The Ultimate Winter Road Trip Safety Guide

www.porch.com

Winter road trips are great — you can travel to some thrilling locations and have a fantastic winter experience. You might indulge in winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, ice skating, and curling. Perhaps you enjoy cozy winter holidays in snowy mountain cabins. Winter conditions are hazardous, so you need to be prepared to deal with anything that can go wrong. Snow and ice make it harder for you to slow your car down. Your car may lose traction on hills, or while starting from a complete stop. You’ll want to know what to do in the worst-case scenario and have the materials to help when needed. Winter conditions are livable if you’re a patient driver and prepared for the worst. You can have a safe, joyous trip by knowing the best practices for driving through the snow.

Trucking companies take steps to prevent accidents, whether that be making sure truck drivers have proper safety information, pre-hiring training and tests, and rewarding drivers for safe driving.

Prepare your car for a winter road trip

Tires are an essential factor for a safe winter road trip. Ideally, you’ll have snow or all-season tires with a rating for mud and snow. The cold weather lowers air pressure in tires, so check and fill your tires if needed. Once your tires are winter-ready, you can outfit your car with supplies.

Winter driving and car safety are about preparedness. You’ll often use your windshield wiper fluid, so check that your tank is full, and keep an extra container on hand. Good sunglasses are also a game-changer to handle glares from the sun reflecting off the snow. Ensure your phone is charged, and keep it plugged in during the drive. Gloves and ice scrapers are helpful too.

It’s good to be prepared for the worst before you leave for your winter road trip. Have a large, thick blanket in the trunk and some emergency snacks. If you’re spinning your wheels on a slippery section, sand or kitty litter can provide traction to get you going. Finally, an emergency car kit that contains flairs, a flashlight, jumper cables, and other valuable items is wise to have on hand.

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What to do before the trip

Before you leave, get an oil change, and ask them to ensure the car is ready for a winter road trip. The technicians will ensure all your fluids are topped off — including your antifreeze (which your car needs in the cold), windshield wiper fluid, and oil. They’ll check the tire pressure and will install winter windshield wipers if you need them. It’s always a good idea to have a paper map if the GPS fails. If the forecast predicts a blizzard, consider an alternative route, or travel on a different day.

How to drive on snow roads and ice

It’s vital to maximize your visibility in winter conditions. Scrape all the ice from your windows and the windshield. Brush all the snow from your car, including the sides and the back. Snow blows away in the wind, and the last thing you want is to suddenly have your vision impaired due to snow from your car.

There may be times you have to brake in slippery conditions. If you have ABS (traction control), push hard on the brake and leave it suppressed until the car fully stops. The ABS may make noise or cause the vehicle to vibrate, but it’s working to help you. If you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes so your vehicle continues to slow as it moves straight.

If you’re fully stopped and struggling to move, tap the gas repeatedly to get a rocking motion going. This method gives you momentum to help push you forward. Traction control can work against you if you’re struggling to get moving. Turn it off, and you should find it more manageable. Be sure to keep your tank over half full for the entire drive. The half a tank is a contingency if you need to pull over so you don’t lose access to heat.

On the road

The best thing you can do in the snow is drive slowly. Your vehicle will struggle to brake, and you may need extra clearance to avoid hitting the car in front of you. It’s best to give the car ahead a lot of distance. It’s also wise to stay in your lane and only pass if you’re sure it’s safe. Winter driving is a hazard, but if you give yourself lots of time to arrive at your destination, you’ll maximize your chances of an uneventful drive.

If conditions are bad, it’s best to pull over rather than risk an accident. Avoid pulling over on the side of the highway if possible, as lanes can be challenging to see in snowy conditions. Oncoming traffic may not realize you’re unmoving on the side of the road.

Bridges and tunnels are likely to form black ice. Black ice is a term for ice that blends into the street. Do not slam the brakes if you see a black ice patch and the car loses control. Take your foot off the gas so the car slows, and tap the brakes in short pumps.

Keep your wheel pointed in the direction you want the car to go.

