Trap, I travel the I-5 Route every year coming back from Arizona between March 15th and April 15th going back to Washington State. I never carry chains and never been asked if I have chains. I can reassure you that the Interstate route is plowed and kept ice free as much as possible due to the heavy truck freight traffic both ways on I-5! I always stop at the Rolling Hills Casino, Corning, CA. to get a bite to eat and check with the truckers on road conditions! Rolling Hills Casino has a big truck stop there and you can get all the updated info you need there at the fuel store. I've been hung up one time on the Siskiyous and that was 2 years ago (bad storm) I rented a RV space at the Casino overnight and went over the next day. If you don't mind dry camping the Casino allows RV's to stay in the big truck lot for free.