Or at least chains were needed over Donner summit. I was skiing at Northstar April 4 and 5, and drove back late afternoon on the 5th. We came over Donner Summit on I-80 at around 4:30-5pm and it was snowing HARD over the pass, and chain controls went up just after we came thru. There was a good inch plus of snow sticking on the road when we came thru.
So this time of year those signs are very much still appropriate, and on April 5 in particular they applied.
Having said that, if you are in a 4WD car you can almost always get away without chains. Caltrans has three snow conditions, R1, R2, and R3. R1 just means you need tires rated for mud and snow, ie any 4 season radial, just not summer sports car tires. R2 means chains OR 4WD with mud/snow rated tires. R3 means chains AND 4 wheel drive, but in practice R3 is quite rare, usually they go from R2 straight to Closed, at least for major roads. Not that I'm suggesting ignoring a posted warning sign, of course.
Bob
Originally Posted by
nacho
I'm in Clovis and I was planning on visiting Yosemite today, but then apparently there is chain control in all roads in Yosemite.
So I talked to Mr. Nacho and we decided that we don't want to buy/rent chains (we called Avis and they don't provide chains for their rentals), so we gave up on going into the park.
Instead we drove on 168 hoping to see some landscape, but then after Parther there is chain control sign saying that chain must be carried at all times. No excpetion.
So we had to turn around and head back. Very disappointing. We don't think that there should be a sign like that permanently - I can understand if it's during winter, but in summer, that's crazy.
I think a lot of people will just drive in without chains but we don't want to break the law and eventually get a fine.
I think those shops selling/installing chains outside those check point must be doing pretty well since tourists go to those places without being able to find out where exactly those chain control areas are.
Do the buses going to Yosemite from Merced have chain carried in their trunk?
Is it like this everywhere North of Death Valley? Tomorrow we are heading to Turlock and we are hoping to be able to go through some scenic route.
Thanks in advance!