Comments on: Winter Driving Part Two http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html Discussion and opinions about the trucking industry Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Anonymous http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-987 Anonymous Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:47:09 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-987 Stream water needs to be boiled to avoid ingesting the Giardia parasite. Existing snow should probably be boiled for the same reason. Fresh fallen snow? The snow that's probably the cause of a trucker being stuck or stranded? Melt and drink. Stream water needs to be boiled to avoid ingesting the Giardia parasite. Existing snow should probably be boiled for the same reason. Fresh fallen snow? The snow that’s probably the cause of a trucker being stuck or stranded? Melt and drink.

]]> By: John http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-986 John Fri, 04 Jan 2008 03:15:51 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-986 Just FYI regarding the cell phones. I was told by a buddy who works for Verizon that any cell phone that has a charge at all can be used to call 911, regardless of whether or not that particular phone is attached to a calling plan or not. His mother doesn't use cell phones but he gives her his old ones and she keeps them charged and in her car when she travels just for emergency's sake. I have never tried this but I don't have a reason to doubt him. Just FYI regarding the cell phones. I was told by a buddy who works for Verizon that any cell phone that has a charge at all can be used to call 911, regardless of whether or not that particular phone is attached to a calling plan or not. His mother doesn’t use cell phones but he gives her his old ones and she keeps them charged and in her car when she travels just for emergency’s sake. I have never tried this but I don’t have a reason to doubt him.

]]> By: Anonymous http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-984 Anonymous Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:14:54 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-984 [What kind of bacteria is clean white snow going to have? (Enquiring Minds want to know)] I honestly don't know but the instructors at the army survival school at Ft Leonard Wood, Mo teach that. As does "Bear" on the Discovery channel's Man Vs. Wild. You even have to boil water taken from a clear running mountain stream. I was just passing the info along. I did like your Zappa reference though. ;-) [What kind of bacteria is clean white snow going to have? (Enquiring Minds want to know)]

I honestly don’t know but the instructors at the army survival school at Ft Leonard Wood, Mo teach that. As does “Bear” on the Discovery channel’s Man Vs. Wild.
You even have to boil water taken from a clear running mountain stream. I was just passing the info along.

I did like your Zappa reference though. ;-)

]]> By: Tim Wylder http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-981 Tim Wylder Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:05:57 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-981 Nope on the Fort Richardson, We went to Camp Ripley MN. For winter training. I remember the first time that we went there, we stayed in barracks while training on cross country ski's for two days. The day that we headed for the woods there was a bad blizzard and the radio was telling people that lived there, not to go out of their homes. So here we were, looking like nuts, pulling a big sled full of our equipment, trudging out into a blizzard. I was the second brake man behind the sled that I was attached to by a white rope, and I could not see the guys 10 yards in front pulling the sled. I really felt safe. Ha Ha. It snowed over two feet that day and I will never forget that week. Nope on the Fort Richardson, We went to Camp Ripley MN. For winter training. I remember the first time that we went there, we stayed in barracks while training on cross country ski’s for two days. The day that we headed for the woods there was a bad blizzard and the radio was telling people that lived there, not to go out of their homes. So here we were, looking like nuts, pulling a big sled full of our equipment, trudging out into a blizzard. I was the second brake man behind the sled that I was attached to by a white rope, and I could not see the guys 10 yards in front pulling the sled. I really felt safe. Ha Ha. It snowed over two feet that day and I will never forget that week.

]]> By: E. Phil Haley http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-969 E. Phil Haley Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:43:59 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-969 Well, I've got a funny story about the snow and Alabama but the way I tell stories there just isn't enough room here. Suffice to say, I was told by the authorities manning the road block that I couldn't continue driving on I-20 east, through Birmingham, because they didn't think trucks could get around the wrecked, stalled or abandoned cars. Less than three inches of snow covered the ground! And Everitt's right, clean snow doesn't need to be boiled; just melted. The less condensation created in close quarters the better. That's not to say a small stove isn't a good idea; I just never carried one 'cause I was more afraid of setting the truck on fire than having to eat a barely warmed can of chili. I'm not surprised to learn your winter survival expertise came from life in Illinois and winter training in the Army. Did you ever get to Ft. Richardson? Well, I’ve got a funny story about the snow and Alabama but the way I tell stories there just isn’t enough room here. Suffice to say, I was told by the authorities manning the road block that I couldn’t continue driving on I-20 east, through Birmingham, because they didn’t think trucks could get around the wrecked, stalled or abandoned cars. Less than three inches of snow covered the ground!

And Everitt’s right, clean snow doesn’t need to be boiled; just melted. The less condensation created in close quarters the better. That’s not to say a small stove isn’t a good idea; I just never carried one ’cause I was more afraid of setting the truck on fire than having to eat a barely warmed can of chili.

