OFFICIAL I70 BITCH THREAD....

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Originally Posted by smmokan

What about the times you get stopped in the canyon (pick one) for hours at a time with nowhere to go? Because that happens A LOT too.

But yeah, obviously the skiing and access is way better in SLC.

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Avoiding the red snake is easy. When I have ventured into it, the longest its taken me to get down the canyon is about 90 minutes - then another 20 to the house. But that is during some apocalypse type storming.
If there is a morning road closure for control work I'll sit in line at the mouth for an hour with a coffee, but when it opens its fine. If you're off the back on a weekend or post high pressure powder day and trying to get into the canyon after 8:15 you might get caught in the shit on Wasatch. That def sucks. I've turned around twice in the last 5 years.
Mornings have gotten a little earlier over the years, but its always worth it.
But enough about Utah...the air sucks, its impossible to get beer or weed, Mormons are always knocking on the door and Alta is full of traverses....I'll get back to my Colorado ExPat schadenfreude lurking.

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Originally Posted by hatchgreenchile

Powder day with the boys @ Vail; #blessed #anotherdayintheoffice #mylifeisyourvacation

I've pretty much resigned to the fact that unless you want lift served deep powder only at Eldora or WP, go up the night before. Get a hotel. Stay with a friend. Sleep in a camper. Anything but waking up at dark thirty, going toe to toe with 2000 bald tires / 2WD shitboxes and stressing yourself out! When you're not in the shitshow, the drive is a non issue.

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I always drive 70 on Fridays before the rush but need to do Saturday this weekend. Realistically how early do I need to leave Boulder to make it to Empire without too much issue? 5:15?

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Originally Posted by joetron

But enough about Utah...the air sucks, its impossible to get beer or weed, Mormons are always knocking on the door and Alta is full of traverses....I'll get back to my Colorado ExPat schadenfreude lurking.

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Uhhh, yeah this is awkward. I'll take Colorado and our I70 cluster fuck 100% of the time over Utah. Are we even having this discussion? This may warrant a new thread for the sake of heated keyboard pounding and internet fighting (a hobby of mine).

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Originally Posted by ski-wpk

I always drive 70 on Fridays before the rush but need to do Saturday this weekend. Realistically how early do I need to leave Boulder to make it to Empire without too much issue? 5:15?

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If you aren't at Morrison/golden by 5:55 am you're gonna have a bad day.

Today 70 WB was pro driving for sure. Tough visibility at times and snow packed lanes.

Folks always question me leaving so early. Works for me. Rockstar parking, breakfast and a leisurely gear up without worrying about some fucktard crossing lanes and ruining my week.

My granddaddy was almost taken out on Loveland Pass when I was a babe and my dad used to do 2 lane Vail Pass for a weekend. There are better ways to "do it" for sure but I do get it done.

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Originally Posted by bobsdesk

Uhhh, yeah this is awkward. I'll take Colorado and our I70 cluster fuck 100% of the time over Utah. Are we even having this discussion? This may warrant a new thread for the sake of heated keyboard pounding and internet fighting (a hobby of mine).

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No new thread necessary big guy, this topic has been pummeled.
Different strokes and all that.

At the tunnel before 7am is my rule. Avoid the hazmat closure.

I'm new to CO. If CDOT enforces a passenger vehicle chain law (code 16), does that mean you have to have chains on your tires or just in your vehicle? (Yes, we have snow tires and AWD.)

In WA, they sometimes require chains but 4WD/AWD just need them in the car not on the tires. Just curious what code 16 means in CO, and the wording I've seen on the CDOT website seems a little vague.

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Originally Posted by auvgeek

I'm new to CO. If CDOT enforces a passenger vehicle chain law (code 16), does that mean you have to have chains on your tires or just in your vehicle?

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Um, that doesn't happen hence this thread.

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Originally Posted by skipowpow

If you aren't at Morrison/golden by 5:55 am you're gonna have a bad day.

Today 70 WB was pro driving for sure. Tough visibility at times and snow packed lanes.

