Mt Rainier Update
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Speaking of chains, here's a reminder...
Mount Rainier National Park Tire Chain Requirement:
All vehicles are required to carry tire chains when traveling in the park during the winter season (November 1 - May 1). This requirement applies to all vehicles (including four-wheel-drive), regardless of tire type or weather conditions.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/tire-chain-faq.htm
BTW, they mean it. They will turn you back if you do not have chains. It doesn't matter if it's 70 and sunny without a cloud in the sky and you're driving a jeep with studded snow tires on it. Carry chains or get turned back at the entrance.
One of them is Mt Rainier National Park. Click on the link above for the detailed explanation.
When you come to the entry gate, where you pay the entry fee or show your pass, they ask if you are carrying chains. If the answer is "No", you don't get admitted. That is even true on days when the road is bare and dry.
Anyone who's seen what the weather on Rainier can do will understand why. Blizzard conditions or even worse, freezing rain, can quickly turn "the Road to Paradise" into "the Bobsled run from Hell"
i.e. You may not have to chain up, but you are required to carry chains. Should conditions deteriorate, you've got them. There is only road to and from Paradise. It's a windy and narrow two lane road that's steep in many places and has lots of hairpin curves.
Make sure you call the Bend office since Les Schwab moved
Last March we saw a guy with a 4wd truck and snow tires get turned around. He was yelling at the girl at the road block and in about 15 seconds the law enforcement ranger showed up. I'd carry chains in winter. In April or May you can just lie to them and tell them they're in the trunk, they don't actually check in good weather.
and it comes down to who defines what "NEED" means and what authority the person has with whom you are speaking and I suspect the park ranger will feel they out rank Les. Sure you can tell the ranger to call someone but I suspect that would fall on deaf ears.
Everybody be safe out there. There can be conditions where they require chains even with studs. I used to carry them even when I had studs on my Subaru. I have slid with studs and have put chains on over studs in a situation a few years ago.
Edit:
Here is additional info about chains in Oregon.
http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=ChainLaws
One important quote.
"However, in very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used (this is known as a conditional road closure)."
Snuffy, I wouldn't get offended by anything said here. My comment about Les Schwab was made in jest, hence the . It's tough to convey your intent behind a sentence online without the usual cues people pick up on when talking in person. Best to just assume things aren't intended to be offensive online as typically they aren't.
Forums, emails etc. can be a minefield sometimes.
There's no reason to take offense. People disagree on occasions. People also say things in jest that can be taken wrong. That's the way forums work. The best thing you can do is to shrug it off and move on to another discussion. Even friends don't always agree, but they can agree to disagree and move on. Intentional or accidental, don't let a bad comment annoy you.
I'm pretty certain you won't get an exception. Consider it this way, there's almost no benefit to the ranger to let you in without chains (it makes you happy, but does he/she really care?), and there's significant risk, up to losing his job for not following regulations or getting blamed if there is an accident.
Because of that, a low level employee is very unlikely to make an exception. Front line employees are supposed to follow the rules, not make decisions on their own. That's one reason they make the rules the way they are. By saying "All vehicles must have chains between these dates" it eliminates any judgement calls, (Is the weather good enough, are those the right tires, does this vehicle qualify?) and actually makes it easy for everyone.
A similar situation: I shoot a lot of festivals during the summer, and they often have beer gardens. I've noticed that I get carded when entering. Now it's more likely I'll be mistaken for Santa than I would for a 20 year old kid, but they still ask me to show ID and then give me a wrist band. When I asked a promoter "Why are they carding somebody who's over 50?" the reply was "The rule is "Card EVERYONE, period". It removes any judgement calls, and avoids the "How come you carded me but not him?" issue. Simple is also easy..." If the Liquor Board shows up and asks, we can honestly say "Everyone has proper ID".
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Speaking of chains, here's a reminder...
Mount Rainier National Park Tire Chain Requirement:
All vehicles are required to carry tire chains when traveling in the park during the winter season (November 1 - May 1). This requirement applies to all vehicles (including four-wheel-drive), regardless of tire type or weather conditions.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/tire-chain-faq.htm
BTW, they mean it. They will turn you back if you do not have chains. It doesn't matter if it's 70 and sunny without a cloud in the sky and you're driving a jeep with studded snow tires on it. Carry chains or get turned back at the entrance.
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Snuffy2
Member
I am sure there are special places that chains are 100% required, but on both cars we have studless snow tires on, Les Schwab Tires here in John Day told me, if you have studless snow tires mounted and you EVER get requested to put chains on anyway, tell them at the road block to call Les Schwab main office in Prineville and Les Schwab would explain to them again that you DONT need chains on studless snow tires, Frankly I am waiting for that day, its a matter of when.
One of them is Mt Rainier National Park. Click on the link above for the detailed explanation.
When you come to the entry gate, where you pay the entry fee or show your pass, they ask if you are carrying chains. If the answer is "No", you don't get admitted. That is even true on days when the road is bare and dry.
