The difficulty for road crews to keep Interstate 84 open through the Gorge during severe winter storms are the reasons those of us who live here already know about. Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Don Hamilton says the series of micro-climates in the region with varied elevations lead to varied weather conditions to challenge maintenance crews, require them to use a variety of tools available to them to keep the freeway clear of ice, snow, and debris. ODOT was able to reopen Interstate 84 between The Dalles and Troutdale at around 9 p.m. Monday after being closed nearly all of that day.