wsdot snoqualmie rant

Then you are happy with the current life threatening situation?  ... Educating the public on how to drive in snow seems an untenable goal. ... A toll seems equitable to me but I'm not happy with the situation.  A toll is not a tax IMO, it's a user fee. Or are all of my different wilderness parking passes not user fees but taxes?

I think this is the dilemma facing Washington today and the US in general. A total abandonment of governing for the greater good and doing that funded by taxes and swtiching to a libertarian-style nickel-and-dimeing everyone to death with "user" fees. I was blown away when I came to WA and saw the regressive sales tax and property tax as the main generators of revenue and ended up paying sooooo many "user fees" the bulk of which went to administration and collection of the fees. Americans unwilling to finance the general welfare of the people is one reason we have the most costly and least effective health care system in the developed world. Too bad we can't have a civil and civilized society and we have to put our tax money where our mouth is: foreign belligerance and intervention and weapons development, manufacture, and sale.

And, if we were not soooo exceptional, we would require drivers and shooters to pass much more exacting tests. But our main ethos seems to be "tolerate idiocy."

Then you are happy with the current life threatening situation? 

I think Snoqualmie is fine, it just needs a repave, no more studs, and a couple other rule changes. Statistically US2 is far more dangerous (after the redesign of 522 it is the deadliest in the state now).

If you think my position on tolls is odd than this will really blow your mind: I don't agree with any of the access fees, parking fees, or climbing fees. We have taxes, and they are  an efficient way of collecting money to provide for the common good. If there is not enough money, our representatives are invested with the power to increase taxes.

The West used to be free, man.  We don't need to be like Italy to have nice things.

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GlendMcc - Look into Z chains, they will fit most places that car manu's like to say they won't.
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Global recommendation: BUY NOKIANS! Drove through knee deep snow in the middle of the Hyak parking lot today on those tires.

Just having chains that fit low clearances doesn't account for modern AWD requirements; using 4 chains would be necessary to keep from screwing up "smart" AWD systems.  In any case, use of chains would void warranties.

I've hear Nokians are the best, especially with studs.  I don't like studs.  I run Toyo Observes which have ceramic stuff embedded in the rubber and stiping for increased traction and, to me, seemed to offer the best compromise performance among wet, packed snow and ice, and snow.  Yes, I've driven up logging roads with these until the entire undercarriage was dragging (then I turned around).  The best snow tires I had were on the 20-inch wheels on my PU (also Toyos) but the set cost $1500. I've heard the Ice (Michelin?) tire were good too.  But the point is that all-weather tires are not nearly as good as higher end winter tires.

Was there an I-90 when the west was free? I hear you though, cowboy

You all have to beat the ignorant folk.

This weather thing was predicted many days ahead. You all coulda beat the bad drivers, and WSDOT closing the pass by going there ahead of time and just taking a snooze in your car.

Become knowledgeable. Here was when the snow dumpage was predicted even on last Friday:
www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.c...snow3+2014021412///3

Oh...and uh...plan accordingly for Sunday 2/23 at Stevens Pass....