Western Washington Winter Tips Winter driving - Studded tires, Traction tires & chains Studded Tires - Studded tires are only legal Nov. 1 - Mar. 31. Motorists using studded tires before or after these dates could incur a fine from law enforcement. Approved studded tires & chains There is no individual exception to the studded tire season. When traveling in Washington, you are required to follow the State of Washington’s motor vehicle laws. Studded tires do not satisfy state chain requirements. If chains are required on your vehicle, you’ll have to install them even on studded tires. Motorists are encouraged to visit a tire dealer to learn more about stud-free winter traction tires that are legal for year-round use and do not cause the same roadway damage as studded tires. These tires are different from “all season” tires and have a more aggressive tire tread. Traction Tires - The following qualify as traction tires when required on Washington roadways: • •
Approved traction tires - including an eighth of an inch tread and a M&S or All Season label or a Mountain/Snowflake symbol. Installing chains makes any tire a traction tire. Approved tire chains
Chains and alternatives - Those traveling into higher elevations should carry chains and have approved traction tires whenever winter weather is possible, especially Nov. 1 through March 31. Studded tires do NOT satisfy state chain requirements; if chains are required, they’ll have to installed on top of studded tires. 4WD/AWD and chains - 4WD/AWD vehicles (under 10,000 pounds) do not need chains installed during “chains required” notices, but drivers still must carry chains with them in case conditions worsen and they’re required to install chains during a “chains required on all vehicles” notice. Chain placement - Front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles. On a front-wheel drive vehicle you must install chains on the front two tires. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you must install chains on the rear two tires. For more informations please visit Washington State DOT site.
Head To The Mountains And Enjoy The Snow! Here are some of the best places to go sled riding in Washington this winter. Considering over half the state has seen snow over the last few days, it’s safe to say that winter is imminent. And while skiing and snowboarding tend to be people’s favorite means of celebration, not everyone has time (or the desire) to make that happen. Plus, you’re really never too old to go sledding. Here are some of our favorite spots. 1. Tubing Park at Ski Hill, Leavenworth - Leavenworth’s Ski Hill is a small ski area with two Alpine runs, a tubing hill with rope tows, and cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails. 2. Mt. Rainier National Park - The only place where sledding is allowed in the park is the designated snow play area immediately north of the upper parking lot at Paradise... but if you can find it, it’s worth it. 3. Franklin Park, Yakima - When Yakima schools have a snow day, you’ll find most of the students sledding down the hills at Franklin Park. 4. Echo Valley Ski Area - This Chelan area ski and tubing hill has rope tows and a four-lane tubing hill. 5. Hurricane Ridge - Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge has a small skiing and snowboarding area that also has a tubing run. Stop by the visitors’ center for information and a warming area. Click here for more fun places to visit this winter season. Lewis-McChord Communities
Energy Saving Tips Winter Energy Conservation Tips
By Tammy Shoop, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division It can be tricky to conserve energy during winter in the Pacific Northwest. Small changes in behavior can make real impact on the bottom line since anytime we overheat, or overcool, it increases our energy use. Best bet- is to cut it back, and close it all! Keep all windows and doors shut. Keep your thermostat to 68 degrees, and turn your thermostat down when you go to sleep at night, or leave the house. You don’t want to compete for the heat. Unplug it when it’s not in use. Vampire power is the power used by those appliances or electronics that are plugged in but not being used. Use power strips where you can, and turn them off when you leave, or go to sleep. Switch to energy-saving compact florescent lights or light emitting diodes. CFLs and LEDs consume only a fraction of the energy consumed by their incandescent counterparts. Set your decorative lights on a timer. If you are shopping for new appliances or electronics make sure they are part of the Energy Star program, a simple choice for energy efficiency. Keep your hot water tank set to 120 degrees, and turn the heat cycle off when you run the dishwasher. Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes, and use cold water when you can. These are just a few easy winter conservation tips to help conserve energy. Remember the power is in our hands. See additional information on JBLM’s Energy program on JBLM DPW Environmental website at: https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/index. php/my-Joint-Base-Lewis-Mcchord/all-services/public_works-environmental_division/energy-program.
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