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Winter Driving: Are YOU Prepared?

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
I stopped on Friday, pulled a 20-ish year old kid & his car out of a snowbank. He didn't have a cell phone and had been sitting for only a few minutes. I was the first car to pass. He was not even sure what he should do. Temps outside were below zero so he didn't want to walk back to his friend's house, only about a mile down the road, because he didn't have gloves/hat/heavy coat. Took all of about 2 minutes to pull him out of the snow and back up on the roadway. I knew I kept that tow strap in the SUV for something!!!

This kid was a visitor to a family down the road. We live about 5 miles outside of a small town in a pretty rural area. He was down from the safety of the 'suburbs' that lie 15 miles north.

But it does make me wonder. Why do city/suburban people go out, on days when the high temperature is predicted to be -5 F, after a week that dumped roughly 20" of snow, without ANY winter gear like gloves/hats/boots/heavy coats?

Are you prepared? Even for the simple stuff? What is in your car/truck?

Since I drive with my daughter, I tend to carry stuff for both her and myself. Back of the truck has snowmobile boots, hats, extra pair of pants, socks, gloves, hat, etc. Just in case. Oh, and there are all the usual simple tools, tow strap, first aid kit, hand warmers, flashlight, snacks, etc. Not a full "72 hour" kit, but enough to help keep me comfy, or get me out of a jam.
 
My FIL's wife was just commenting to me when we saw them at Christmas that she couldn't understand how I could only wear a windbreaker jacket all winter (even last week with the temps of -20 that's all I wore) with no hat and gloves. She didn't quite get it when I said that I HATE wearing a bulky winter coat in the truck and I am perfectly capable of tolerating the 20 second walk from the truck to the door in nearly any weather. I also explained to her that I have a down parka, mittens and gloves and a balaklava hat/facemask folded under the back seat in case I get stuck at the side of the road.
 
I carry many of the same things posted above. But I also have an old snowmobile suit which is perfect for my use. Step into it 3 zippers pull gloves and hat out of pockets. And I'm ready to walk, assist, of put on my chains as necessary.
 
In my area, it is not necessarily the bitter cold, but the rain and possibility of downed trees that is a threat. I now carry my chain saw with fuel, oil and gear in the back of my truck.
During our recent rash of snow storms, I picked up a few commuters walking to the ferry (the busses weren't running) in the snow. It was several miles at best and they figured that they were better late than never.
Bone
 
As I've mentioned before on this board, I spent a couple of years working up in Wyoming. One winter, when I was out in the middle of nowhere, the rental SUV died and I was stranded. Luckily, I still had some fuel and I was wearing warm clothing but that was about all I had. The company radio didn't have reception where I was so there was no way to raise help. My situation was uncomfortable but not really desperate. When I hadn't shown up by 10 o'clock at night the rest of the guys came looking and found me about 2 o'clock in the morning. Although the situation wasn't life threatenng, at least not up to that point, with a little forethought, it didn't have to be as uncomfortable as it was. From that time on I always carried a backpack in the vehicle with camping gear and supplies to make any future mishap a little more tolerable. It's a habit that cariied over even when I'm in Texas. There is an emergency pack in my vehicles along with tools, slime, inflator, spare belt, hose bandage and fluids. Enough to at least hopefully get me back to civilization if not all the way home. It doesn't take up a whole lot of room and it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that I have chance to get out of any trouble that I get myself in to. I suppose that I'm just a good boy scout at heart. I try not to be paranoid about it but I like to be at least semi-prepared.
 
In the winter when the weather is bad, even if I'm just driving the kids to school (on country roads), I always grab all the snow gear and bring it along. We live at the bottom of a steep hill and we may have to walk a mile to get home if the road gets bad.

I have a lot of stuff stashed in the SUV and am paranoid about keeping the tank full in bad weather.
 
We live in a small town. The closest real shopping is about 50 miles away. Twenty of those miles are on unpaved and relatively poorly maintained roads. I always carry a backpack with warm clothing, gloves, and emergency supplies. We keep flashlights, tools, first aid kits, tire pumps, etc. in the vehicles all the time. We always carry snacks and water. An unexpected overnight breakdown shouldn't be a problem.
 
I also carry candles.
A candle will keep you warm in your vehicle. You have to crack a window to keep from asphyxiating yourself.
 
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