On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:37:34 GMT, Littlefoot wrote:
> I will be taking a road trip on December 21st from Seattle to San
> Francisco with my 2 friends. I've never driven in the snow before and I'm
> very very nervous. I've already bought chains and I've practiced putting them
u> on in my driveway many times. Has anyone made this drive in December? What
Good for you on learning how to chain up! You might want to toss a cheap
vinyl tablecloth in the car as an emergency mat, should you need it.
Also 2o lbs of cat litter and some immediately edible food and water.
Most of I-5 will probably be easy though wet driving. The passes just S of
Ashland, OR and around Mt. Shasta may be snowy or icy, and that's where
things can befun. (Seattle to Ashland, btw, is about 7 hours driving -- I'm
assuming that's in the vicinity of where you want to stop? -- on good roads,
it's another 5 hours on to SF.)
Oregon uses the 511 system on cell phones,
and it was quite informative last time I called it. If you've got a laptop
with wifi around, http://www.tripcheck.com Siskayou Summit has its own
webcam, which you can get to from tripcheck.com
California uses 800.427.7623, but I think there's 511 available in N.
California, too.
If you can, it might be wise to drive up to one of the ski areas near
Seattle and get a little practice on a nice, empty parking lot full of snow,
maybe a little ice underneath.
The principal hazard of snow driving is ice underneath, and slush being
sprayed all over your windshield by passing vehicles. Make sure you've got
lots of window washer fluid (and it's rated for colder temps than
you typically get in Seattle or Portland), and make sure your wipers are in
good condition. I personally prefer to see folks get a little experience
on ice before they get onto interstate driving conditions, because most folks
on the interstate don't want to acknowledge ice and will drive in tight
bunches. Increase your following room as much as possible when you're on
ice.
Accelerate and steer gently, brake gently, know how to handle a skid in your
car. If it's got antilock brakes, you can be more vigorous with the brake
pedal. If you start skidding, steer in the direction of the skid -- you need
to get your wheels moving in the same direction as the vehicle so you can
regain control. Oh, and never pass a snowplow on the right, or hang right
behind a sanding truck. Bridges and overpasses often ice before the
rest of the road.
http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/driv
ingsafety/drivingsafetytips/snow.html
Chances are, you'll have no problems, and you'll never need to take the
chains out of the package, but being prepared is a good idea.
If you see truckers getting off the road, it's a really good idea to join
them, imho. An extra night in a motel is very cheap insurance;
extremely cheap compared to hospital bills. (fwiw: CE England drivers
seem to be the most likely to pull off about the same time that I do --
and I grew up in ice and snow country.)
Kay, who got to drive from Iowa to Oregon in the last ice storm,
including Laramie, WY to Green River, WY in one day, never topping
30 mph, and then stopped again at the Columbia Gorge when I-84 closed.
And who took the keys away from my husband, the southern boy, who
does not understand about following distances on ice. |