In a blog many months ago, I recounted a harrowing experience when I got ensnared in a blizzard while driving a rental car across the High Plains of western Wyoming. The humorous tone I took disguised just how traumatizing it was. I was away from home, alone, unfamiliar with the area and had no more protection against the elements than a light spring coat and a frozen orange. There were white out conditions and other than the taillights on the car in front of me (intermittently visible!), I could see almost nothing. The part of this trek that made my panic set in is that on I-80 in western Wyoming, there are miles and miles between exits. There is no choice except to keep going. At 15-20 mph, it seems like an eternity. I kept thinking about the Jack London creepy hypothermia-in-detail short story, To Build a Fire, which was not helpful at all.

Back home in Minnesota, I know what I'm dealing with. I know every crack in the pavement in Minneapolis, and I have my survival kit in my minivan. I grew up on the Canadian border which presented winter dangers frequently, so I learned the drill. There are frequent exits on the interstates here so if you get in over your head, you can take a powder (pun intended) when you see a "lodging" sign.

Tomorrow, I am about to drive into a bad weather forecast in rural Minnesota.  I have to retrieve my son from college for the Thanksgiving weekend. They kick the kids out of the dorms and lock up. I'm going to start out early-travel early in the day is supposed to be passable-so I'm relatively confident I will make it to the college town. The return trip scares me. My son's last class lets out about 3 pm-just when things are going to get dicey.  If the state patrol advises no travel, Eric and I will be getting a hotel room and staying put. We'll be together for Thanksgiving, but without Dad. It would be a bummer, but Dad would rather have two live bummers arriving a day late.  

Back to winter survival. In potential blizzard areas, a kit in the car is a must.  Even if the weather forecast sounds great, we all know predictions aren't infallible. It's my opinion that the first piece of equipment one needs is a cell phone. The cost of cell service can be difficult for some, but there are cell services that only have one calling option-a call to 911-and these are relatively inexpensive. I'm going to list some resources that describe how to protect oneself in a winter emergency and, specifically, how to assemble a winter survival kit.  

Here they are

The State of Minnesota's Winter Weather Preparation website:  http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/WHAH_WinterSurvivalKitsForVehicles.asp

Minnesota Department of Public Safety: http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/documents/WinterSurvivalInYourCar.pdf

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation:  http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/winterdriving/survival-kit.htm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (The CDC): http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp

These lists are pretty comprehensive, but a couple of points I would like to emphasize. Keep your gas tank full. In this kind of weather, I stop and refuel when it's got ¾ of a tank. And lastly, at your pit stops, visit restrooms even if you think you don't have to. Trust me. I learned this in western Wyoming.