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Locals literally say "poor crazy Californian's" when we stop to help Civics stuck in the ditch. You might make it, but if the weather turns bad, so will your chances.

What lake?

Used to live in Long Beach, definitely didn't go to the beach enough while I was there.

Civic and chains work... It's more about the driver and this is a terrible drive to introduce winter driving even in an AWD car. If you're just out to visit a Bavarian style town, there's always Mount Angel, but if you're hell bent on Leavenworth and take the civic just keep a couple of things in mind:

When transitioning from slick surfaces onto dry pavement keep movements slow and fluid to avoid any torque steer.

Finish braking before turning in - and if you need to slow more just engine brake. Seriously though, go slow into turns... In slow out... well slow if you catch my drift.

Keep the revs low to keep torque down, and when downshifting to engine brake let off the clutch slow and controlled. Just as well, squish the throttle and be gentle when lifting on the throttle.

Most importantly... and what somehow has not been said yet GO SLOW! Kind of an exercise in narcissism but nothing matters more than your own safety. Most Californians I talk to complain about how Oregonians are slow drivers... You're about to find out why. All of a sudden understeering at 20 feels pretty quick.

As noted by others carry an emergency kit and keep gas in the tank always.

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Your lucky I love this as my back yard..

Thank you. Luckily, this is pretty much my back yard.

I did not know that…. Thank you! I love Greenwater… feel like it was the touch point for knowing I was “in the mountains” since I was 4.

Very nice

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On second look, these are not the ones near Greenwater, either.

There’s another feature near Greenwater called Three Sisters. Based on the perspective this pic was taken, those very well may be them.

Very important advice here! Even in absence of any serious emergency you never know when you might have to deal with a huge delay on snowy roads and are far away for amenities.

I grew up there. Was visiting last weekend and saw the Mountain every day! Odd to see Rainier in November, but such a happy thing!

If you’ve never driven on snow, testing it out going over a major summit is a really foolish way to do so.

Three Sisters are in Central Oregon - you can’t see them from Maple Valley, WA. I actually grew up in Maple Valley….

This is only true if it really cold, otherwise I'll take good all seasons over cheap snow tires.

The difference between snow tires and good all seasons is not going to be enough to not have to put on chains if things get really shitty.

I love Leavenworth for the fact that its a ridiculous tourist trap and shamelessly leans into that identity, but I'm also usually going in the summer where it's the secondary attraction to the enchantments.

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The mileage cost taking a U-Haul from Oregon to Leavenworth would be crazy.

A 4WD pickup still isn't that great unless you put some heavy stuff in the bed to even out the weight distribution on the wheels and know how to drive in snow. An RWD pickup is one of the worst possible vehicles for snow and ice.

Are those the three sisters in the far right?

Take the bus and leave the driving to us !.....look up online for dates and times for departure and arrival.