If you’re on a hill, try not to stop for any reason. You may slide backward, and climbing the hill from a complete stop will be challenging. Avoid aggressively accelerating up the incline, which can cause your tires to spin. Take it slow and steady. When the temperature is below freezing, it’s best to take the road slower than usual. The faster you drive, the harder it is to stop (especially in bad conditions).

Winter driving is all about maintaining control.

Ideally, you can avoid driving in a snowstorm altogether. If you are in one, avoid using the high-beam lights. While this seems counter-intuitive, the snowfall reflects the light and mitigates the efficacy of the high beams. Stick with low beams in heavy snow if you drive in heavy snowfall. In any winter conditions, avoid using cruise control.

How to make the road trip more comfortable

You’ll want to be relaxed and alert for your winter drive. Your comfort is a crucial component, so you can’t afford to focus on discomfort when driving in bad conditions. Choose a comfortable temperature for the vehicle, and keep your windows defrosted. You should also wear your jacket while driving. If you get in an accident, and the heat stops working, you’ll be glad you did.

Have a great playlist ready for your drive, and don’t fiddle with it once your trip begins. If you like snacks, set them up in advance so you can reach them without taking your eyes off the road. The same suggestion applies to coffee or water.

car safety

Winter driving can lead to some enjoyable adventures. Winter conditions aren’t ideal, but if you take your time and go into the drive well-prepared, you’ll have an excellent trip. If winter driving makes you nervous, try finding a large empty parking lot, and practice losing control where you won’t hit anyone. Winter roads can be dangerous but can also lead to beautiful locations. By following the best practices, you’ll arrive safely and be glad you made the trip.

Safe Winter Driving Tips

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming recently announced the Coquihalla Highway will reopen for commercial vehicles, and the essential travel restrictions on Highway #3 will be lifted for the holidays, so we are able to welcome all visitors to Manning Park Resort starting December 22nd! 

With all the recent press about the highways in Southern BC, we definitely have a healthy respect for our mountain roads! It is important to respect the roads and drive carefully, however, we want you to feel confident to drive Highway #3.

If you’re driving, here are a few tips to ensure you get here safely from ShiftIntoWinter.ca: Click the links to read more.

  1. Prepare yourself for winter driving. (Including planning your route, leaving enough time, checking conditions, and learning winter road skills.)
  2. Prepare your vehicle for winter driving. (Including having winter tires, checking your fluids and wiper blades, packing an emergency kit)
  3. Drive for the conditions. (Maintain a safe following distance, slow down, accelerate and brake slowly, and do not pass unless safe and permitted to do so)

BC Highway #3 requires winter tires from October 1-March 31.

  • The letters “M” and “S”, the minimum legal requirement (mud + snow/all-season tires)
  • The 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol (some manufacturers label with both the mountain snowflake and the M+S symbol)

To learn more about winter tire requirements, see here.

Here’s another great way to safely drive the mountain roads – take the bus! Mountain Man Mike’s offers bus service weekly to Manning Park Resort.

 

We have an excellent highway crew that works tirelessly in all types of weather to ensure the roads stay safe for you and your family. This involves plowing the roads when it is snowing, or spreading salt or gravel.

If you encounter a road plow, keep your distance until the plow truck pulls over to allow you to pass. And never pass a snowplow on the inside! 

Once you arrive at Manning Park Resort, park the car and relax! We offer a free shuttle bus between the lodge and the ski area, with a stop at Strawberry Flats. The bus runs regularly throughout the day. Check the schedule here.

Want to learn more about winter driving? Visit ShiftIntoWinter.ca and take the online quiz to test your winter driving knowledge!

Cell Service Coverage Comes to Highway #3

July 20, 2018

Cell Service Coverage Comes to Highway #3

Cell service has recently been activated between Hope and Princeton on Highway #3, effective early this summer.

With new Telus cellular micro-cells installed in Sunshine Valley, Manning Park and the East Gate community, the cell service provides short-range cellular coverage along the highway from Hope-Princeton.

