Oops. KC, watch the weather reports.
We just came across 138 today, and beat the storm. Yesterday we camped at Prospect and took the Explorer up to Crater Lake. We did a few dances across some ice and snow enroute. We beat it out of Dodge this afternoon with dark clouds following, and got across the Cascades to Hwy 97 before inclement weather set in.
138/230 is a good road, relatively wide with only a few winding areas, but be very aware of the weather forecast. Diamond Lake is around 5400, with the summit of 138 around 5915 or so. There was snow along the roadside. Any wet spots on the road could be "black ice" if the temperature dips enough, as it did on the Crater Lake section of Hwy 62.
When the time came to turn left or right at Diamond Lake Junction, we were conflicted because we really wanted to see the lake after decades, and looking back we probably could have spent an hour aside, but I was playing it safe and determined to get off the mountains ahead of bad weather tailing us, so I turned southeast (right) at the intersection. We may take Pearl back up there this week, weather permitting.
We are at Big Pines in Crescent along Hwy 97 tonight and glad to have beat the weather across; rain and snow forecast here tonight, so likely snow and ice up on 138/230. It's raining here at the moment and relatively warm, but might not stay that way. Cooler weather in Central Oregon, normal for this time of year, is expected from here on out.
Due at BCS Thursday, but watching daily forecasts closely. You should do the same. If the mountain weather is iffy, consider a Klamath Falls route.
Joel