Winter 2021-2022 is finally here! Is your vehicle ready?
/By Tom Arnold, trustmetom@ comcast.net Mid December 2021
Ready! Set! Go! The snow has finally arrived, the ski areas are opening – some just barely [this was written in mid December, and you know what’s happened since!] – and you’re ready to ski.
There are a few things to consider before you head out. I’m going to assume that you and/or your mechanic have already winterized your car, right? You’ve put on your snow tires (or practiced in your driveway with your chains), checked front and rear wiper blades (there are very good ice-shedding blades available), topped up your windshield washer bottle with freeze-proof fluid, checked all your lights – you know the routine.
But wait, there’s more! Be sure that someone else riding with you has a key to your car and knows how to drive it in an emergency. (Ski Patrol will get you off the mountain, but you’re on your own getting home.) Batteries tend to weaken in cold weather, so have a key shop check the battery in your remote. It’s a good idea to carry a key that will unlock your car the old fashioned way, with a twist of the wrist. Carry a BIC lighter to heat up your key in the event your door lock (or ski rack or car top box lock) is frozen.
Windshield wipers. If it’s snowing or looking like it might snow, extend your wipers away from your windshield when you park so they don’t freeze to it. Also, if it has been snowing, take a minute to remove the snow from the trough at the base of the windshield where the wipers park when they’re off. A build up of snow or ice will prevent the wipers from parking and therefore weaken and eventually destroy the bushings in the mechanism that operates them. (You don’t need to understand the details; you just need to do it.)
Roadside emergency box. I carry a Rubbermaid storage box with the following items. Sure, it takes up some valuable space in the car, but I’d rather have all this stuff and not need it than the other way around. I’ve used lots of these items myself and helped a few other folks as well. If you already carry a roadside box, good for you. If you have items in your box that I don’t, I’d like to hear what they are.
Jumper cables for dead batteries.
Tire chains.
Knee pads for hooking up tow straps or installing chains.
8’ by 10’ tarp (helps with (3) above.)
Roadside flares or lights.
Flashlight (check your batteries) and/or 12 volt floodlight that will plug into your accessory (cigarette lighter) plug.
Roll of duct tape.
Windshield deicer, ice scraper and snow brush.
Pen and note pad in a zip-lock plastic bag.
Hand cleaner and towel.
Gloves and hat with ear muffs.
Space (thermal) blanket.
Bottle or two of water and some energy bars.
Collapsible snow shovel.
There are any number of portable battery packs suitable for jump starting your car for under a hundred bucks. Costco has some and most auto parts stores have them. I don’t have one yet, but will likely get one. Be sure to get one that shows the charge level so you can keep it fully charged for your adventures. You could substitute one of these gadgets for the jumper cables.
Remember: RED is positive and BLACK is negative. Your mechanic will show you which is which if you don’t already know.
That’s it for now, folks. Remember to turn everything in your car off (front and rear wipers, lights, heater, radio, etc.) before you attack the slopes (and the lift lines.) You don’t want to come back to a dead battery!
A few parting thoughts: Remember to carry an extra mask in case yours gets blown away. Thank a Ski Patroller sometime during the day. Every day. When you are playing on the snow, they are your first responders. Also, if you are skiing/riding at Mt. Bachelor, don’t take your frustration about the fast lane line jumpers out on the lifties. They didn’t create that bonehead policy, Powdr Corp did. The lifties are only in charge of enforcing it. They don’t like it any better than you do.
Be careful, think snow, and have fun!
Tom Arnold is the Eugene Representative for Northwest Ski Club Council, and also manufactures and sells some very useful snowsports accessories. See Tom’s products at https://powdercordpouch.com