Kirkwood I88 question - Snowboarding Forum

TheCity · 03-19-2012, 01:15 AM

anyone know if chains are ALWAYS required on CA-88(sorry wrong title) going to Kirkwood from SF. I can't really remember, but I believe I saw a sign saying chains are required no matter what 20 miles before seeing the Kirkwood Resort. Can anyone let me know? Thinking of going up Tuesday, seems clear/cloudy with no snow. Thank you in advance

PS, u think it'll be busy that day?

lonerider · 03-19-2012, 07:16 PM

Yes, officially you are always required to carry chains although they only check when chain control is in effect. If you don't have them at the checkpoint, you will be turned around and, unlike 50/80, there are few places to buy chains late at night on CA-88.

I would highly recommend it as this recent storm was crazy. On the drive up Friday to Kirkwood, I saw at least six cars (including a Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover, and two WRX's) sliding out of control and into the snow banks due to icy/frozen slush on the road (my Subaru nearly drifted sideways into the side of the road as I slow to check if everyone was alright). On Sunday, I left early (out of the resort at 4PM) at was only held up for about 40 mins just past Carson Spur due to another Subaru sliding into a snow bank and got around it (my friends were behind me and said Caltrains closed the road for 2 hours to put sand on it). After that there were two other crashes on 88 before I made it out.

It was crazy this weekend! (great powder... but inbound avalanche injuring two people at Kirkwood).

KIRKRIDER · 03-19-2012, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonerider

Yes, officially you are always required to carry chains although they only check when chain control is in effect (if you don't have them at the check though you will be turned around and unlike 50/80... there are few places to buy chains late at night on CA-88.

I would highly recommend it as this weekend storm was crazy. On the drive up Friday to Kirkwood, I saw at least six cars (including a Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover, and two WRX's) sliding out of control and into the snow banks due to icy/frozen roads. On Sunday, I left early at was only held up for about 40 mins due to another Subaru sliding into a snow bank and got around it (my friend were behind me and said they closed the road for 2 hours to sand it). After that there were two other crashes on 88 before I made it out.

It was crazy this weekend! (great powder... but inbound avalanche injuring two people at Kirkwood).

Sunday was insane on 88...I heard of multiple accidents and a a slide. Sat was ok but snow was down to 2000 feet. Always bring chains if it snowed even 3 days before, or better be in an AWD car.

icydog · 03-19-2012, 09:13 PM

It took my friends and I eight hours to get from SJ to South Lake Tahoe on Friday night via the 50. At one point, we were completely stopped for two hours in the mountains. Last night (Sunday) it also took us 8 hours to get home.

tnt3k · 03-19-2012, 09:29 PM

roads are clear now on 88 and no chain control in effect as reported by the DOT. There's no snow in the forecast until friday so I'm hoping to sneak in on thursday to do a one day riding session.

03-19-2012, 01:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
TheCity Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SF, CA Posts: 103	Kirkwood I88 question anyone know if chains are ALWAYS required on CA-88(sorry wrong title) going to Kirkwood from SF. I can't really remember, but I believe I saw a sign saying chains are required no matter what 20 miles before seeing the Kirkwood Resort. Can anyone let me know? Thinking of going up Tuesday, seems clear/cloudy with no snow. Thank you in advance PS, u think it'll be busy that day? Last edited by TheCity; 03-19-2012 at 01:17 AM.

03-19-2012, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
lonerider Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 947	Yes, officially you are always required to carry chains although they only check when chain control is in effect. If you don't have them at the checkpoint, you will be turned around and, unlike 50/80, there are few places to buy chains late at night on CA-88. I would highly recommend it as this recent storm was crazy. On the drive up Friday to Kirkwood, I saw at least six cars (including a Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover, and two WRX's) sliding out of control and into the snow banks due to icy/frozen slush on the road (my Subaru nearly drifted sideways into the side of the road as I slow to check if everyone was alright). On Sunday, I left early (out of the resort at 4PM) at was only held up for about 40 mins just past Carson Spur due to another Subaru sliding into a snow bank and got around it (my friends were behind me and said Caltrains closed the road for 2 hours to put sand on it). After that there were two other crashes on 88 before I made it out. It was crazy this weekend! (great powder... but inbound avalanche injuring two people at Kirkwood). Last edited by lonerider; 03-19-2012 at 08:04 PM.

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03-19-2012, 09:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
icydog Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 29	It took my friends and I eight hours to get from SJ to South Lake Tahoe on Friday night via the 50. At one point, we were completely stopped for two hours in the mountains. Last night (Sunday) it also took us 8 hours to get home.

03-19-2012, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
tnt3k Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 41	roads are clear now on 88 and no chain control in effect as reported by the DOT. There's no snow in the forecast until friday so I'm hoping to sneak in on thursday to do a one day riding session.