Blewett Pass becomes a decisive obstacle in the storm-bound journey: its closure turns an already difficult drive into a forced detour, while the worsening weather leaves the travelers little choice but to press on.

Closure and Detour

As the party reached the turnoff for Highway 2, a radio announcement reported that Blewett Pass was closed because a tractor-trailer had jackknifed. The route through the pass was no longer available, so Denny had to take a long detour toward I-90 near George, Washington. He expected the larger interstate to make for faster travel, but the rain had begun and the median had become more like a spillway than a grassy divide.

Narrative Significance

The pass is not crossed or described as a destination; its importance lies in the closure that redirects the journey. A single road blockage compounds the storm’s danger and delay, and the failed expectation of easier travel on I-90 underscores how little control the travelers have over their progress. With few alternatives, they continue onward through the worsening conditions.