CHAINING...are you ready?

No sir. Those days are gone. I don't run the interstates, chain-up or drive log trucks. I've been reduced to a lazy fat teamster in a p/u telling drivers what to do. Somebody has to do it.

 

It's closed after Labor Day for the season. So's Trail Ridge.

 

Supposed to be 87 on Tuesday, so they'll both stay open a little longer. Although, they did have snowfall as low as 12,000 above Aspen and Crested Butte

 

Banned or retired......

 

Well, the electronic sign boards have changed. Now warning chains must be carried from MM 255 to MM 133 Sept. 1st till May 31st.

 

So if it's not snowing, I don't have to carry chains, right?

 

You just wanna use 'em on the waitress...

 

Along with the whips and spurs!

 

I just ran through a "how to chain" session with my trainee, using both the doubles versus the singles on the drives, and running through the drape over the top versus the back into the chains method. We were doing it on a bobtail in the middle of a hot parking lot, and I noted that in a real chaining situation you have about a 3" gap between the top of the tires to the bottom of the trailer and you will have muddy, icy water dripping on you. We covered the need to rehang the chains in an organized fashion, so it is easy to lay them out in a cold, wet environment. We also noted that having a step by step procedure will save time and make sure you get the chains on correctly, tight, and ready to roll.Interestingly another driver with close to three years experience came over and asked to stand in to learn. In his three winters he had yet to chain up and wanted to make sure he understood the process. I really respect that and wish all the best this coming winter. It should be another hard one.