OFFICIAL TAHOE 18/19 STOKE, CONDITIONS, WEATHER THREAD

[old goat]

Thanks. Car taken care of. Mission accomplished

[hercule33]

Heal up, old goat!



This^^. The state could change the antiquated vehicle code from requiring m+s tires to requiring 3PMSF tires.

So change R2 to have everyone chain up except for those with 4wd and 3PMSF tires? I would support that and think it would solve a lot of our traffic problems during snow storms. I didn’t realize this is what you were suggesting. I am in support of any measure that will force casual snow drivers with 4wd to chain up during storms like this.

[gimpy]

sorry to hear og. i hope that is the drugs talking

most people used to care how their actions effected others. now most people just plain suck. how these dumb fucks dont understand the concept of pulling over to not block traffic is just beyond my comprehension. shit like this is exactly why locals become jaded af

[hercule33]

So your solution for "problem drivers" is chains for everyone? That's as Commiefornia as it gets. Will you be waiting in Truckee to hand out participation trophies or "I survived Smowmaggedon XIX" T-shirts? Just keep the problem drivers out, even if that means the whole bay area. As mentioned by someone earlier, the bay area consist of pretty much the worst drivers in the country. And that's on dry roads.
I've never once used chains, or snow tires on a 4WD vehicle, and haven't had a single issue in 25 years living in the mountains, which includes dozens of trips over Donner in the snow (I make that trek a few times a month). Even yesterday, managed 45mph from Truckee to Colfax, pretty easy without California drivers clogging the left lane (btw, the left lane isn't the only lane, fuckers!). I'm all for allowing local traffic only, but good luck even getting anywhere close to the checkpoint during weekend clusterfucks.
There's a couple big issues with chains, too. One is that there's a lot of people, mostly trucks but some cars, too, that chain up in the roadway. In addition to being stupid and dangerous, it reduces the roadway from two lanes to one, greatly contributing to the huge backup - imagine how much more of a shitshow this would be if you triple (guessing that's somewhat accurate?) the amount of vehicles chaining up. I would love to see CHP/CalTrans enforce having people pull entirely into the shoulder (or get off at an exit) to chain up, which would also allow the chain checkpoint to utilize two lanes instead of one. The other issue with chains is the amount of vehicles that leave the chains on after the roads are clear, whether that's out of stupidity or laziness because they don't want to take them off for the main roads and put them back on to drive through the neighborhood roads which often take longer to get plowed. In either case, it's inconsiderate of everyone else on the road and it only takes one of those morons to slow traffic from 60mph to 25, in addition to creating sketchy attempts at passing. So let's have more people chaining up?
I do agree that the guys doing the chain check should be looking at tires, though. I don't think anyone has ever once actually looked at the tires on my vehicle. Snow tires are good, and a lot of M+S tires are fine (some a lot better than others), but neither is good if they are worn. Also, how many people get through chain control with chains on the wrong wheels? I know those CalTrans guys work in challenging conditions, but it shouldn't be that hard to keep all lanes of the roadway clear for through traffic and have two guys, for two lanes, taking a quick look at the tires instead of just asking if you have 4WD. That alone would speed things up for everyone. That and a tunnel from Squaw to Auburn. And a wall.

My solution for 3 day weekends when Tahoe receives 8 feet of snow and snow levels are at 2k is to throw R3 over the summits. The goal is to keep people off the road. Tell all radio and TV stations about R3, watch stores run out of chains and have a ton of people turn around. Those who want to still go up, will have chains on to mitigate their shitty tires. Not a perfect solution but should keep highways rolling smoothly because of fewer cars and accidents. I am not saying throw R3 every time it snows.

[bodywhomper]

I’m under the impression that cal trans snow removal and winter staffing is still understaffed post drought. In 2010/2011, there were far less issues with road closures. Issues still happened, but generally not for as extended time. Roads were cleared of snow/ice more quickly and accidents were cleared more quickly.

So change R2 to have everyone chain up except for those with 4wd and 3PMSF tires? I would support that and think it would solve a lot of our traffic problems during snow storms. I didn’t realize this is what you were suggesting. I am in support of any measure that will force casual snow drivers with 4wd to chain up during storms like this.

