No no no.
You're supposed to head up into the Sierras in the dead of winter
wearingnothing but blue jeans, sneakers,
and a light jacket, ( because you never go outdoors anyway )
- on your summer tires ..
with chains buried in the trunk somewhere that you have never tried out,
or even looked at, or even know if they fit your tires , and with no
idea if your car is AWD, FWD, or RWDor has ABS or what.
  Transmission mode select button ? ...what's that ?
No wonder Caltrans just tries to keep people from even getting into the
Sierras sometimes.

On 1/10/2013 2:45 PM, Al Knoll wrote:
> Chaains required, whips optional it says on the shirt from Mammoth Mountain
> Ski Area.   Best way to learn about your capabilities with chains is to put
> em on in your driveway on a sunny day and no snow.  Same with changing a
> tire or a fan belt.  Gitchaself some and put em on.  Then the vagaries of
> what hooks to where and how to put the tensioners on (you do have chain
> tensioners, right) will no longer be shrouded in mystery.  Take pix if
> necessary and have your alternate driver watch.  There are some handy boxes
> with drive-over ramps that make the job a bit easier, at your local vanagon
> supply store,  Keep the chains in em along with the insulated waterproof
> gloves (you DO have gloves, right?)   You'll need an old bathtowel with
> which to clean up all the detritus you will accumulate putting the chains
> on in reality rather than the pleasant confines of your driveway.
>
> After puttin on the chains in your driveway and attaching the tensioners,
> put the two spare tensioners (you DO...)back in the box and drive a short
> distance no faster than 20MPH and re-tension the chains.   Make sure that
> chain tool/pliers (you DO have...)and the spare crosslinks are also in the
> box best in a zipLok on the bottom of the box.  When you need em the chains
> will already be on the van.
>
> Now take em off in the driveway (the chains of course).  Put em nicely
> folde back in the box with the chain pliers and links.   and that roll of
> stainless safety wire...(you DO have...)
>
> In olden days Weed V-Bar chains were a nice touch, better than ordinary
> crosslink chains.  Lots of choices today.  If you have larger tires with
> limited clearance get two sets of cable chains.  You'll need em.  And of
> course a set of coveralls and something to lie in the mud on (YOU DO ...)
> you will need em.  Plain old cardboard that you can fold up under the rear
> cushion works pretty well.  Half a bicycle box is just right.   And don't
> forget a that wheel chock (you DO have a...)
>
> Fortune favors the well prepared and practiced.   Prepare the hot
> coffee/tea before you venture out.  In addition to the Tow Strap and the
> snow shovel you'll need a flashlight and a red reflector, heck one of them
> there bug-ugly green reflective safety vests wouldn't be a bad idea.  A
> "watch cap" or such will hell keep your noggin in good shape and a pair of
> safety glasses (wrap around) or ski goggles is often handy.  After all it
> will be nasty out so don't leave it out.
>
> Pensionerd
>
> Qualified Winter Driver ... 1/4T, 3/4T, 2-1/2T ,5 T, M113, M88, M98, M116,
> Thiokol Sprite, 155mm SP, 175mm SP, M60-A1.  Courtesy of your tax money and
> the Arctic Test Center, Ft. Greely AK.
>
> PS: The reason you see so many 4x4 or AWDs in the snowbank or ditch is
> because the vehicles owners forget that when it comes to stopping, AWD and
> 4WD aren't nearly the advantage they are when "going".   Chains work in
> both traction Avant and traction Retard AWD and 4WD simply don't   Computer
> moderated braking helps a lot but has it's own drawbacks on ice.
>
> Roll Tide eh Unca Joel?
>