Chains for Mt Baker?

I've got about 1 million miles of Upstate NY under by belt so I know snow and black ice too.  ...

To see the look  on a PNW mechanics face upon viewing the underbody of an east coast car is quite humorous. A combination of shock and disbelief in what they are seeing.

...

90% PNW drivers show a similar expression when they drive on snow and slam on the brakes and wonder why their car doesn't stop.

Snow is such a rare event in the lowlands that most PNW drivers totally freak out when it does snow -- and it doesn't really matter how experienced a snow/ice driver you are if the nut-case in front of you spins out and ends of stalled sideways across two lanes of traffic.

My wife grew up in Chicago and the first winter here, she couldn't believe me when I told her that schools would be closed with 3 inches of snow on the road (she was a pre-school teacher at the time) -- She headed out -- she never made it to school and ended up walking home from where her car got pinned in a pile-up where Coal Creek Parkway crosses Coal creek.  

Washington state laws take into account that 90% of western washington drivers have no clue on how to drive on snow.

To be clearer, the mechanics were looking at more under body rust that they would normally see in a lifetime wrenching here. SOP stuff for an east coast mechanic.

So, my owners manual says DO NOT INSTALL CHAINS on a Suby with my size tires.



Someone should start a poll- Safest place in the pack to drive down the mountain. A) Front Rear C) Middle

To be clearer, the mechanics were looking at more under body rust that they would normally see in a lifetime wrenching here. SOP stuff for an east coast mechanic.

Understood -- PNW people aren't familiar with the concept of a "winter car" -- which is more common places where winter in the city lasts more than a day or two.

So, my owners manual says DO NOT INSTALL CHAINS on a Suby with my size tires.

Technically Washington State law saws that you have to carry chains Nov-Apr -- In 40+ winter driving season's I can only recall a couple of occations where chains were required for "All vehicles -- including AWD" -- and those were after big freezing rain events. The Suby warning is because the clearances are tight and if you drive more than 10mph the chains will slap the insides of the fenders. In Japan where Suby's are made it is illegal to drive a vehicle with any sort of body damage -- even minor cosmetic damage -- hence the warning.

Someone should start a poll- Safest place in the pack to drive down the mountain. A) Front  Rear  C) Middle

The correct answers are: in the pub drinking a beer and watching the game or in your camper drinking beer and watching a movie while waiting for the highway to clear out.

Les Schwab.

A major tire distributor had, and maybe still has, a deal whereby you could return unused chains for a full refund at the end of the season after studded tires were no longer street legal (April 1 or 15?).  <snip>

For real? Jeeebus I'd be pissed, especially considering they don't even open that road until it's scraped clean.

Les Schwab does have the deal where you can return them at the end of the season if unused.

The chain requirement has been well publicized, for a very long time, and is posted on road signs before you enter the park. It is what it is. Les Shwab has a great deal going, buy one set and you are set for life (maybe); I bought one set years ago and have traded them back for new chains as I changed vehicles (and tire size)-- been carrying chains for decades & have never used them. The rules also say a 4WD or AWD with approved tires can proceed without chains when chains are required on 2 WD, but I've never seen the LEOs inspect the tires I wish they would; I spent some good $$ to buy high performance snow/ice tires with walnut shells and ceramic beads and I would hate then to be hit by some Puyallupan in a full-size PU and regular street tires, like I actually saw happen.

The road between Longmire and Paradise is often snowpacked or very icy; at times there has be 6 inches of wet snow on the road. The Park often requires 2 WD to use chains. I've seen that road so icy on the way down that (in the good old days) when the very heavy traffic would come to a standstill, cars that stopped, would after a while slide downhill across the road. I was hit head on (while I was stopped) and my car push half-way over the downhill bank, teeter-tottering by somebody who lost control on a slight downhill between Longmire and Kautz Creek. I've also watched a number of people lose control, running off the road, hitting other vehicles, or causing other vehicles to run off the road to avoid a collision.

So, chains are useful for avoiding a citation and slowing your slide when struck If you need chains, don't drive. Check!