R1: m&s required
R2: 3PMSF required or chains
R3: 3PMSF w/4wd/awd or chains
R4: chains only

Or something like that.

U Michigan study: http://umich.edu/~umtriswt/PDF/SWT-2016-10.pdf

Note the description about increase in safety performance when temps at 45* or lower.

[4matic]

If R3 becomes standard requirement the beating roads takes will cost billions more dollars over the long run. There's a reason studded tires have limitations

[TahoeJ]

Not to mention R3 creates a huge logistics shit show... which is why they almost always close the road before going up to it.

[neufox47]

So change R2 to have everyone chain up except for those with 4wd and 3PMSF tires? I would support that and think it would solve a lot of our traffic problems during snow storms. I didn’t realize this is what you were suggesting. I am in support of any measure that will force casual snow drivers with 4wd to chain up during storms like this.

Or change R3 to 4wd and dedicated winter snow tires or chains, and actually use it. The only thing awd does over fwd is prevent getting stuck. Accidents are almost never directly caused by getting stuck. Although the ensuing backups and attempts to pass stuck vehicles do cause accidents.

I’d also say if you made the above change to R3 you could also include FWD vehicles with dedicated snows to R2.

[bobz]

Sorry folks, we've met the enemy and the enemy is us. On a typical busy weekend with chain control in effect, half the problem is just starting to get rolling on 80 after however many hours it takes to do 10 miles on 89, and a lot of that is locals, and ummm, most locals aren't exactly native to the region.

R3 isn't going to happen on the major highways (I've seen, and ignored, R3 a couple of times in SeKi). I've driven all sorts of snow-covered roads that were in vastly worse shape wind- and snow-wise than 80 has been just before that got closed. It's just too many people in too big of a hurry, plus interstate trucking (sorry mmmmpow, more cars in the right lane just means more of a time-consuming zipper-merge every time they catch up to a slow truck), three times more people putting on chains is going to be an epic mess, and if the Bay Area Bronco brigade all trades in their M+S treads for snowflake-cert, they'll just drive faster and crash harder. I have proper snowflakes on my car, but stock M+S with AWD is going to work fine for the 80/50 elephant train; it's when you get off the highway and onto side-streets and driveways where the snowflake tires pay off. Oh, and studded tires are illegal in CA for good reason.[edit: last sentence turns out not to be true; oops]

Mostly it works out. We drove up & back a couple weekends ago in nasty conditions, skied two days in a blizzard, and had a fine time and didn't get in anybody's way. Holiday weeks (the past couple of days were the start of "ski week" if anyone didn't know) are always going to be a shitshow, and shitshow-squared with a real storm, because people start scheduling their vacations back in August when the school schedule gets published. It should be very predictable, so locals should stock up on groceries and hunker down, and do their powder skiing on one of the other days of the season when the whole Bay Area doesn't come up all at once.

[Spats]

Still snowing steadily in South Lake. Feels like lake effect: there's little wind and it's not dumping, just sifting down. Update, 12:30PM and it's dumping again.

Usually NVDOT is on top of things, but 50 from the casinos and out of town has been a mess for days at a time. It's the worst I've ever seen it in 15+ years. (Of course this is nothing compared to 50 the other direction.)

Have been very tempted to buy a ticket during this blackout weekend, but I lost a ski/binding on Porc Ridge a few days ago so my budget is allocated to dealing with that. (And hoping I can find it in the spring. Yes, I did the Minden Mile mostly on one ski. And my butt.) Congrats to everyone who isn't blacked out...I'm sure it's amazing.

My elbows and shoulder are gimped from shoveling so much snow over the last two weeks. It's not the snow, it's the ice berm from the plow that takes longer than the entire rest of the driveway - and the fact that I have to throw every shovelful onto a pile taller than I am!

brb, gotta wrap my elbows and go shovel again

[snophoto]

I’m under the impression that cal trans snow removal and winter staffing is still understaffed post drought. In 2010/2011, there were far less issues with road closures. Issues still happened, but generally not for as extended time. Roads were cleared of snow/ice more quickly and accidents were cleared more quickly.

