While many can't wait for springtime, those of us who like to hurl ourselves down snowy hills on pieces of fiberglass are thinking that it's about time for the annual skiing or snowboarding trip with family and friends. Before you set out road-tripping to the snowy peaks, here's some advice to take seriously:
Get your vehicle ready for the cold. Make sure your vehicle has been serviced recently, and that your coolant is good to the low temperatures where you'll be. Most service stations can do a simple test to determine the freezing point of your coolant. Check your tire pressures before you leave, and top off your windshield washer fluid. If your wiper blades streak or look worn, replace them before leaving. Remember to pack an ice scraper/snow broom in the car where you can easily get to it.
Check road reports before you leave. Most states have Web sites and toll-free hotlines that provide road-condition information for major highways in the state, including mountain passes and ski areas. The Federal Highway Administration maintains a Web site with links to many state-specific sites on weather, traffic, and road closures. Better yet, stop and call the ski resort en route to get their advice. Bring a cell phone for emergencies.
Don't push your luck. If you have no experience driving on slippery winter roads, steep, snowy mountain hairpins are not the place to start! You'd best take the shuttle. Also, be acquainted with your brakes before you take to slippery roads-especially important if you have a rental car. Figure out if you have anti-lock brakes. If you do have four-wheel ABS (most new cars do, although a few don't), learn to brake with your foot hard on the pedal in slippery situations to take advantage of the system. Remember that you can safely steer away from hazards with the ABS working, but be aware that some pickups and a few SUV models only have rear-wheel ABS, which does not allow you to maneuver while panic braking.
Have the right tires and chains. Traction is paramount! Having good winter tires or snow tires makes a real difference. All-season tires might be good enough, but if you're likely to do any distance of driving on slippery, curvy roads, for an extra margin of safety we recommend winter tires. Whether you have snow tires or just all-season tires, you'll want to bring along traction chains. They help maintain traction in packed snow, and they're required in many areas that tend to get snow bound.
Sandbags and kitty litter. To aid traction a bit more, if you drive a pickup or rear-wheel-drive SUV, pack and secure down some sandbags or other heavy objects in the rear of the vehicle. Regardless of what vehicle you're driving, pack a bag of coarse sand or kitty litter to help the wheels get traction if you become stuck on a slippery roadside.
Put together a winter emergency kit. Be sure to include: A gallon of drinking water per person Energy bars Shovel Waterproof flashlight and batteries Basic first-aid kit Roadside flares Blankets and sleeping bags Pouch-type hand warmers
Don't leave the vehicle if you get stranded. It's easy to become disoriented in low-visibility blizzard conditions. Keep the engine running for warmth, cracking one of the windows slightly. Use the flares, and wait for someone to come along.
Be alert for the drive home, and don't drink and drive! Drinking excessively the night before, combined with altitude affects, sunburn, and the physical exhaustion of a long weekend of skiing, can have deadly affects behind the wheel.