Vern Schram, who has recently taken on the role of General Manager of Manning Park Resort, welcomes the improvements. “We are supportive of bringing cell service along the highway, as many people have safety concerns about driving Highway #3. We are hoping that this will alleviate apprehensions about driving it, because it really is a beautiful, scenic route to take to get to Manning Park Resort.”

“We’re estimating that it reaches about 500m on either side of the highway around the Resort,” he adds.

Manning Park Resort has long been known as a location to ‘get away from it all.’ Schram says the company motto is to support having “Fresh Air Experiences” at Manning Park Resort, and “we encourage our guests and families to create the experience they want while they are here, which may mean switching off your phone once you arrive.”

It is not expected that the coverage will reach beyond the highway corridor, so caution should still be used when travelling in the backcountry of E.C. Manning Park, as you may not be able to rely on cell reception for navigation or in the event of an emergency.

The recent re-paving efforts from Sumallo Flats to Allison Pass on highway #3 is also nearing completion.

Major Improvements coming to Manning Park Resort – updated photos!

Click here to see current photo album.

Five New Cabins and Fresh Pavement (2017)

Five premium cabins are to be built this summer, with a planned total of 25 new cabins to be constructed over a 5-year period.

Complete road paving will be done around the Resort from the highway exit to the Pinewoods building.

Guests will enjoy the finished renovations and refurbishing of Pinewoods Dining Room and accommodations.

Kevin Demers, owner of Manning Park Resort, announced these major capital improvements scheduled for this spring at Manning Park Resort.

Resort guests have frequently requested more cabin accommodations, particularly in peak seasons; “We turn away a lot of families during our busy seasons,” Demers says referencing both outdoor recreation visitors as well as the growing number of weddings at the Resort. “The ‘cabin market’ is growing more popular every year.”

“Gathering your family or friends to stay in a cabin in a beautiful park is an incredibly Canadian experience and it creates life-long memories,” adds Mike Barker, general manager of Manning Park Resort. “We are delighted to announce the short term plan of 5 new cabins starting immediately, with a longer plan of building 25 in total.”

The new premium cabins will sleep up to 12 people, with 2 complete bathrooms. They will each feature a loft and a large covered deck. Most cabins will be located near Windy Joe’s Hall, with some planned around the existing cabins.

Work begins this week on the premium cabins with the first footings and foundations being poured. Demers plans a phased approach to building the cabins, scheduling 5 cabins to be built per year, over the span of 5 years. By the time all the cabins are finished, the total investment just in that area alone will exceed $2 million.

The anticipated completion date for the first five cabins is the fall of 2017.

The second large project moving forward this month is the paving of the area around the Resort between the highway exits, including around the Alpine Room and Pinewoods building.

This project represents a significant investment of $150 000, but as Mike Barker, the general manager states, “with the huge amount of traffic passing through, we recognized that this is an essential upgrade. Not only will this improve our summer and winter access, but motorcyclists will definitely breathe a sigh of relief when it’s completed!”

These developments come hot on the heels of the recently completed Alpine Room, a 3500 square foot function room addition to the Pinewoods building. With a capacity of 200 people, its main purpose as a function room for weddings, corporate meetings and other group events has been well received.

Further upgrades to infrastructure around the Resort include floor and ceiling refurbishments in the Pinewoods Dining Room, as well as updates and repairs to accommodations and pool facilities.

All Resort facilities will remain open during upgrades. GM, Mike Barker adds, “We are working hard to keep Manning Park Resort your premier destination for year-round fresh air experiences. Thank you for your understanding as we work to improve it!”

When asked about the effect of these significant investments, Kevin Demers commented, “We need to tell the world west of Manning Park that we are here and we have a lot to offer.”

Plans for the new cabins will be coming soon! Please see our Operation Notes regarding the renovations and upgrades here: https://manningpark.com/renovations-and-upgrades-operation-notes/

Come up to check out the progress throughout the summer!

Plans designed by:

Raymond S. Bonter, Designer Ltd.
www.raymondbonterdesigner.ca
“Trusted Leader in Home Design for Over Half a Century”

June 23, 2017
June 23, 2017
June 23, 2017

 

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