2010/2011 was a different time, the economy was in the toilet and people didn't have the disposable income to take a ski trip. I lived in Truckee in 09/10 and remember the 80 closing in Verdi and NDOT letting me through with my Truckee ID, made it up no problem with my RWD truck with all terrains. Does this still happen out of Reno?
I am now in tiny Mammoth with as many bus lines as probably all of North Lake, still a bunch of idiots running red lights, U turns anywhere, parking in front of clearly marked fire hydrants, and abandoned cars during the big storm in the middle of the road.

[TurxSki]

Dang OldGoat.
Sorry to hear you are "Maggot Down!".
☆Wishing you a speedy recovery.☆
Stuff broken? Concussion?

(Actually, from your UserName, I guess I'd always assumed you were retired, and a local.
So am shocked you drove to SV on one of the busiest weekends of year, when more snow is in the forecast...? Yeah, we are blacked out.)
Personally, 75Chute always freaks me on the drop in, and often seems to have too many peeps, and lurking surprises. I tend to pussy out and do W.Face instead.
Save 75 for hero snow spring bumps.

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[powdork]

Oh, and studded tires are illegal in CA for good reason.

Studded snow tires are permitted in California from November 1 until April 30 each year.

[NorCalNomad]

Man even though the snow looks awesome I'm glad I'm missing the cluster of Tahoe. I do wish my job would just let me work thu->monday so I could help alleviate the cluster as well, and get less waits in line.

[4matic]

Studded snow tires are permitted in California from November 1 until April 30 each year.

Thanks. I thought it was only in the alpine regions.


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[bobz]

Studded snow tires are permitted in California from November 1 until April 30 each year.

Thanks; I stand corrected.

[hercule33]

This storm was pretty much a virtual "wall" for the bay area folks. Hard to imagine a worse case scenario for Pres day. A cold super storm starting on Friday that over performed and has super low snow levels. Those who cancelled early made out, those who didn't will likely spend most of their weekend in the car.

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[powdrhound]

Studded snow tires are permitted in California from November 1 until April 30 each year.

Made me look:

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia set seasonal restrictions for metal-studded snow tire use. ... Ten states prohibit metal-studded snow tires: Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland (except in five mountainous counties), Minnesota, Mississippi, Texas, and Wisconsin.

No restrictions:
Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, Wyoming.

[emcee]

This storm was pretty much a virtual "wall" for the bay area folks. Hard to imagine a worse case scenario for Pres day. A cold super storm starting on Friday that over performed and has super low snow levels. Those who cancelled early made out, those who didn't will likely spend most of their weekend in the car.

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My buddies and I call it the "fun wall", like "gotta get over the fun wall before it closes".

in Kirkwood we call it trapped in the" fun sandwich"

[rod9301]

I'm in the hospital. Found the only ice on the mountain yesterday on chute 75. If anyone is at squaw today could you let parking know some one is coming for the blue forester parked overnight near far east, probably in a day or two when the snow stops and the traffic improves. Thanks. Lol

I found ice today too I'm rock garden and enchanted Forest.
Get well

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[hercule33]

If R3 becomes standard requirement the beating roads takes will cost billions more dollars over the long run. There's a reason studded tires have limitations

Not in extreme situations like this storm. When it’s this cold and snowing hard its impossible for plows to keep up and all the chains would be hitting is packed snow and ice not the original road surface. Now if you throw R3 in a storm with 7k snow levels, well that’s a different story but that’s not what I was talking about.

[LightRanger]

Good day to drink wine and pick up our shipment in Camino. Kids can mess around and we can drink. Win-win.

Was coming down pretty good for a bit. Bluebird tomorrow should be sweet.

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[rod9301]

How come everyone is posting about traffic instead of skiing today?

Pretty awesome day at squaw, broken arrow, kt, good snow. Yeah, a lot of people, but once the upper mountain opened, kt was just a minute wait.!!!

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[bodywhomper]

Lincoln was amazing. So filled in. Crowded as fuck, though. Here’s a photo


And I still think that if there were fiscal and regulatory incentives for winter rates tires, more people would use them, and there’d be less accidents. At least that’s what the euros and canuckistanians claim.

[Huck Pitueee]

I drive over Mt rose hwy for work 5 days a week and see no need for studs. Chains ruin the whole flow. Luckily those gapers are on the road after the worker bees are done. Yesterday was too deep and had to skin down much of Tamarak. too flat.