Snowfall means winter is here

Had our first real bit of snow yesterday which means it is time to make sure any seasonal preps have been attended to. For me, that mostly means putting sand and a shovel in the back of the truck, putting the Winter Module into my Bag O’ Tricks(tm), and making double-sure the generator is ready to roll.

I live in an extremely urban part of Montana, so the power rarely goes out here and when it does it is usually in the winter, it is very localized, and is almost always back in a few hours. So, there’s not really a huge risk of damage there…but whose to say the next outage won’t be region-wide? Or larger?

The part of Montana I live in is also, weirdly, the warmest part of Montana. When Billings and Great Falls are -20, it’s 5 degrees here. This valley, for some reason, seems to just stay warm. Probably a volcano down there somewhere that no one has paid attention to.

Regardless, it’s time to switch modes from warm-weather to cold-weather. And, that means making sure your vehicle is ready for whatever winter brings. I had a whole series of posts on that sort of thing. There’s nothing heroic or glamourous about freezing to death by the side of the road because you thought one of those foil mylar blankets and a few handwarmers were going to be all you needed to get through a cold night in your car. No one is going to hand out awards to people who made it through a crisis with the least amount of gear…grab a sleeping bag or two, shove them in a Home Depot orange bucket, hammer a lid onto it, and – presto- a watertight, dustproof, dirtproof, protective container for your sleeping bag.

In addition to car stuff, go make sure you’ve got everything you need in case a pipe pops somewhere. Make sure nothing is obstructing the water shutoffs, have material handy (clamps, sheets of gasket material, etc.) to at least jury-rig something to keep things relatively dry.

And , of course, carry extra warm clothing. I dont mean “Extra warm” clothing, I mean extra “warm clothing”….because there is always someone, usually a Gyno-American, who underdressed for weather because the warm goosdown parka was ‘the wrong color’ or was ‘ugly’ and instead thinks wearing fleece tights and a ‘cute’ fleece jacket will suffice. And the hat will ‘mess up’ her hair. Carry extras, guys.

WInter is here, time to shift gears.

12 thoughts on “Snowfall means winter is here

  1. Your last paragraph sounds like the lead in to quite a few cute/erotic stories on a web site or two. Never tell what a little extra “warm clothing” might lead to on a cold, dark winter’s night. Stay toasty. Gray Fox

  2. You folks “just” got your first snow? The UP and northern lower pennisula got snow early last week. Upper got 13 inches over in Copper Country. Northern lower got about 6. We got a he’ll of a windstorm yesterday. Power stayed on. Guess the millions they invested rebuilding the grid in this area has paid off. Used to be if a chipmunk farted the power went down.

  3. Many years ago when my now wife and I were dating she showed up at my place, then in Minnesota and the dead of winter (-20), with a thin leather jacket and thin leather (both unlined) gloves and ‘cute’ shoes. Yeah – I had on a goose down parka and Sorel boots which fit the weather. I got her dressed in a spare coat, some good gloves and we bought some winter boots for her as the first thing we did upon her arrival at my doorstep.

    Her rational was: “Yeah I’m freezing but, I look good!” Yeah, she looked good and figured out how to do so dressed better too. Kept her and that was a great decision.

  4. gonna be 80 tomorrow here, but 29 by friday. gotta love four seasons, even when they all come in one week. just put my summer bag back in the truck, now i have to pull it and repack.

  5. Yes. That cold is your friend, embrace it. It keeps scumbaggery at bay, there
    Is a delineation line in the scheme of things that scum baggers types can’t function at minus zero freeze scenarios. Those that are strategically relocating, this is the kernel of info. Those of us chaps that have kit and knowledge, (ain’t scared!) Will just shrug it off and say “o.k. = what’s next”. Have Those preps the commander mentions and all will be o.k.. pray for deep snow, and super sub zero temperatures.
    Stay frosty, really literally.

    • That is true. When I was in college most of the data sets we examined showed that when winter came the members of the Free Shit Army returned to quarters.
      My kids think I’m nuts. I buy new military surplus. I ‘ve got 2 M65 Fishtail parkas. A Czech parka I paid $12.99 for. It was new and has a great liner. Great coat for the money. Also have an M65 Field jacket with liner. Got an Italian parka last year. Didn’t have to much time to give it a complete shake down. Got some three finger shooters mittens.for all the parkas and coats. I don’t have more then $150 bucks total. It works and it lasts.

    • May work until .gov interferes and drop ships a bunch of somalis to Minnesota who can’t figure out they would be much happier elsewhere.

  6. I just hope winter stays WEST of the Mississippi River. Snow sucks. I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life. Guess I’m either to poor or to lazy to move.

  7. I’m glad it’s not very cold in Florida. Although we have a good chance of a hurricane this week.

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