In a message dated 11/12/00 12:56:31 AM Pacific Standard Time,
wdavidson@THEGRID.NET writes:

<< Yes, they close the road for everyone that doesn't have 4WD and Chains.
 This is for a specific level of chain control (I forget the actual name for
 it) which dependent on conditions. It is not a total road closure.
 If the conditions get worse, they may close it for everyone.>>

Bill, I've seen the signs. But also have never seen them used. It's either
2wd w/ chains required or road closed. Perhaps being that you are right smack
in the middle of the winter mess you may have seen them put those things up
during those few occasions. However, in the past 23 years that I've been
driving to Reno and Tahoe during the winter months, I have never seen them
allow 4wd w/ chains on the main highway. When the conditions are that bad,
they usually just close the road completely.

 << Well, it may be extremely rare for you down there in San Francisco, but it
 is not all that rare up here in the Lake Tahoe area. Also, the 4WD & Chains
 designation is not a total road closure and it's not limited to weather
 where snow is not falling... I know from the inside :) >>

You're taking things out of context. I'm NOT referring to the incidence of
snow. We have only had snow 3 times in the 27 years that I've lived in San
Francisco. I was talking about chain control where they allow 4wd w/ chains
w/o closing the road.

My whole point is that it doesn't matter whether you believe that a 2wd van
w/ aggressive tires can plow through the deepest snow. It is not just up to
you. When CalTrans puts up that 4wd only sign or 2wd w/ chains, you'll be on
the side of the road installing chains while Syncro drivers and other 4-wheel
drive vehicles are just splashing by. = (

BenT
San Francisco