Tire Chains

Yosemite National Park gets about 6 Million visitors per year. In the summer the park sees 500K to 600K thousand visitors per month. In the winter that number drops, but is still over 100K visitors per month. The hamlet of Fish Camp abuts the south entrance to Yosemite National Park on California Rt 41, The road is one of three winding two-lane access roads into the park that climb to 7000 ft before dropping down into Yosemite Valley. Fish Camp has only about 25 residents. It is largely comprised of cabins, B&Bs and other rentals that cater to the park's visitors, a post office with limited hours and a small general store that mainly sells shacks and drinks. A large resort has been attempting to get a foothold for years, but so far has been fought off by residents. So what is one of the big sellers at the general store in the winter when the number of park visitors is down significantly. The answer I was told is: tire chains; Yes, tire chains. As weather conditions mandate them in designated areas between November and March, vehicles (even four-wheel drive vehicles) are required to use tire chains. Even if chains are not needed by weather conditions, cars are required to carry them in these areas. This includes the park and the general store in Fish Camp is the last place on Rt 41 to buy tire chains before entering the park. The photos are of the Fish Camp general store (note the tire chain signs), as well as the pond across the road from the store and the Big Creek Inn B&B both taken on an early May morning. The trees in the photos are mainly ponderosa pines with black oak, white fir and cedars mixed in.