Folks always question me leaving so early. Works for me. Rockstar parking, breakfast and a leisurely gear up without worrying about some fucktard crossing lanes and ruining my week.

My granddaddy was almost taken out on Loveland Pass when I was a babe and my dad used to do 2 lane Vail Pass for a weekend. There are better ways to "do it" for sure but I do get it done.

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Done. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by concretejungle

Um, that doesn't happen hence this thread.

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You're saying CDOT never issues a code 16? So basically, if you have snow tires, the road is either open or closed, and there's no need to ever carry chains? Not just wondering about I70; we plan to drive from Denver to Wolf Creek this weekend.

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Originally Posted by auvgeek

You're saying CDOT never issues a code 16? So basically, if you have snow tires, the road is either open or closed, and there's no need to ever carry chains? Not just wondering about I70; we plan to drive from Denver to Wolf Creek this weekend.

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Raise your hand if you carry chains in CO.

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Originally Posted by bobsdesk

Uhhh, yeah this is awkward. I'll take Colorado and our I70 cluster fuck 100% of the time over Utah. Are we even having this discussion? This may warrant a new thread for the sake of heated keyboard pounding and internet fighting (a hobby of mine).

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Yes, needs a new thread because it's never been discussed before and we all have so much to share!

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Originally Posted by concretejungle

Raise your hand if you carry chains in CO.

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What are chains?

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Originally Posted by concretejungle

Raise your hand if you carry chains in CO.

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Here. In the Cherokee since the tires are almost to the wear bars. And our driveway is steep.

And in the camper truck but never needed to use them. And on all 4 on the plow truck.

The outback has new studded snows. And the wrangler has mud all terrains and locking diffs.

We get where we want to go when we want to.

Only time I've needed chains was going up a steep dirt access road after lots of early season snowfall (a road they don't plow and eventually close for winter).

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Originally Posted by auvgeek

You're saying CDOT never issues a code 16? So basically, if you have snow tires, the road is either open or closed, and there's no need to ever carry chains? Not just wondering about I70; we plan to drive from Denver to Wolf Creek this weekend.

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I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen Code 16 issued in CO. Actually, I think the only time I saw it was on Red Mtn Pass.

99.9% of the time, it's Code 15 or closed.

what about a code 420?

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Originally Posted by fastfred

what about a code 420?

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My guess is that is part of the problem with some of the beaters and their I70 beatering.

Code 16 never gets issued because people fucking spin out and crash before the road ever gets to the point where chains would be needed.

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Originally Posted by smmokan

What about the times you get stopped in the canyon (pick one) for hours at a time with nowhere to go? Because that happens A LOT too.

But yeah, obviously the skiing and access is way better in SLC.

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Agree, the access is, but when comparing the two cities and/or metro areas, there's no comparison. SLC is like Hartford next to mountains.

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Originally Posted by The SnowShow

metro areas, there's no comparison. SLC is like Hartford next to mountains.

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You're right, Denver metro sprawl pwns Salt Lake metro sprawl. Commerce City refineries > Woods Cross refineries.

Ok, I swear I'm done this time.

Breaking news - both are great places to live.

^^^ unfortunately the word got out.
Maybe a long frigid winter will send some packing.

Meanwhile, I70 still sucks and I wish ABasin was on the east of the divide.

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen Code 16 issued in CO. Actually, I think the only time I saw it was on Red Mtn Pass.

99.9% of the time, it's Code 15 or closed.

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Thanks, man. Still curious if Code 16 means chains in vehicle or on tires for 4WD/AWD vehicles, but it doesn't matter if it's never issued.

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Originally Posted by auvgeek

Thanks, man. Still curious if Code 16 means chains in vehicle or on tires for 4WD/AWD vehicles, but it doesn't matter if it's never issued.

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They would need to be installed on tires during Code 16 for all vehicles.

I don't own chains for my truck, although they're on my list to buy. More for overly ambitious forest road access in the spring than for potential Code 16 days.