Hello,
If you're leaving LA on a weekday then you'll want to leave early to avoid city traffiic. It's not clear if you're thinking of going to Yosemite as a day trip from San Francisco. It's a long drive with traffic in Bay area so you'd want to spend at least one night close to the park or in the park. Finally, I've seen other postings on this website indicating that you might not be able to use chains on a rental car. You won't need chains in cities, on interstates or along coast.
Jessica
Thanks Jessica,
I guess i'll have to check with the rental company on snow chains. Would i need them going up to GC? I've read that conditions on the roads could be dangerous and also possibility of snow?
Thanks
John
Hi John.
You always face the possibility of hitting poor weather/snow but there is just no way of knowing what the conditions will be at the time you travel. You have already got climate data that gives you an idea of the 'normal' but by no means reflects the reality of being there, weather can hit hard and fast and go again just as quick !
Heading to the GC south rim [north rim will be closed] you should not really have the need for chains. The Interstates, main highways and park roads are all kept as clear as possible and cleared as quickly as possible. I think I am right in saying that in AZ that if things got bad enough to require chains, they would close the road until conditions improved anyway. Having said that, if conditions were getting bad enough where chains were looking to be a real possibility you should simply pull off the road in a safe place [services etc] and let the weather pass and the road crews do there job. Chains could possibly help you out of a tough situation, but prevention is far better than the cure.
You would have to check with your rental company as to whether they permit the use of snowchains or not, and whether you think it's worth investing in a set when you have the weather info etc. If you plan to drive to Yosemite there is a higher chance of needing them and it is a chain control area where if they are required, you gotta have them and the law is enforced.
As mentioned above, Yosemite is a long drive and too much for a day trip [which I missed earlier in thread] and if you were to go there I would head straight there from Monterey for a night and then back to SF for your final nights.
I'm afraid it's something that is going to remain unpredictable right up until the time you are on the road, afterall weather forcasting is the only job where you can be wrong 90% of the time and still keep your job !!
Hi Dave, thanks for the info!
"- - haha that and stock brokers!Quote:
afterall weather forcasting is the only job where you can be wrong 90% of the time and still keep your job !!"
Hi again,
Yes the only place you night need chains is Yosemite (or other high mountain areas). As Dave said weather can change quickly at high elevations and I recall chains being required to enter Yosemite one day in May a few years ago. In CA the major roads (interstates and highways) generally close rather than require chains.
You're going to have a great trip.
Jessica