Southerners on Ice and TN Snowfall

[ronsatspokane]

It's not just in the south where people are not adapted to snow driving. Up until a couple years ago I was driving the mountain passes through the Cascades between Seattle and the east side of the mountains a couple times a month for years. I got to where I could do it blind folded regardless of conditions. I can't count the number of times I'd be crossing Snoqualmie Pass going west and there would be all the traffic on one lane of the two lane highway pounding the snow down to ice with people spinning off the road into the ditch. Sometimes it would be the right lane, sometimes the left lane. The other lane would be 6 inches of untracked fresh powder. Those who drive in snow country know where the traction is. It was like having my own private highway into Seattle.

Then there were the times where it was snowing so hard you couldn't tell if you were moving or standing still. I had to watch the speedometer to make sure I was moving. At those times I always seemed to have ended up with a snack train following me through the pass. Every time I passed a car it would add one more to the train.

Much of the time I did this in cars with little ground clearance like a BMW 325 with X-Ice tires or an Audi S4 at other times. All wheel drive cars but not big 4 wheel drives.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

It's pretty cold here, for this neck of the woods right now. Went out a bit ago and had no problem at all. It's a pretty dry snow, that you can get some traction on. The heavy wet stuff that we more typically get down here is no joke slippery stuff though. That's the biggest difference...aside from non-driving idiots everywhere.

 

[chop house]

Those who drive in snow country know where the traction is.

yup

 

[DShortt]

Drivers are in ditches and making Body Shops big money even where they have snow all winter long.
Don't categorize southerners as stupid and bad drivers. All the real drivers in TX are probably getting wrecked by some yankee that says "I can drive this crap, no problem!".We were lucky to have been born in the south and smart enough to stay away from the north.
We'll drive down 10 miles of slick red mud just to get to the range down here and never have a problem (and in two-wheel drive). Why, because those are the days that the yankee transplants won't be there asking stupid questions!
BTW, I am a born here redneck southern boy and have seen some big winter storms both here and in my extensive travels for work. Never ever hit thing driving on ice and snow.
My advice is go back where ya came from because yer fellow yankees miss ya high & mighty attitude!
Oh, WE ACTUALLY WON THE CIVIL WAR!!!!!

And I can tell you've never seen a 12' snowdrift across the road, either.

Go play in the mud this weekend when your snow is melted.

 

[shoot4fun]

And I can tell you've never seen a 12' snowdrift across the road, either.

Go play in the mud this weekend when your snow is melted.

Ya get kinda touchy when the ball is thrown back in y'alls court don't ya?
Get my drift? (pun intended)
Bless your heart!
Body shops are busy everywhere. Not just in the south after snow and mostly ice.

 

[Will Henry]

When we were first married, I was stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. We drove down from Idaho in my '62 Ford which was, naturally, equipped with snow tires. Some of the good ol' boys in the shop came out to welcome me back. As they gathered around the car, one of them says, " What the hell kinda tires you got there, Boy?"
I replied that they were snow tires. "Go on!", he exclaimed.
Well, as it turned out, we got hit with a snow storm, about two weeks later, which dumped a good inch of snow. When I got to the shop, I wasn't too surprised to see that not everyone was there and those who were talked as if they had just completed the Iditarod. They acknowledged my arrival and one said, Well, Leeper, I don't reckon you had any trouble, what with them snow tires and all". They were a great bunch of guys. WH

 

[GotRDid]

 

[GotRDid]

Family’s place in South Eastern KY, foothills of the Appalachian’s. Snow almost like “Candle Ice” in Alpine lakes.




Better day, back in May…

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Family’s place in South Eastern KY, foothills of the Appalachian’s. Snow almost like “Candle Ice” in Alpine lakes.

View attachment 1513047
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Better day, back in May…

View attachment 1513050

One of, if not the, prettiest parts of planet earth. Eastern KY is gorgeous.

 

[chop house]

Snow almost like “Candle Ice” in Alpine lakes.

i've seen a lot, a LOT, of snow in my life... but never this. my son text me today and said he was getting... ah... mini hail. that one was also new to me, until i figured out he was joking about sleet.

one time was driving US2 top of lake michigan in a blizzard. after plowing snow with the bumper for several miles, a jack-knifed truck up ahead shut the hwy down. several of us pilgrims spent the night sleeping in the booths and on the counters of a pasty shop. the owners, after running out of food about 22:00, retired to their house behind the joint and left us to fend for ourselves.

another time was riding a greyhound, sitting about half way back in the coach, and woke up with the road going past me under the side of the bus. how that driver kept the bus on the two lane hwy, going down that black ice hill sideways... ? can only guess it kinda self centered over the crown.

