. I’d be strategic with the off leash part and mindful of high water conditions