So There I Was…
With this post’s decidedly UNholiday nature, I was going to wait until after Christmas to post. But considering that the majority of the nation is experiencing monster storms, I chose to post it today.
While clearing out the storage shelves in our laundry room (yikes!), I was sorting out some old towels for the local animal shelter and was reminded of a discovery I made a few years back.
I was out for a winter’s drive in my pick-up truck with my adult niece, Kate, creeping (around fifteen miles per hour in low-range) down the middle of a steep snow-packed mountain road, when the truck began sliding sideways. In less time than it takes to tell, the front and rear right tires slipped down into the drainage ditch paralleling the road.
Even in four wheel drive, there was no way to simply drive out of the ditch, about two or so feet deep. I tried everything. Slowly pressing down on the gas. Driving forward. Backing up. Digging a trench in the snow (with a shovel I keep in the back). Placing boards, sticks, dirt and duff in front of and in back of the tires for traction.
All to no avail. We were stuck. But good.
It was quite late in the afternoon, the shadows were lengthening and it was already cold–in the twenties with the temperature dropping fast.
I wasn’t worried though, determined rather, and annoyed at the thought of possibly having to be rescued. (There’s nothing more ignominious than a searcher have to be RESCUED!)
Although there was no cell phone coverage where we were, we could access a cell tower within a mile or so down the road of our location. Plus there was a house another mile or two beyond that. But, as cold as it was, I knew it was best to stay with the truck. There were plenty of survival supplies piled behind the front seats–blankets, sleeping bags, water, food, candles, flashlight and batteries, matches. But most important, I had filed a flight plan with my husband before leaving the house–he knew exactly where we had gone, as well as when we should return and when to come looking for us (two distinctly different things).
Still, NOT wanting to have to be rescued, I tried the last thing I had in the truck bed–some old towels. I laid them out in front of the tires, accelerated slowly and, slick as you please, drove right out of the ditch. Apparently, the nap of towels provided enough traction on both sides to both grip and stay in place on the snow and for the tires to grab.
I was so surprised. And thankful.
No embarrassing rescuing required!
Since then, I always keep a few towels in my vehicle.
Because one NEVER knows!
Happy Winter!
