Saline Valley Road

[jesportland]

They don't say what R level but it appears snow tires of various types work in place of chains.

"CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM 25 MI NORTH OF BISHOP TO 20 MI SOUTH OF THE NEVADA STATE LINE (MONO CO) "

[ski3pin]

Chains or snow tires is R1

Chains or 4 wheel drive with snow tires is R2

[DAW89446]

Back in my June Lake years (1970s/1980s) there was also an R3. Chains on everything. But then again, they usually just closed the road.

[MojaveGeek]

Back in my June Lake years (1970s/1980s) there was also an R3. Chains on everything. But then again, they usually just closed the road.

So you lived in June Lake? I've been spending some time there in the summer for the last few years, using it as my base camp for forays into the higher Sierra peaks. Nice town. Much more my style than Mammoth, and Lee Vining is pretty grungy / noisy lined up along the highway like that.

[DAW89446]

Back in my June Lake years (1970s/1980s) there was also an R3. Chains on everything. But then again, they usually just closed the road.

So you lived in June Lake?  I've been spending some time there in the summer for the last few years, using it as my base camp for forays into the higher Sierra peaks.  Nice town.  Much more my style than Mammoth, and Lee Vining is pretty grungy / noisy lined up along the highway like that.

Yup. 1st wife and I moved up there. Went to work for Mono County. Town was much smaller then. No bypass road north of the lake. Avalanches came down, we could be stuck a while. County paid little in those early days, less than $500 monthly, paid monthly. Thank goodness for charge account at the June Lake General Store. [Insert music and Tennessee Ernie Ford voice] “I owe my soul to the June Lake General Store …” 

[MojaveGeek]

“I owed my soul to the June Lake General Store …” 

Cute. That store is still there, and I know it well. The place we usually stay is a couple doors down. Mostly fisherman for tourists, generally an affable lot. Yes, I could see how you might end up stuck in there if there was no loop road. Nice place to live though, at least it's a nice place for us to visit!