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The Dead Zone

Published
  • Capturing the dangerous action as a driver attempts to put snow tires on his tow truck on the side of a treacherous I-80.
  • A wide range of old and new technology are used to keep Donner Pass open to traffic. Here is the backside of the servers in the CalTrans Distric 3 server room in Rancho Cordova, CA. Distric 3 covers a wide area streching from Sacramento to the state line near Reno NV.
  • A contractor replaces the windshield of a CalTrans snowplow.
  • Dean Campbell of CalTrans digs out a control box for the Donner Pass weather station and traffic camera. During the winter, control boxes are often completely buried under fallen snow or snow pushed off the road by CalTrans.
  • Winds can exceed hurricane force during storms in Donner Pass. Here a sign shows the effects of being buffeted.
  • After a storm, I-80 is temporarily closed while CalTrans clears the road.
  • In the 1860s, the railroads opened Donner pass to the first overland mass transit. The railroads reached Cisco Grove in 1866 which remained the end of the line till 1867.
  • A slick I-80 after a long awaited snow fall.
  • A slick I-80, after a long awaited snow fall, with a semi truck passing by.
  • CalTrans service trucks on the side of I-80.
  • Icicles hang off chains waiting to be put on the tires of an RV in a chair up area outside Truckee, CA.
  • A de-icing brine keeps the roadway clear of ice as it passes under a bridge supporting Interstate 80.

  • Dangerous Operation

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    Capturing the dangerous action as a driver attempts to put snow tires on his tow truck on the side of a treacherous I-80.

  • Donner Pass Servers

    Photograph by Matt Scott/ National Geographic Channels

    A wide range of old and new technology are used to keep Donner Pass open to traffic. Here is the backside of the servers in the CalTrans Distric 3 server room in Rancho Cordova, CA. Distric 3 covers a wide area streching from Sacramento to the state line near Reno, NV. 

  • Necessary Repairs

    Photograph by Matt Scott/ National Geographic Channels

    A contractor replaces the windshield of a CalTrans snowplow. 

  • Control Box Clearing

    Photograph by Matt Scott/ National Geographic Channels

    Dean Campbell of CalTrans digs out a control box for the Donner Pass weather station and traffic camera. During the winter, control boxes are often completely buried under fallen snow or snow pushed off the road by CalTrans.

  • Bent Sign

    Photograph by Conal O'Herily/ National Geographic Channels

    Winds can exceed hurricane force during storms in Donner Pass. Here a sign shows the effects of being buffeted. 

  • Clearing the Road

    Photograph by Conal O'Herily/ National Geographic Channels

    After a storm, I-80 is temporarily closed while CalTrans clears the road. 

  • Cisco Grove Railway

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Alfred A. Hart

    In the 1860s, the railroads opened Donner pass to the first overland mass transit.  The railroads reached Cisco Grove in 1866 which remained the end of the line till 1867.

  • Fresh Snowfall

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    A slick I-80 after a long awaited snow fall.

  • Slick Surface

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    A slick I-80, after a long awaited snow fall, with a semi truck passing by.

  • Service Trucks

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    CalTrans service trucks on the side of I-80.

  • Cold Chains

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    Icicles hang off chains waiting to be put on the tires of an RV in a chair up area outside Truckee, CA. 

  • De-Icing the Road

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    A de-icing brine keeps the roadway clear of ice as it passes under a bridge supporting Interstate 80. 

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