Anyone who's seen what the weather on Rainier can do will understand why. Blizzard conditions or even worse, freezing rain, can quickly turn "the Road to Paradise" into "the Bobsled run from Hell"
i.e. You may not have to chain up, but you are required to carry chains. Should conditions deteriorate, you've got them. There is only road to and from Paradise. It's a windy and narrow two lane road that's steep in many places and has lots of hairpin curves.
Last edited:
Make sure you call the Bend office since Les Schwab moved
Last March we saw a guy with a 4wd truck and snow tires get turned around. He was yelling at the girl at the road block and in about 15 seconds the law enforcement ranger showed up. I'd carry chains in winter. In April or May you can just lie to them and tell them they're in the trunk, they don't actually check in good weather.
ejones
Member
Lester can say what he want's
and it comes down to who defines what "NEED" means and what authority the person has with whom you are speaking and I suspect the park ranger will feel they out rank Les. Sure you can tell the ranger to call someone but I suspect that would fall on deaf ears.
Snuffy2
Member
ejones, I dont see a Lester on here, who is it? and no I am not sure everybody can say everything on here, about a year ago, I got the lecture from another member on here about something I said, I did NOT think it was an issue, Back then if I could have found a link to shut my account off or just not ever show up here. Maybe I will send a private message to Bob, if he is willing to hear me out. It works both ways too, If I had decided to contact Les Schwab Tires, I am SURE I am capable of figuring out the office had moved...
Everybody be safe out there. There can be conditions where they require chains even with studs. I used to carry them even when I had studs on my Subaru. I have slid with studs and have put chains on over studs in a situation a few years ago.
Edit:
Here is additional info about chains in Oregon.
http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=ChainLaws
One important quote.
"However, in very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used (this is known as a conditional road closure)."
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Snuffy2
Member
Long time ago my father was coming up Mt Hood from Portland, road block told him to put chains on if he wanted to go through, he did, went 1/4 mile around a corner, stopped, took the chains off, threw them into the trunk, drove home, and no he didn't wreck, he died of old age 3 1/2 years ago...
Snuffy, I wouldn't get offended by anything said here. My comment about Les Schwab was made in jest, hence the
. It's tough to convey your intent behind a sentence online without the usual cues people pick up on when talking in person. Best to just assume things aren't intended to be offensive online as typically they aren't.
Snuffy, I wouldn't get offended by anything said here. My comment about Les Schwab was made in jest, hence the
Forums, emails etc. can be a minefield sometimes.
There's no reason to take offense. People disagree on occasions. People also say things in jest that can be taken wrong. That's the way forums work. The best thing you can do is to shrug it off and move on to another discussion. Even friends don't always agree, but they can agree to disagree and move on. Intentional or accidental, don't let a bad comment annoy you.
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Lester can say what he want's
I'm pretty certain you won't get an exception. Consider it this way, there's almost no benefit to the ranger to let you in without chains (it makes you happy, but does he/she really care?), and there's significant risk, up to losing his job for not following regulations or getting blamed if there is an accident.
Because of that, a low level employee is very unlikely to make an exception. Front line employees are supposed to follow the rules, not make decisions on their own. That's one reason they make the rules the way they are. By saying "All vehicles must have chains between these dates" it eliminates any judgement calls, (Is the weather good enough, are those the right tires, does this vehicle qualify?) and actually makes it easy for everyone.
A similar situation: I shoot a lot of festivals during the summer, and they often have beer gardens. I've noticed that I get carded when entering. Now it's more likely I'll be mistaken for Santa than I would for a 20 year old kid, but they still ask me to show ID and then give me a wrist band. When I asked a promoter "Why are they carding somebody who's over 50?" the reply was "The rule is "Card EVERYONE, period". It removes any judgement calls, and avoids the "How come you carded me but not him?" issue. Simple is also easy..." If the Liquor Board shows up and asks, we can honestly say "Everyone has proper ID".
ejones
Member
Lester is what I used for "Les Schwab" and thought it would be clear from the context of the postings, but maybe not.
I certainly wasn't arguing with anyone and didn't mean to offend and don't think you've offended anyone either. I was simply added a couple of thoughts to the situation in what I thought was a bit of a light hearted way.
I certainly wasn't arguing with anyone and didn't mean to offend and don't think you've offended anyone either. I was simply added a couple of thoughts to the situation in what I thought was a bit of a light hearted way.
Snuffy2
Member
Chains
Well, I have to admit dont remember what it was but something set me off, not in here, but I tend to throw my frustrations where I might be, so I do opologize to everyone, but for my own record I am still going to find out what they say about those tires. Anyway, I hope all you fellow members have a great weekend,
Well, I have to admit dont remember what it was but something set me off, not in here, but I tend to throw my frustrations where I might be, so I do opologize to everyone, but for my own record I am still going to find out what they say about those tires. Anyway, I hope all you fellow members have a great weekend,