Going to Bear Mtn, and I have questions about the roads/chains

[CALL AAA]

I will be taking the S6 up to Bear Mountain on Friday. There's supposed to be a nice storm coming and with snow levels at 3,000 feet, I am expecting some pretty shitty driving. I'm just wondering how bad the roads to Bear ever get. I will have snow tires, but does the CHP ever require chains on ALL vehicles, with no exceptions? Their website says that they usually close the roads before they do that, and I don't want to put chains on unless I absolutely have to. (rear only, as per the master tech at Beverly Hills Audi, and only as a last resort)
I've only been there once, so what are your experiences with those roads? I would guess that they will keep them plowed pretty well, but will they say "Chaiins or no go?"
Thanks,
tony

[StrungOutScott]

You're fine with snow tires. I think it's light pickups and cars are good so long as you've got snow tires.

[3THREE7]

Usually when they say chains are required, CHP only checks to make sure you have them in the car(on AWD/4WD vehicles, all others will be required to have them on). On a very RARE occasion where the roads get seriously bad enough they will require all AWD/4WD vehicles to have them on the tires. You should be fine to not have to put them on unless it snows a ton, or if the a lot of snow melts and freezes over. If snow levels do get that low and snows enough, I suggest leaving at least an extra hour to hour and a half earlier. Drive carefully...

[Brk4Euros]

I bring my truck up there all the time .... 4x4 with 31's and they never have said anything. Truck took it like a champ! I think the S6 will be more than fine. :D

[CALL AAA]

I think the S6 will be more than fine. :D

...and it was. I was impressed. On packed snow, I only had one minor dramatic moment, just to remind me that I was still on snow. I felt a lot more safe then the guys in the Yukon in front of us. I saw a lot of wheelspin and he had a hell of a time slowing down on ice. I just left a lot of space, and let the ABS do its thing.

I saw the checkpoint, but I didn't stop. I thought they would have traffic stopped, but it looked like more of an optional thing, so we kept going.

We did get held up for about an hour on the 38 because of an accident. From what I understand, one car stopped on the side of the road at the bottom of a long icy hill. Another car came down the hill and hit it, knocking it over the edge and down an embankment. When the fire department showed up, another car slid into the fire truck. So we sat there for an hour, with all the paperwork for our command's ski trip. Everyone else was up at the mountain waiting for us, because they took the 30. Good times.

We ended up at Snow Summit. It was ok. The storm ended up not being that big. I spent 1/2 my time teaching my wife to ski, and 1/2 my time sitting alone in the lodge, after a pretty ugly crash. I hit a jump, but landed with my tips pointint up...way up. Let's say the backside of the jump is 45 degrees down. I landed with my tips 45 degrees up, becuase I couldn't get them down to match the slope. So when I landed, the back of my skis hit, at the same time as my back and shoulders hit the back of my skis. I also smacked my elbows, and f'ed both of my thumbs up in my pole straps. The worst part was hitting the back of my head. I was really lucky that I didn't knock myself out.
Damn, I am sore today.

[gti311]

I went on Friday with the A4 Quattro. I didn't stop to put chains on either. I think you were in front of me on the 38 because when I got to the accident, I was only there for 20-25 minutes. I went to Snow Summit also and had a pretty nice session, the best I've had all season and my sister is really sore today as well.

[idrivea2002golf]

it may have been said but this is "supposed" to be what happens. 4x4 or AWD with snow tires are fine. 2WD with snow tires needs to carry chains just in case. 2WD and 4x4 without snow tires needs chains if there is any snow.

[CALL AAA]

Oh, I thought they were going to stop everybody and at least check to see that your car had AWD or 4WD. They didn't even look up at us as we drove by. My executive officer took the 30, and they stopped him. Even though he was in a 4WD, they asked if he had chains. He said yes. They said "Show us." And he got caught. He had to go back down and buy chains, after waiting in a LONG checkpoint line. So without that accident, the 38 would have worked out well.
gti311, did you get stuck behind those 3 school busses? Thankfully, they all pulled over to let me by, before the twisty parts.

[Brk4Euros]

Glad you were atleast able to make it up there Tony! My buddies are rolling up there tomorrow. . . not sure how the weather is supposed to be?!?!

[gti311]

I only saw a tour bus about 5 cars behind me, no school buses. Oh, I had chains in the trunk just in case we got stopped but they're for 225 40 18 and I have 235's on the car plus I'm so low that if I did put chains on they would rub my fender.