01-24-2018, 10:17 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2018 2SS Triple Black Performance Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 43
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Blizzard, Snow, Black Ice, Sleet, Snowy Mountains, Blowing/Blindin Snow - Never Again
Hello Friends,
I had to travel to Portland OR for personal reasons. My daughter and I checked the route, weather, road conditions etc. and finalized a window when it was clear, (apart from just some rain and stuff around 42 F) during the duration of our trip (now I know it was supposed to be clear and just a prediction). This trip was from Colorado Springs, CO To Portland, OR (close to 1400 miles). Left Colorado springs, clear all the way past Denver on I-25, then turn in to I-80 entering Wyoming, drive for a mile or so, first flashing signs, " Blowing Snow, Blizzard, Black Ice, Slow Down and use caution"). I am like what???? My car is just one month old so never got around to changing tires, still running performance tires. And guess what, every bit of what that sign said, HAPPENED. Slipping, crawling, then slipping again, then crawling again and a whole lot of Prayers, This went on for hours, we were tensed like crazy and then my daughter who was with me, said, Daddy, I just checked the weather again, we cross Wyoming somehow, we will be fine. Since I was driving so slow with hazard lights on, it took us forever to cross Wyoming. Entered Utah, what a relief, or so I thought, we got flashing sign board with this welcome when we entered Utah "Black Ice, dangerous conditions, use caution". I was like, is there anyway we can go back or can this all be just a bad dream. Same story, same bad conditions, finally got out of Utah. Entered Idaho, AGAIN, similar snow, sleet, slush, Ice, you name it, it was there. Crossed Idaho and finally entered Oregon. What a relief, the roads were clear, sky was overcast but no snow or rain. I was like finally this is over, thank god. So we are driving peacefully and finally relaxing and enjoying the drive with music. Then we reach the beautiful "Cascade Range", miles and miles of amazing winding, curvy, up and down mountain pass, it also has something called the "Deadman's Pass". So now the beautiful eager wait to get there was soon welcomed with nightmare called "Blizzard". Check out the pics, it turned out to be miles and miles of worst driving conditions even for the toughest AWD vehicles. I was so nervous throughout this range of slopes and inclines filled with snow, ice and sleet that I couldn't feel my throat or even get words out, that's how dry it got. God know how the car was even moving in this place and how we got out alive and not end up in a ditch or skid of the mountain. Again, you all can imagine how it would have been with the stock summer only tires I have. Once we got out of the area, it was some icy patches until we crossed Cascade locks and then finally just rain for the last 80 miles of my 1421 mile drive. Never thought I would be so glad to drive in rain. I have just few things to say. Thank you God for keeping us alive and I would Never try to do something so stupid again. Have no idea how those tires were able to grip even this much (I keep saying this because I am still not able to get over it). Anyway, never again for sure. Just wanted to share this crazy experience. My daughter took the pics, I was too nervous to even take my hands off the steering. I am now at Portland and we are exploring an alternate route probably via Sacramento and Grand Junction so we stay as south as possible. |
01-24-2018, 10:24 PM | #2 |
Drives: Crush ZLE M6 | 2000 Corvette FRC Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cencal
Posts: 1,659
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Damn, no chains or anything? That’s nuts. Glad you made it
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01-24-2018, 10:25 PM | #3 |
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,043
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Buy a set of blizzaks tomorrow and ship the oem tires home.
You made a mistake, which wans’t stupid if you learned from it. Doing it twice would be stupid, since you learned but then chose to ignore the risk the second time. |
01-24-2018, 10:40 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2016 Hyper Blue 2SS Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 498
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Yea that snow storm doubled are snow total here in Utah for this season. I drive mine in the winter on blizzaks. Can't even imagine driving in the snow on stock tires.
