Pros and cons of living in Maine?

[Tenebrae]

Originally Posted by Submariner

My township gets ice. This town is 'low-lying' and follows a major river. When the ground is frozen and dense fog rises off the river, we see a think layer of ice form on the pavement. Known as 'black ice' because it is clear and looks like perfectly clean pavement.

Black ice can be so slick that your shoes will refuse to grip to allow you to stand or walk on it.

Studded tires are a necessity here in winter. To drive here, you must have two sets of tires. A set of summer tires and a set of winter tires.

There are many other towns that never see black ice. You could possibly live in Maine for decades and never encounter black ice. Maine is different regions. But here in this township, black ice is seen a few times every winter.

Is that bad? I do not know, to me it simply is. I could live a town away and never need studded tires. By having studded tires, black ice is no longer an issue for me.

I grew up in Missouri and also spent time in Pennsylvania.
Black Ice was present in both locations, and was usually the most terrifying thing when a layer of snow would disguise it even further.
When I was young, I remember my mom slamming the car into the side of a cliff on a patch of black ice. I remember getting fragments of something in my eye and being told not to rub them. I also remember walking through the snow to find a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. This was before cell phones, or even mobile / car phones. I remember sitting in front of a fireplace wrapped in a blanket while some little old lady who could have been my grandmother gave me some hot chocolate and some books or something to pass the time. My mom borrowed the phone to call for a tow. The kindness of strangers...

In Pennsylvania, I recall being on the lookout for reported black ice as well where the winding back roads had overhangs. The shadow made it more likely that the ice wouldn't thaw, and that you wouldn't notice the reflection.

Use caution...AWD / 4WD doesn't mean godmode is enabled on your vehicle!
Definitely will be looking into another set of winter / studded tires, regardless of where I end up.

-T.