Traveling Info. (fit in, live, safety)

[xtrace]

Yes, I will be traveling from twin falls, ID to great falls,MT. I am leaving on Dec 15 and returning on the 17th. What kind of weather can I expect. I am from california and oregon, but have not driven in heavy snow before. I will
have chains. Are they easy to put on in bad weather. I am driving a 1990 mazda mx6 with front wheel drive. Thankx.

[bigtrees]

Barring blizzards, you should be fine. I'm not a big fan of chains - I actually hate them with a passion. Front wheel drive will provide sufficient traction as long as the sand and gravel crews have been out. If it snowed the night before, give yourself a few hours before you take off to let the crews clear the roads.

Drive slowly with chains because you'll throw them otherwise.

Otherwise - watch the forecasts and road condition reports.

[rickers]

I've lived in Montana for over a decade and travel back and forth across the Rockies several times per month and I can't remember ever seeing anyone with tire chains on !

[jimj]

Originally Posted by rickers

I've lived in Montana for over a decade and travel back and forth across the Rockies several times per month and I can't remember ever seeing anyone with tire chains on !

Most don't use 'em, that's a west coast thing (unless you're a logger in the woods or a builder getting to a building site of course). I'd be sure I had a decent set of all season tires on the car, carry the chains just in case along with the standard rural winter travel kit.
1.Blankets for all (you can get survival blankets that fold up into a small square)
2.Some kind of food (I carry MRE's in the back at all times)
3.Flashlight and/or spot light w/extra batteries
4.Some way to make fire (couple boxes of waterproof matches or a lighter or both) and we also have a couple of sticks of Fat Wood or fire starting sticks.
5.Fold up shovel
6.plastic container of water (you really can't live on eating snow unless you melt it)
7.Mirror for signaling
8.A survival book unless you're experienced (makes good fire starter if you don't need it)
9.Compass or GPS unit
10.Well charged cell phone (in case you can get a signal)
12.Tell someone where you're going and your EXACT route. Don't deviate from that route without letting that person know and check in often. Most people who've been "lost" lately have gone off the planned route and were hard as heck to find. Make sure that person will call authorities if you don't check in so a search can be started quickly.

This may sound like it's over the top but in truth there are many places along your route where you could have something go wrong and not be noticed for quite a while if ever (yes even on the highway) and you may have to depend on yourself to be saved. It's not unheard of having slid off the road and down a hill to go un-noticed for quite a while.

[rickers]

Crossing over Marias pass yesterday my wife wanted me to pull into the rest stop area at the top and I should have known better. I swooped into the driveway toward the restrooms and holy shmoly it was about a foot deep ! I almost got bogged down and really had to spin the crap out of those wheels to keep moving ! Finally we ground our way back onto the highway and found a better place to use for a rest stop. A bit scary as we don't ever carry any of the safety stuff like jimj mentioned.

[seven of nine]

I just stay home Really, I have transitioned from an inch in Portland (OMG the end is here) to today digging a path for the daschunds this morning and they still could not see over the drift! Great fun!!

[Timberwolf232]

My general rule is if I need chains, I don't go.

If I have to chain up it's got to be a life or death situation or something like that. Otherwise that's what snowmachines and snowcats are for.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by jimj

Most don't use 'em, that's a west coast thing (unless you're a logger in the woods or a builder getting to a building site of course). I'd be sure I had a decent set of all season tires on the car, carry the chains just in case along with the standard rural winter travel kit.
1.Blankets for all (you can get survival blankets that fold up into a small square)
2.Some kind of food (I carry MRE's in the back at all times)
3.Flashlight and/or spot light w/extra batteries
4.Some way to make fire (couple boxes of waterproof matches or a lighter or both) and we also have a couple of sticks of Fat Wood or fire starting sticks.
5.Fold up shovel
6.plastic container of water (you really can't live on eating snow unless you melt it)
7.Mirror for signaling
8.A survival book unless you're experienced (makes good fire starter if you don't need it)
9.Compass or GPS unit
10.Well charged cell phone (in case you can get a signal)
12.Tell someone where you're going and your EXACT route. Don't deviate from that route without letting that person know and check in often. Most people who've been "lost" lately have gone off the planned route and were hard as heck to find. Make sure that person will call authorities if you don't check in so a search can be started quickly.

This may sound like it's over the top but in truth there are many places along your route where you could have something go wrong and not be noticed for quite a while if ever (yes even on the highway) and you may have to depend on yourself to be saved. It's not unheard of having slid off the road and down a hill to go un-noticed for quite a while.

Great post Jimj.

No shame in being prepared. I've been in a couple situations where I'd wished that I had thought ahead and kept each and every one of those things nearby and had to improvise. (I'm a lightweight... so the kitchen sink won't fit into my little pack..)

Anyone who has never known the mountains alone should bring at least that very list and I'd add a good lightweight .22 and a collapsible fishing pole and a couple good lures at minimum to the list. As much as I hate 'em even the cell phone can make a decent flashlight when you don't have a signal. As for the GPS it's a great tool, but when you are out their a ways, and the batteries die it's a good thing to be able to figure your way without the gizmos.