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2SS Hyper Blue Metallic | A8 | Jet Black Interior | NPP Exhaust
Current Mods: Catch Can | aFe Lowering Springs | GM 2nd Gen Splitter | Hotchkis Sway Bars | MRR FS02 Wheels | Flowmaster Exhaust | Dark Tail Lights | Diode Dynamics Sidemarkers | Roto Fab | Solar TB | PRAY Ported IM | BMR | PRAY Tune Upcoming Mods: |
01-25-2018, 06:07 AM | #5 |
Drives: Former 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 760
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Snow and ice on summer tires is treacherous. I had a brand new 2010 WRX I bought with summer tires in New England and we had a few inches of snow and I thought wow I get to try out how capable the car is with AWD. Well it was plain horrible- i nearly lost it going down a steep hill on a back road to my house. The AWD did nothing with the summer tires. Winter snow and ice tires make a HUGE difference. If you live or have to drive in snow and ice weather like this, get snow tires or at the very least have all season tires one your car.
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2006 C6 Corvette Manual, 2019 Silverado, 1997 Jeep Wrangler
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01-25-2018, 07:12 AM | #6 | |
Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Ocean City, NJ
Posts: 3,289
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Quote:
I would think buying a car in Colorado in December that the dealer would at least warn you about summer tires, or offer the option to swap out to something safer to drive off the lot. Probably very naive on my part to think they would give a crap. Assuming you bought locally, there were nights in December where the manual clearly indicates you should not drive on those tires: https://www.wunderground.com/history...eqdb.wmo=99999 |
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01-25-2018, 08:02 AM | #7 |
Drives: Too many to list Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: East Coast Runner
Posts: 878
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Lesson learned for sure! Be safe out there. Equip your ride with the proper equipment for the conditions.
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01-25-2018, 08:49 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2016 2SS, Red Hot, NPP, Nav, M6 Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Eagle Creek OR
Posts: 783
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Scary for sure & glad you both made it safely. Yes, beautiful roads in the Cascade, try it again in the late Spring or Summer. Someone mentioned buying show tires & shipping your summer tires back home. Not a bad idea, no sales tax in Oregon!
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01-25-2018, 11:39 AM | #9 |
Drives: 2018 2SS Camaro Hot Wheels Edition Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,814
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OP,
What made you think that you could make that trip on your stock tires at this time of the year?
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Zack46
2018 Camaro 2SS Orange Crush Hot Wheels Limited Edition Power Sunroof, 8 Speed Auto/Remote Start, NPP Exhaust Production Sequence Number 98 NEOCC Camaro Club Member Former Ride: 2016 Camaro 2LT RS V6 Hyper Blue Metallic |
01-25-2018, 11:56 AM | #10 |
Drives: 2003 Pete Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IL
Posts: 350
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I live in Illinois, which is flat prairies. Traveled through western NV about 10 yrs ago in April thinking it was spring so no worries. Checked the weather & nothing was mentioned. However, it started dumping snow & everything else. Driving in to clouds or what ever made me realize that mountains only look good in photos & possibly July in person.
As far as your Grand Junction idea. 70 across CO is not exactly a cake walk & you would still have to cross Vail Pass. |
01-25-2018, 12:23 PM | #11 |
Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Ocean City, NJ
Posts: 3,289
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01-25-2018, 12:42 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Mt. Pinos
Posts: 279
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There is no easy way back. I put over 100k miles a year on these roads, and bad weather is a near constant this time of year in the Cascades, Blue Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, Wasatch Range, and Rockies. I use the free apps Quickmap and My Radar to plan my trips. The poster who recommended changing tires is spot-on. Well worth the investment. You'll need them again since Colorado is your home.
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01-25-2018, 12:54 PM | #13 |
Drives: Slo'ly Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Denver
Posts: 138
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I live towards DIA, on your drive back, if you have any issues, let me know. Im willing to rent a car trailer (at your expense) and drive up to Wyoming to fetch you with my Silverado. Don't take chances....glad you and daughter are ok but you may not be so lucky next time. I will not accept payment for myself, just would want a trailer rental reimbursed.
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01-25-2018, 03:50 PM | #14 | |
Quote:
Hats off to a great person making a sacrifice to help another Camaro owner.
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Stirling
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