TRAFFIC ALERT: I-80 westbound closed over Donner Pass

Some years ago I was trying to get to a trailhead north of I80 in mid May. After successfully passing through several late season snow drifts, I tried one that was too deep for my RAV4, and ended up spinning 3 tires. Fortunately a taller pickup came along and pulled me on through. But then I had to work my way back out. While embarrassing, it was also a good learning experience.

jmtandem wrote:

Yep and the fact that 80 closes in storms on a regular basis because people think they can drive 65 because they have all wheel drive. They don't have all wheel STOP when the roads are snow covered.
But what do we know jmtandem, we just live here in the area.

Yup, a lot of folks don't understand that a four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle does not stop any better than a two wheel drive vehicle. Some learn that in the snowbank on the side of the road waiting for a tow.

Actually it allows them to go deeper into the snow banks.....:B We see the same here. Our main driver is a Subaru Tribeca with Bridgstone Blizzaks on all four wheels (separate summer tires and wheels)in the winter. I have to exercise control over the right foot to restrain itself as the Tribeca is really surefooted in the snow.

Oh my, the arguments gave me a headache...the Donner Pass was closed...period!

Yep and the fact that 80 closes in storms on a regular basis because people think they can drive 65 because they have all wheel drive. They don't have all wheel STOP when the roads are snow covered.
But what do we know jmtandem, we just live here in the area.

Yup, a lot of folks don't understand that a four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle does not stop any better than a two wheel drive vehicle. Some learn that in the snowbank on the side of the road waiting for a tow.

jmtandem wrote:

The CHP did share the conditions. The OP just happened to get the info from a Nevada source. You can bet when I-80 closes at Donner Summit(especially on a Friday!) that thousands of people in Reno are paying attention. Lots of Reno bound money gets stuck on the wrong side of that closure.

This thread is going to a strange conclusion. The westbound lanes were closed not the eastbound lanes. Those coming from California to Nevada were on the eastbound lanes. But, now both directions are open and free flowing so the whole thing is sort of moot.

Yep and the fact that 80 closes in storms on a regular basis because people think they can drive 65 because they have all wheel drive. They don't have all wheel STOP when the roads are snow covered.
But what do we know jmtandem, we just live here in the area. :)

If they only closed westbound than that means the other could close at any time. Either way it's news in Reno more so than it is in California.

The CHP did share the conditions. The OP just happened to get the info from a Nevada source. You can bet when I-80 closes at Donner Summit(especially on a Friday!) that thousands of people in Reno are paying attention. Lots of Reno bound money gets stuck on the wrong side of that closure.

This thread is going to a strange conclusion. The westbound lanes were closed not the eastbound lanes. Those coming from California to Nevada were on the eastbound lanes. But, now both directions are open and free flowing so the whole thing is sort of moot.

The CHP did share the conditions. The OP just happened to get the info from a Nevada source. You can bet when I-80 closes at Donner Summit(especially on a Friday!) that thousands of people in Reno are paying attention. Lots of Reno bound money gets stuck on the wrong side of that closure.

Don't I wish that Eastern CA was annexed by Nevada!! All our sales tax dollars go there anyway.

You are not alone. Lots of folks from Susanville to Bishop often feel more linked to Nevada than California.

I guess my original comment was that since this road is in California and not Nevada and the chain restrictions don't begin until 25 miles into California and there is no snow in Reno that the CHP might be the ones to share the information to the media on the road conditions. It has nothing to do with where cars get serviced or folks cross the line to eat, etc. The official information I would think would come from the state the road is in, not a neighboring state that is not seeing snow on their portion of IR 80. But, what do I know anyway?

The best information I have found is on the Caltrans website 'California highway conditions' and then click on the road you are interested in and/or you can look at live cams on Donner summit also through this website. It is much more timely than a radio station announcement. I travel IR 80 to Truckee and sometimes Sacramento once a week and their website is the place to get information.

jmtandem wrote:

But the news link is for a Reno station. The pass is only 30 miles from the border. Whether they are on scene or not, the Nevada State Patrol should be well aware of what is happening over the pass.


http://www.nvroads.com/icx/pages/incidentlist.aspx wrote:

There is a conditions related event (Chains Required, All Vehicles Except 4-Wheel Drive with Snow Tires) on I-80 from mile post 53.4 in Placer County to mile post 14.2 in Nevada County in Nevada.

For a second there I thought Nevada annexed some of eastern California. Still reads like that as Nevada County is not in Nevada but in California, or at least it was before the annexation. And the California Highway Patrol cannot speak to their summit conditions on their interstate route over Donner...........??????

Don't I wish that Eastern CA was annexed by Nevada!! All our sales tax dollars go there anyway.