AZ 87 - Chains & Four Wheel Drive are now required

[CannondaleKid]

Has anybody seen the new sign on northbound AZ 87 just south of Sunflower? It's about a hundred yards north of Milepost 217.
It appears to be a sing that can be folded down to cover the message, but here it is August and it says:

Chains - Four Wheel Drive
REQUIRED


I first saw it last Saturday 8/22 but didn't have my camera handy, figuring I'd get it 'next' time. Unfortunately next time was today but I'd totally forgotten about it and drove by AGAIN. On our return trip today we'd didn't feel like making a u-turn to go back and take a photo.

I probably won't be up that way until a week after Labor Day weekend, so if anyone manages to take a photo sooner, feel free to post it in the HAZ Cartoon thread.

[Tortoise_Hiker]

It was that way on the 16th. What's your guess. A storm blew it open. Whatever held it rotted. Some young whipper snapper did it. Hmmmm?

[CannondaleKid]

@Tortoise Hiker Looking at the back side it looks pretty shiny to me and the posts don't appear to be weathered.
While my mind does a good job of failing me at times, I really don't recall a sign in that spot before. (Even it it may have been folded over)

[The_Eagle]

Saw it today, and thought it to be very odd...

[big_load]

Do I need to bring chains on my next visit?

[Jim]

@big_load
Well, the sign says...

[SuperstitionGuy]

Do I need to bring chains on my next visit?

No, Arizona Sheriff Joe will provide them for ya....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... esert.html

[FOTG]

I didn't go as far as Strawberry, but there is a giant billboard near Rye advertisng a reproduction juice holder Festival..says you will have a ball, looked it up, its legit..anyone ever been?

[CannondaleKid]

We went through Strawberry yesterday but didn't notice anything different going on... the usual bunch of Harleys sitting at what I would guess is a bar, but I wouldn't know if they were having a ball in the bar.

The only other thing that brought notice on our return from the rim we saw at least two dozen Porsches heading up 87. Club event?

Back to the sign by Sunflower... has there EVER been a time that chains & 4WD were even needed, let alone required? At least since 87 was divided highway all the way to Payson?

Hmmm, I wonder if someone at AZ-DOT found the a sign at the bottom of a pile and decided hey, here's a make-work job, we can't throw it away so let's use it!

[BEEBEE]

I can tell you on New Years Eve I drove to Show Low in the blizzard this last year and there were lots of spun out jack knifed trucks and cars. I had no problem with the FJ in 4wd but others did not fair so well. For them chains may have made the difference getting up the hill by Ord and then the final climb to Payson.