Do you Chain up, or pull over and wait?

If that's your company's rule, then that's what you do. I have worked too many jobs where that couldn't be the rule. Its cold, its wet and its nasty.. but its not the end of the world. After you chain a few times, its just something else to be done that is normal

 

Putting on chains can save you time. A really big bunch of time on occasion.
Chain up was required going west into Golden,BC before the current four lane highway. I remember a fellow on the radio saying he don’t chain up, he’d sit there until morning. I put them on, and left them on all the way to Rogers Pass pushing snow with my bumper around Heather.
Highway was closed before Rogers for three hours, they cleared a path and let us up the summit where there is facilities. Sat there another 12 hours. Then with chains still on drove all the way to Revelstoke.
Huge line up of trucks including a buddy of mine proceeded to Golden heading east.
Meanwhile I make my delivery in the Okanagan and reload to California.
Talked to my buddy. He sat in Golden for FOUR days.
So yes chains are a pain, but it saved me four days of lost revenue.

 

Getting over Snoqualmie pass with chains in the winter is just something we do around here. We don’t even entertain the idea of “to chain or not to chain”. I’ve been through some pretty nasty stuff up there, but the only thing that stops the trucks that run I-90 is if the DOT should decide to close the pass due to extreme conditions or too many vehicles being tangled up.

 

Heck I've chained up 3 times in one afternoon before.
Chain, go over the pass,unchain and repeat.
After a few times it becomes easy and will give you confidence climbing and dropping off grades.
15 to 20 min. max.
I've chained up my bobtail to reach my trailer before.
Entertainment transportation depends on the gear being in the next town.

 

Occasionally I have double chained drivers on all 4 corners. Then drive it like u stole it pushn snow with the top of the bumper.. Were talkn loggn kids.

 

You may want to practice chaining one time in a dry parking lot with nice weather and no pressure. That way you know what’s up.

My last company had that same official rule about “we don’t chain”... but then I got stuck on the interstate in Wyoming and I was forced to chain. The same thing happened to me in Oregon. So I chained twice in 2 years because there was no choice, no safety department to helicopter rescue me.. You can’t always sit until it’s safe. It can suddenly dump snow and you didn’t “get to safety” in time.

 

It also helps when it gets bad and you know that they are going to drop the gates and shut the interstate down to be able to find a spot or head to the back side of town for the 1 remaining motel room.

 

I have chained up many times, but only if it’s for a short distance: to get me thru a situation or temporary “getting to the other side” situation. If it’s really bad weather or an active storm situation; I sit it out! Plus, I’m a girlie girl and it’s a pain in the butt whenever I have to pull out the chains! Ugh! But, I live in Washington state so for 4-5 months out of the year; it’s a situation I see often!

 

Yep: if the lights start to flash; you gotta chain up! $600 plus court costs if you pass the flashing lights!