“Ok. Jackie, kids, I think its time to wait outside the rig, I don’t think it or the snow is too stable!”, I heard myself saying New Year’s afternoon. I keep swearing to myself that this won’t happen again. Another year and another incident on the “washboard” with snow. At least this year it wasn’t dark, but unfortunately I wasn’t alone, so my family got to witness the sometimes frightening madness.
I guess its human nature and a little laziness that leads to the situation, but let me back up a little to explain what I’m speaking of.
The Washboard
Living off grid in a remote area, we have a longer than normal drive to reach a paved road (or “the box” as I call it). 3.8, but we’ll call it 4 miles to use round numbers. The first two miles are county “unmaintained” dirt road, and are really maintained and generally much nicer than the last 2 miles. They could be accurately characterized as single track truck trails. The washboard is a mile up the county part of the road where a small stream and road run straight up a narrow ravine. The steepest section couldn’t be more than a thousand feet long, before it gradually levels off in the next two sections. We call it the washboard, because this dirt section would become very washboardy every year with the hunter traffic and erosion. It is one of the 3 “challenge” places on our “driveway” of dirt.
The Drive Down
New years eve we had about 5-6″ of fresh snow on top of some old nearly melted but frozen snow. In the morning it was still about 30F, which kept the snow dry and sticky. Important factors for going down the washboard without chains. Going down the washboard in conditions like this, I put the Jimmy into 4WD low range and put the transmission in low for the ride down the steepest part. Its perfectly safe, since the drag of the engine keeps you crawling down the grade at a mile or two per hour. However, when in the steep section, you can not, should not, never ever, touch the breaks! If the tires stop at all, even slightly, you will be in sledding mode! Snow under your tires sledding over snow on the ground.
With our ten years living here, I always explain how we have the opportunity to drive our vehicles to “the edge” of what they will do in the snow before switching to snowmobiles. At the beginning of the season, I don’t want to wear out snowmobile runners (carbides) by using them too soon, so the longer we wait, the less wear and tear. Kinda sounds like my rationalization for what comes next…
The Ride Home
So, on the way home that afternoon, the temperature rose to 35F where the snow tends to consolidate and its “grip-shun” characteristics change. You always know there will be that time coming home, when you need to stop and put some chains on. I always like to think it will be ‘next time’. “I think we can make it”, I remember telling Jackie as we approached the washboard with a good head of steam! We bounced up half way, then started going a little slower, then a little slower still. Finally, all four wheels were spinning and no forward motion. I put on the breaks, we began to slide backwards. After about a dozen feet, we stopped a little sideways. Whew! Thank the Lord, and kids get out of the car while I put the chains on!
Another year, and another chain up on the washboard incident. This is the time of year for adventures, and now I think its really close to snowmobile switch over time!
Do you have any vehicle skiing experience? Any tips or hints for sliding? Please share, and comment below, because Thursday 1/7/2010 I’ll randomly pick one commenter below for a shiny new $3 paypal payment!
1/7/2010: congratulations to commenter Eric, you won the drawing!
Related posts:
You’re spawning a whole genre: driveway stories!
.-= Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend´s last blog ..Forget Resolutions 2010: Less Talk More Action (& Week in Review!) =-.
I once sledded down an ice hill….of course, I had no car!
I have heard that anti-lock brakes speed up sliding in some cases.
what an awesome website and story you have. Thanks for sharing it. You must admit sliding down backwards is more exhillerating then sitting in gridlock traffic on an L.A twelve lane freeway! Ask the youngsters what they would rather be doing and I bet everyone will take a ride in your 1500lb sled happily.