 

[chop house]

I replied that they were snow tires. "Go on!", he exclaimed.

should have told them they were the newest buckshot mudders...

 

[Will Henry]

should have told them they were the newest buckshot mudders...

This was long before "Mudders" were even a thing. 4WD pickups were rare outside of the west, and not all that common there yet. The only common SUV was the Jeep Wagoneer, and that wasn't common in the south. Guys didn't own a 1 ton 4wd to drive to the Mall. Today, I would not be surprised to learn that the majority of vehicles on the road in the NorthWest, are 4wd or AWD. WH

 

[ttfreestyle]

Well this is the first time in my 40 years of driving the mountains here in winter that I actually think the roads are still pretty iffy after two days. I have always gone where I wanted when I wanted but the ice we got at the end of this storm last night made the road a shiny slick that’s even hard to walk on. The difference here is it usually warms up the day after snow here but it’s totally reverse this year, single digits this morning and gonna be negative tonight. I know that’s normal for some of yall but here in the south it’s not. I actually like snow and am still a big kid in it, the negative temps I can do without. Stay safe everyone.

 

[GotRDid]

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Well this is the first time in my 40 years of driving the mountains here in winter that I actually think the roads are still pretty iffy after two days. I have always gone where I wanted when I wanted but the ice we got at the end of this storm last night made the road a shiny slick that’s even hard to walk on. The difference here is it usually warms up the day after snow here but it’s totally reverse this year, single digits this morning and gonna be negative tonight. I know that’s normal for some of yall but here in the south it’s not. I actually like snow and am still a big kid in it, the negative temps I can do without. Stay safe everyone.

I'm with ya Troy! I remember back about 30 or so years ago, we had what's called a temperature inversion. Basically, it was pouring down rain while the temperature was well below freezing and it had been for several days, so the ground was frozen. By far and away, the slickest thing I've ever driven on. Heavy rain falling on frozen asphalt is some crazy stuff now! Like driving on top of a wet ice cube. It was rush hour and cars were of the road absolutely everywhere. It was pretty much an instant thing. As soon as the rain started, it was like flipping a switch and caught people off guard. I was driving a big old rear wheel drive Mercury car. I remember going as slow as I could go and began a stop about 1/4 mile ahead of my stopping point. I'd kick it into neutral and just gingerly bring it to a stop. When taking off, hold the brake hard, put it in 2nd gear(automatic) and very slowly ease my foot off of the brake pedal and it would still slide out from under ya like that..no throttle at all. If you let off the brake pedal too fast, it'd break loose. Somehow, I made it out and home but like I said...I've never seen anything close to it.

 

[AlNyhus]

How we do Winter cardio in South Dakota.

 

[wildcatter]

I'm jealous lot of you lucked out! here in northeat Ohio, we got nothing! To warm for snow when it started with 1.3" of rain, mixed with 2" of snow that the rain switching back and forth made about an inch of slush.

Then about 3am. it started getting cold down to the teens. So with Temps dropping thru the day, all that slush and water underneath turned to ice. But no snow! What snow we did get was Saturday night, and a little last night.

Not even enough to start the snow blower for. The big 2 stage Arienes blower used to be well used by the middle of January, but in 3 years it's been used twice. I have more time servicing and getting it ready than using it,,,, very depressing. I mean if I wanted southern weather, I'd move south!

But the good thing is hard water! With most lakes open or little snow cover we might actually get to do some real hard water fishing!! Ya Ya, something that been very limited the past 4 winters and non existent last year. I won't put planks at shore and hope the ice will be good, to old Fer that, them days are over!

Bad thing is next week highs in the 40's again are predicted after Mondays high of 32. I just wish we would see winter again, like I say, thats the hole purpose of having a place on the lakes in Southern Michigan!

 

[archerforkids]

so....our roads were actually a lot better today. Not normal, but way better than yesterday.
This guy apparently is lacking in driving skills or common sense. Who knows.
This happened across the street from a buddy of mines shop. Not being one to pass up a opportunity to be a smart ass.......once he sees the driver is ok he asks him " you know you can't park there, right?

 

[XTR]

Many yrs ago I was in San Antonio when they got ice, possibly the most on road silliness I’ve ever seen. Texicans must have been lined up at the body shops for a yr after.

 

[DShortt]

so....our roads were actually a lot better today. Not normal, but way better than yesterday.
This guy apparently is lacking in driving skills or common sense. Who knows.
This happened across the street from a buddy of mines shop. Not being one to pass up a opportunity to be a smart ass.......once he sees the driver is ok he asks him " you know you can't park there, right?

Someone always tryin' to ice skate uphill.