Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
prefer a waterproof backcountry-style headlamp over a standard flashlight, because it
leaves my hands free and shines wherever I point my head. Have you ever tried in-
stalling tire chains by yourself while holding your flashlight in your teeth?
• Carry extra food, water, and clothing, including a warm hat, mittens or gloves, and a
warm jacket that preferably has a waterproof but breathable outer shell, such as one
made from Gore-Tex. Make sure you have boots that are adequate for trudging
through miles of snow. Tennis shoes just don't cut it in the snow, and frozen toes are
no fun!
• Carry a snow scraper for clearing your windshield, a broom for brushing snow off
your car, a compact shovel for digging your vehicle out of a snow bank, and sand or
a piece of burlap for traction in case your wheels become stuck.
• Check the weather forecast and updated road conditions.
• Stash a spare key on your car. Motorists sometimes get locked out of their vehicle
while installing tire chains. I like to bring along a waterproof poncho, tarp, or rain
jacket and rain pants for lying in the slush while installing tire chains.
Stay in Your Car or Abandon It?
People ask me this question, and I tell them there is no single right answer, though there is an
optimal answer for each situation. Assuming you are stuck either in traffic that has come to a
stop, or along the side of a road, here are a few thoughts and guidelines:
• Is your car in a dangerous position where there is a significant chance you may be
run into by another car? If so, abandon your car and relocate yourself to some nearby
place where you aren't in danger!
• How much gasoline do you have in your tank? Do you have enough spare clothing to
stay warm inside your car without running the engine? If not, and you may be stuck
for a long time, ration your gasoline by turning your car on for a few minutes at a
time to warm the heater, then turn it off again. In my part of the country, major free-
ways over mountain passes can stay closed for days, and I have been stopped in
traffic for eight hours while waiting for accidents to be cleared. At times like these, it
is common for motorists to run out of gas while idling to keep their car heaters going.
• What is your footwear like? Are you equipped to walk for miles in the snow, and
spend the night outside if necessary?
• If your clothing is not really adequate for spending long hours outside in the snow, is
there enough passing traffic to hitch a ride to a nearby town, or is all traffic stopped
