<p>D’s SO is working some jobs with a friend up at Lake Arrowhead this week, and D is supposed to join him tomorrow for a couple of days (he’s been there since Sunday) so she can spend New Year’s Eve with him. She is currently babysitting in the hills (LA) and has poor phone/internet reception from her iPhone, so we’ve been texting. He is telling her to get chains before she leaves tomorrow, and in fact, when H and I did a quick search and found a CA transportation website, it does look like they’re not allowing cars up toward Lake Arrowhead unless they have chains. We’re just not familiar with this stuff. Can anyone help explain all this to us, so we can then text her and tell her what’s going on? Is it possible chains are required tonight, but might not be tomorrow? She drives a Honda CR-V, but it is not 4-wheel drive. </p>
<p>If she does go out and buy them, how will she get them on? Does she have to pull off at a certain location and put them on? How difficult is this? We’ve never had to use snow chains before.</p>
<p>OK… upon further research, H has found a website that says the CR-V is a front-wheel drive car, but if the front wheels start to slip, it automatically engages the rear wheels to become four-wheel drive. Will this be sufficient to let her drive up there? Again, we’re not at all familiar with the area, and neither is she.</p>
<p>SR 18
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW
TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 4.4 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 189 TO THE
SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST (SAN BERNARDINO CO) </p>
<p>The golden rule (living in Southern California) was always, chains required for non-4WD vehicles. Even with 4WD, it can be hard to drive those icy, windy mountain roads (I know, I had a Jeep Wrangler).</p>
<p>LOL… we just found that information, too, which means she still can’t drive up there unless she has chains.</p>
<p>Now we’ve found a weather forecast that says 3-5" of snow tonight and no precipitation tomorrow. So could it happen that they plow the roads well enough by mid-afternoon tomorrow that they could lift the restrictions?</p>
<p>Yes! Get chains. We drove from Seattle to LA in December 2008, and there were chain checkpoints in the mountains. We were glad we had chains even though we drove a 4WD Lexus van.</p>
<p>BTW, there were always a couple of dudes offering their help with chain install for $20 per set. </p>
<p>“Does she have to pull off at a certain location and put them on?” </p>
<p>Yes, that is generally what happens. Oh, I wish my H were home to help with this. He always deals with this stuff. Also, he has snow chains and we would be happy to give them to your daughter. But, I have NO IDEA where they are. </p>
<p>Chances of her ever having to drive up there in winter again are next to slim - this is a one-deal gig for her SO. So she’s not thrilled with having to buy chains, and doesn’t even know if she could get them on herself. To complicate matters, she will have two dogs in the car with her!</p>
<p>She’s NOT happy about possibly spending NYE alone, without SO. The good thing is, I know if she even attempted to drive up there, he’d kill her, so I know she won’t try. </p>
<p>I’m sorry to seem so dense, but again, this is all so unfamiliar to us (and her, who grew up in the Midwest where he have no hills!). So, say she’s driving along on her way up SR18… there will be a checkpoint? or place to pull over and put the chains on? How soon can you put the chains on before hitting the chain-required area? What if she found someone in LA to help her put chains on… can she drive all the way from LA up to Lake Arrowhead with the chains on? Our biggest fear is that she doesn’t get them on right and causes damage to the car.</p>
<p>No, she can’t drive from LA to Lake Arrowhead with the chains on. There is a VERY good chance that someone at the checkpoint will be able to assist her. </p>
<p>This is SOOOO helpful! This is just bad timing with her babysitting tonight and not being able to access information so readily. I am copying and pasting all your responses and texting them to her, along with the website links.</p>
<p>teriwtt - I think your daughter will be just fine, as long as she acquires the snow chains. There are lots of nice people in Southern California (like my H!) who will help out. If this doesn’t turn out to be the case, we will personally drive there and help her out! As far as plowing, I wouldn’t count on that. It looks like snow might continue to fall until 6 AM. Who knows what conditions will be when she arrives. </p>
<p>@socalmom23 - thank you so much! As I shared, I know her SO won’t let her attempt anything that isn’t safe. That being said, it just occurred to H and me that she has never really driven in the mountains… big hills and canyons around LA, yes, but not the kind she’s heading up into. I don’t know if she is comprehending the magnitude of it yet. Since SO is already there, so obviously has already made the drive, I think that’s why he’s being so hard-nosed about it right now. </p>
<p>We have now found the link to the CR-V’s owner’s manual online and it is very specific what kinds of chains she will need. I’m sure wherever she goes to buy them, they will ask what kind of car she drives so that she gets the right kind. I have a feeling that tomorrow, I’m going to be more nervous than I’ve ever been about her getting somewhere. I just hope she manages to get away before 2PM so that it will still be daylight by the time she reaches the mountains. </p>
<p>Teri, she will be fine! Make sure to tell her to fill up the gas tank before the trip and pack a couple of blankets and a few bottles of water/some power bars. The dogs will keep her warm if she has to wait. Safe travels to her! </p>
<p>I promise you, I drove those roads when I was 16, with no problems. She’ll have the chains on, which means she will not be able to go fast. Don’t worry! Most people drive WAY too slowly up there. And, it’s so beautiful (-: She will have a fantastic time and send you lots of gorgeous pics. </p>
<p>@teriwtt - It just occurred to me…is there a possibility that her SO can meet her at the checkpoint to ensure that all goes well and then lead her up to Lake Arrowhead? </p>
<p>On Highway 80 going to Tahoe there are always chain jockeys at the checkpoints that will put the chains on for you…A few years ago it used to be about 20.00 per car. I assume that would be the same in SoCal.</p>
) or a dude who wants to get $20 to help with chains. </p>