4WD necessary for Wasatch, Cascades, Montana?

OK, climbers and alpinists of Seattle, Salt Lake, and Bozeman: I'm a New Hampshire grad student looking at post docs in Washington, Utah, and Montana. I'm also looking to upgrade my vehicle in the next couple of years. I've got a capable 4WD vehicle right now, but I was thinking of stepping down to something AWD like a Subaru to save money on gas.

Question is, how valuable is a capable 4WD vehicle to access trailheads/climbs in these areas? I've really enjoyed having a capable vehicle in CO, but I haven't used it really at all here in NH.

Mike Hasse wrote:OK, climbers and alpinists of Seattle, Salt Lake, and Bozeman: I'm a New Hampshire grad student looking at post docs in Washington, Utah, and Montana. I'm also looking to upgrade my vehicle in the next couple of years. I've got a capable 4WD vehicle right now, but I was thinking of stepping down to something AWD like a Subaru to save money on gas. Question is, how valuable is a capable 4WD vehicle to access trailheads/climbs in these areas? I've really enjoyed having a capable vehicle in CO, but I haven't used it really at all here in NH.

As far as climbing goes you do not need high clearance 4WD but if you are going to be skiing in the Wasatch then AWD is nice. Big and Little cottonwood canyons have days where its restricted to 4WD AWD or chains so its nice to be able to drive up the canyon without chaining up.

If you plan on spending any time in the canyon lands area, at least a high clearance will be really useful.

For MT, 4WD high clearance is often handy. Plus, additional size (bye bye fuel economy) can sure make one feel safer on icy two-lane highways in the land where almost everyone drives a full-sized truck.

4WD isn't necessary in the Cascades. I drive a RWD sports car and have no problem getting to trailheads to climb in the regular season, if you plan on backcountry skiing then AWD might be handy for dealing with snow.

If it is paid for I'd keep the truck and plan to ride a bike. That is what I do. High clearance is great in the Desert Country. Not needed for most places but there are times it will come in handy.

If you're ice climbing in MT you really should have a 4X4 truck. You can get by with a Subaru in SLC but MT is a different story. Throw Canmore onto your list and you need a truck.

Funny story, I watched a four people with one shovel try to dig a Subaru out of deep snow in Hyalite. A truck with a winch would have been a better option.

The cost of a Subaru and the relatively poor fuel economy really makes a truck more appealing. Between the two options I'd buy a truck.

Gavin W wrote:4WD isn't necessary in the Cascades. I drive a RWD sports car and have no problem getting to trailheads to climb in the regular season, if you plan on backcountry skiing then AWD might be handy for dealing with snow.

In the cascades there are times when a FS road is washed out or otherwise impassable so I think the better combo is car + mountain bike for those approaches. Other than that I can't think of many trailheads that aren't accessible with an AWD.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think it sounds like I should figure out if I'll be going to Montana before ditching the truck.

Ray Pinpillage wrote: I heard that scientists recently discovered that the Cascades and the Rockies weren't the same mountain range.

Wasatch does not need 4wd or even awd unless its winter. There are some places in utah where it would be nice but not wasatch

Mahcire wrote: No offense meant, but I don't know if I'd say that was a recent discovery. Cascades and Sierras are closer relations than to the Rockies. Somewhat pretty young mountains compared to the Rockies.

mountainhick wrote: Recent in geological terms?

In the Washington cascades I found I could get most anywhere I wanted, winter or summer in a honda accord with good tire chains. Heavy rains mean toads tend to wash out catastrophically instead of deteriorating slowly and land mangers are quite agressive about keeping them gated and closed when they are damaged or snowed in. Most climbing and skiing areas are near one of the major highways and even most popular alpine objective have good (and well traveled) roads. There are some places where you really needed a 4x4 but some of those have been shut to cars (ie the road goldbar boulders/zeke's wall which people routinely walk these days).

I live in Western Montana now and have a newer Subaru Forester. The awd and higher ground clearance can get most popular places in summer but the lack of a full size spare and off road oriented tire options would make me hesitant to try some things and i'm not sure i'd take the forester on some of the more remote and rough roads around here without an after market spare or two.

While the car is great in the snow, It is annoying that subaru recommends against using chains for clearance reasons. Lots of roads are open year round but there were times this last winter when the local forest service was recommending people with out chains on all 4 wheels of a 4x4 stay out of the woods due to sheet ice conditions.

The towing capacity on the subaru (newer foresters at least) is also quite low if you think you might end up wanting to transport a sled, raft etc. The outback does a bit better I think.

Ours has a CVT and it does get great millage (30-35 cruising around on smaller highways, less going over passes etc) which helps with how far apart things are here.

There are at least a million Subaru Outbacks in SLC so you would blend right in. AWD is good enough for the southern part of the state which you will eventually travel to where the sand can stop a 2wd. Its one of the best all around vehicles and the clearance on the new ones is pretty good. The difference between that and a truck is more what hangs past the axles (front and back) that a steep section can crunch. You can't beat the gas mileage and its easy to load kayaks or skis on the roof. Just about everyone that has a Suby has a rocket box on the roof.