<p>In looking at the upcoming calendar, D has a couple of Mondays off school, which are good days for us to visit Whitman. One date is on February 1 and the other date is on April 12. We would drive there on Sunday, spend the night in Walla Walla, visit all day on Monday, then drive home to Portland.</p>
<p>Weather-wise, would visiting in late Jan/early Feb be a good idea? Of course we want to see the campus at its best. April might be nicer weather, but seeing the campus covered in snow might be fun too. We're visiting all her Southern California prospective schools over spring break at the end of March.</p>
<p>My $0.02:
If you’re going to be heading over the pass, going in Jan/Feb might not be a good idea since it could be pretty icy. Whitman’s campus is really pretty in April, too! Either option will be fine though, since Whitman’s campus looks good basically all of the time :)</p>
<p>Easier driving in Eastern Washington in April than February, but you’d probably be fine either time, unless there are blizzards like there were last year in December/January.</p>
<p>I’d go for the later date for the reasons cited below. The campus would be okay either time, but the trip could be more arduous. Also: if spring has sprung there will be more students out and about around campus in April and you will have the expertise of having visited earlier schools and that refines your questions and observations. And the wheat fields will be greening…</p>
<p>Is she a senior? Then a visit in April would mean she’s an accepted student and that’s a whole different visit. If she’s a junior, then I say visit at its possible worst! Of course, you’re already in Portland and have some idea, so it’s not like taking a southern california kid to the northeast. The road from Portland to Walla Walla isn’t nearly as bad as the road from Seattle.</p>
<p>Well, I think if the weather forecast is nice, we’ll go for the Feb. 1 visit. But if it’s not (and it might very well be icy) we will hold off 'till April.</p>
<p>Gorge ice is what will hinder the drive. If you can make it to Hood River, the rest is easy. I highly recommend your D stay the night in a dorm with a student who has a shared interest. if it’s, say, ultimate frisbee, wait till April. if it’s swimming or basketball, go in Feb. If it’s art or music or dance, go whenever. Feb might be better as midterms are still a ways out and a host student can be more attentive. Sit in to a class, too.</p>