I’m not surprised to learn your winter survival expertise came from life in Illinois and winter training in the Army. Did you ever get to Ft. Richardson?

]]> By: Tim http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-968 Tim Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:55:41 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-968 Yea I meant to say "melt the snow", and The Travel centers of America still sell the Burton stoves as well as the cans of Butane to fuel them. I have had one of those for years. But your right, you have to crack a window for ventilation when using them. Also be very careful with butane because when the fuel is cold, it does not work properly and can cause a two foot flame to shoot out of the burner. In an emergency situation you will need to warm the can against your body before you use it. And Phil I didn't grow up down here in Alabama, I grew up way up in Illinois, in the middle of snow country. Not to mention some extensive winter training by the U.S. Army. When we get a little dusting of snow down here, I just get tickled as I watch this area fold up and stop because they have not one peice of snow removal equipment. Where I grew up you needed at least a foot of snow to call off school. Yea I meant to say “melt the snow”, and The Travel centers of America still sell the Burton stoves as well as the cans of Butane to fuel them. I have had one of those for years. But your right, you have to crack a window for ventilation when using them. Also be very careful with butane because when the fuel is cold, it does not work properly and can cause a two foot flame to shoot out of the burner. In an emergency situation you will need to warm the can against your body before you use it.

And Phil I didn’t grow up down here in Alabama, I grew up way up in Illinois, in the middle of snow country. Not to mention some extensive winter training by the U.S. Army. When we get a little dusting of snow down here, I just get tickled as I watch this area fold up and stop because they have not one peice of snow removal equipment. Where I grew up you needed at least a foot of snow to call off school.

]]> By: Everitt Mickey http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-967 Everitt Mickey Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:18:04 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-967 What kind of bacteria is clean white snow going to have? (Enquiring Minds want to know) I would assume no-one would eat the yellow snow? Snow= fluffy ice that falls from the sky. Ice = water in the solid state....less than 32 degrees F. Bacteria....need WARM damp nutritious places to live. None of which occur in airborne snow. What kind of bacteria is clean white snow going to have? (Enquiring Minds want to know)

I would assume no-one would eat the yellow snow?

Snow= fluffy ice that falls from the sky.

Ice = water in the solid state….less than 32 degrees F.

Bacteria….need WARM damp nutritious places to live. None of which occur in airborne snow.

]]> By: Anonymous http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-966 Anonymous Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:29:43 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-966 Just a couple of things to add to E Phil's comment. Don't stop at just melting it. You need to remove the bacteria from it by boiling it. And remember that the boiling point of water is lower at high altitudes. If you're stuck high up a mountain pass make sure you heat the water past the boiling point. Carrying a 1 burner propane fueled camping stove will heat those beans and franks AND provide warmth. But if you use it in your sleeper make sure to provide ventilation for the fumes. You can also use a sterno set. Just a couple of things to add to E Phil’s comment.
Don’t stop at just melting it. You need to remove the bacteria from it by boiling it. And remember that the boiling point of water is lower at high altitudes.
If you’re stuck high up a mountain pass make sure you heat the water past the boiling point.

Carrying a 1 burner propane fueled camping stove will heat those beans and franks AND provide warmth. But if you use it in your sleeper make sure to provide ventilation for the fumes. You can also use a sterno set.

]]> By: E. Phil Haley http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-964 E. Phil Haley Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:40:25 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-964 For somebody living in Alabama you do a pretty darn good job of covering the bases. Now for the hard part: getting folks to actually follow your advice! There is one correction I would make: no one in a winter survival situation should be advised to eat snow; always melt it first. If you've got plenty of food, and staying warm isn't an issue, then it's not that big of a deal. If, on the other hand, you're relying on blankets, sleeping bags and newspapers for heat, or your nutrition is limited, melt the snow and then drink the water. Just another reason to bring plenty of candles!! For somebody living in Alabama you do a pretty darn good job of covering the bases. Now for the hard part: getting folks to actually follow your advice! There is one correction I would make: no one in a winter survival situation should be advised to eat snow; always melt it first. If you’ve got plenty of food, and staying warm isn’t an issue, then it’s not that big of a deal. If, on the other hand, you’re relying on blankets, sleeping bags and newspapers for heat, or your nutrition is limited, melt the snow and then drink the water. Just another reason to bring plenty of candles!!

]]> By: Attin http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-962 Attin Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:58:56 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2007/12/31/winter-driving-part-two/503.html#comment-962 This is a really neat article. I enjoyed reading it and learned a few things I didn’t know before. Thank you! This is a really neat article. I enjoyed reading it and learned a few things I didn’t know before. Thank you!

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