I really, really hate winter driving.

[ProfessorWes]

One drawback to moving back to the Ozarks from the big city, I've found, is that the road crews down here don't spend nearly as much time keeping even the major roads drivable in harsh winter conditions.

My thirty-mile commute home tonight from Lebanon, MO to Camdenton in the freezing rain was...exhilarating, to say the least. I was ice-skating for the last fifteen miles or so, dodging slide-offs and wrecks.

I don't think I've blinked even once since arriving home, and that was an hour ago. :shock: Time for some whiskey...

 

[Cooperhawk]

Now that was a good response. :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[hittman]

I'm guessing you spend a fair amount of time on Route 5?

My son lives north of you a bit.

Snowing here now. Originally called for freezing rain followed by 4 to 6 inches of snow. Now they're saying only 1 to 3 inches of snow so and no rain .... we may have dodged a bullet.

 

[toysoldier]

I used to live on Y Road, Linn Creek, a few miles east of Camdenton. For those who live in the flatlands, the roads in the Ozarks are narrow, twisty, and have no room for error. On one side is a cut into the hillside, on the other, a 30'-60' drop into a ravine. Of course, hitting the trees will probably stop you before you reach the bottom. My most exciting moment was on Hwy 2, when a semi came around a curve halfway into my lane. I put the passenger-side tires on the very edge of the sliver of shoulder (above a 45' gully) and hoped for the best. Made it by inches.

 

[Mobuck]

Heck, it's not been half bad here in north MO. One decent snow and then 50* and "poof" gone. Gravel roads are dusty and county has been putting fresh gravel on some that got beat up during the thaw. I did get into a nasty spot that still had some ruts-if I'd slipped into those, the Jeep would have high centered for sure.

 

[Mega Twin]

Yes,and in bad weather you: don't have to use your turn signals,can swerve 2 lanes left to make a right hand turn,without signalling,you don't have to stop at stop signs,you don't have to dim your headlights to oncoming traffic,or the vehicle ahead that you are tail gating,you don't have to wait that extra 3 seconds to pull out in front of someone instead of waiting,because on icy roads,they can stop just as fast as you cab accelerate,so it should be a wash :evil:

 

[powder smoke]

Snow is not bad if it's dry! Ice is terrible studded tires or chains
is the only help, sometimes not much tho. ps

 

[coach]

I just had to pick up my wife and kid. The car wouldn't go any more. Luckily she was able to maneuver onto a side road. Even in my 4 wheel drive it was a little dicey. It just started snowing three hours ago, it's coming down hard and the roads are extra cold from the last few days of frigid weather.

 

[powder smoke]

The cold roads are a good thing!! Warmer roads get wet when snow hits them
then refreeze into ICE. Here in Maine we have seen it all cold roads = dry roads
snow will blow off. That is if the snow is not wet. ps

 

[ProfessorWes]

Yes,and in bad weather you: don't have to use your turn signals,can swerve 2 lanes left to make a right hand turn,without signalling,you don't have to stop at stop signs,you don't have to dim your headlights to oncoming traffic,or the vehicle ahead that you are tail gating,you don't have to wait that extra 3 seconds to pull out in front of someone instead of waiting,because on icy roads,they can stop just as fast as you cab accelerate,so it should be a wash :evil:

Especially if you have a 4X4.

Got passed by a few of them on the way home last night, their drivers apparently figuring that four-wheel-drive meant that they could keep driving the posted 65 mph in the freezing rain. I'm pretty sure I passed at least one of them in turn a few miles down the road...off in the ditch, the driver out of the vehicle trying to call for a tow on his cell. :wink:

 

[Cooperhawk]

Four wheel drive just means you can get another hundred yards into the snow or ditch before you are stuck. :shock:

 

[Poco Oso]

Four wheel drive just means you can get another hundred yards into the snow or ditch before you are stuck. :shock:

Oh come on, anyone who can really "wheel" can get 150! We get quite a few upside-down wheelers here at start of winter every year. (we get a lot of black ice). My wife has to make a thirty mile drive, each way, on "the ribbon of death" every workday. I worry daily.

 

[blume357]

I drove to Lancaster PA last Monday.... look back at the weather then..... it took 7 hours to get up I-81 through just Virginia... 14 hours total on what should have been 10 at the most....

 

[Robes]

I have seen so many 4 x 4's around here in the ditch. I did notice a lot of them were the upscale models (Merc -Benz, Escalade, etc). News flash,... four wheel drive does not stop you any faster.....

I am to the point in life where ,...if the roads are lousy,... I just don't go. Especially into the city....

 

[Pat-inCO]

I have seen so many 4 x 4's around here in the ditch. I did notice a lot of them were the upscale models (Merc -Benz, Escalade, etc). News flash,... four wheel drive does not stop you any faster.....

Which I believe is another way of saying
"the tires don't know it's four wheel drive."

Unfortunately (for them) the dummies in their
super-whiz-bang EXPENSIVE four by don't seem
to understand.

Just be sure you smile and wave as you pass them. 8)

 

[ronto]

Nothing like getting close to the top of a hill and then sliding backwards with your rear window covered with snow...now that's scary.