1000 mile loop including Death Valley and Reno NV---
San Francisco area to Bakersfield on I5 (crowded and dull driving), but then came a nice run over the mountains to Mojave. The a great run from Mojave to Olancha on SR14 and US395; very smooth roads and very little traffic- very high cruise speeds. SR190 from Olancha to Death Valley has several long straights and some good curved sections over two mountain ranges. In the mountains watch for a "DIP" sign followed by a steep up slope; the next thing you see is sky, skid marks and scrapes.
The entire road to Death Valley was the best drive I've had in a long time. It looked as if all the maintenance money and none of the traffic was found on those desert roads.
From Death Valley it was back out via SR190 to US395 and on to Reno NV. There a several high passes and curved sections to add interest. Traffic was light and the urge to speed was strong, but the CHP and sheriff’s deputies were everywhere.
Traffic in the Carson valley and Reno area is bad and Nevada highway signs are worse.
On the leg back to the Bay Area we were caught in sudden snow storm from the 7000 foot level down to 5000 feet. At no time did we encounter chain restrictions and when a big rig jack knifed and blocked the westbound lanes we began to worry. The outside air temp was 32F or above but the road began to ice. We were stopped on a slight slope and I have to say it was a bit scary when the car gave a lurch and began to slide off to the side. When a Cadillac SUV about 10 yards ahead was able to get straightened out and move forward I used the Snow mode to follow in his tracks. I never thought that I would ever use the Snow mode!
So a trip over the Sierra that I would normally do at speeds of 70 or more became one of 20 mph.
Bad weather aside, my wife and I really enjoyed our ~1000+ miles in her IS250 and the F-Sport sways I installed made the mountain sections a pleasure. Although I must also add that in crossing several passes at up to 8000 feet and 80mph, the 250 was working hard.