gdanmitchell Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I'd carry chains and/or use AWD. You can run into chain requirements on 5 in Oregon and far northern California - not necessarily likely, but possible. Highway 50 is a popular route to ski areas, so you would normally carry chains there. Your 89 route goes over Monitor Pass, which can close in winter. (In fact, it might actually close for the season - sorry, but I've never tried it in mid-winter, unlike all the other roads on your route.) In places 395 gets over 8000', so you can certainly encounter snow along that road. 395 doesn't go all the way to DEVA, so you'll most like take 190 on the final run to DEVA, though you could also go all the way south and across via Ridgecrest if conditions are rough.
The route is a bit of a tough call. If conditions aren't too bad and you are OK with some slower driving, you'll see some beautiful terrain, especially along the eastern Sierra. On the other hand, it might be easier to just go all the way down 5 and then cut east over Tehachapi Pass and then back up via Ridgecrest.
Dan
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