In 93, on my way from Baltimore back to the yard with 41K pound load of olive oil and headed south on 95 trying to outrun the storm. Thankfully I had fueled up, because I ended up stuck in Virgina, on the freeway, for 27 hours. About 8 hours later A guy knocked on my door and asked If him and his family could warm up in my truck as they were nearly out of fuel. I went back with him and helped carry the children through the hip deep drifts. I had a 92 freightliner doublebunker then and the kids ended up falling asleep watching TV in the back. Was one heck of an experience, but I would do it again and I know many other truckers did the same.
Years ago I picked up lots of hich hikers stopped to help not now to many people have killed good Samaritans.or maybe I'm getting old but sorry when traveling no stopping.
I remember that storm if it’s the same one. We had all freezing rain/sleet on the eastern shore of Maryland. I was in 7th grade and we were out of school for 2 weeks straight. I think we got like 2-3” of ice which was devastating. All of the power lines were down from the weight, trees and branches could be heard snapping and cracking in every direction. Many cars were destroyed from huge branches falling onto them. No power for about 10 days. It was nice getting out of school for so long so I kinda enjoyed it, but it was like walking through a war zone/zombie apocalypse for two weeks with everything breaking, falling, and sirens going off constantly
I grew up at the base of a mountain pass off I-90 in northern Idaho and used to put chains on the trucks for pocket cash. Don’t know if anyone still does that, but it was a good time and the truckers loved us.
The few times I have driven to to the west coast and back to the Midwest in my car i have to say i have definitely have a great respect for you truckers that do this for a living, those mountains are no joke, you guys put your lives on the line to do your job, all it takes is one drivers mistake to cause a major pile up, thanks for all you do and be safe
Great video Mike, funnily enough I'm another trucker who didn't mind driving in snow, but you take it to another level. Anyway I enjoy riding along with you now I'm retired, it's good to make a mile again. All the best for 2023, keep the shiny side up. Seeya, Peace!
Slide off the hill!! How could you fall asleep after that thought MMM? It was a pretty scene cruising past those snow covered trees. Happy Healthy New Year to you and your family. God bless you
Watching you drive like that, scares the hell out of me!!! I dont see well at night anymore! I hate driving in any kind of snow!!! I'm originally from Florida and have lived in Alaska for 23 years! I hate driving up here, rather stay locked up at home.
Merry Christmas Mike - great to see snow again! That was a nice story of Rocky letting you warm up in his car - not many folks would do that these days, sadly. Happy New Year in case don't get a chance to say it before then. 🍾🥂
I’m 5:44 in and this has me grinding my teeth more than any action movie. Knowing how terrible this storm has been for both Canada and the US I hope everyone uses all their common sense on the roads
Bless you Mike for doing videos driving in the snow I have not drove much in snow but I enjoy Watching and Riding with you . Keep on Trucking in the snow Stay safe AND stay warm . Thank you. It would be fun to ride along. LoL
Hi Mike - Stayed at Chemult many times and at the rest area just south on 97. Thanks for the vids and the memories. Will be looking for a Quality truck here in Phoenix!! Haha
Hi from Arizona! I hope the New Year treats you with happiness and all the good things you need! I have confidence in your excellent driving skills and love your videos! I really enjoy your stories. You could have been a talk show host; you have a gift of performing lively and colorful conversation.
We were in Colorado Springs on Wednesday b4 Christmas. 50 at 1600, 7 at 2100, and -8 at 0800 on Thursday! Great Falls had -20s for close to a week. Be back in Great Falls tomorrow. Colorado is crazy! Way too many people! Lived there for 52 years and couldn't handle it anymore!
Yes, I would ask a stranger if I could sit in their vehicle in an emergency situation. It was brutal sat. with -6 less with wind chill. My propane froze. My Sister couldn't come, car wouldn't start. I pulled out another heavy blanket put on top, got my sweatpants on toughed it out. There was no warming center in the county I reside in. I checked Sat. eve. We didn't loose power, several did in other areas of the county. That was brutal. My body aches enough without adding frigid temps. The infrared heater done pretty good, with the door shut, It may have been 30ish. Our temps this week up in the 50-60s into 1/6/23 in Independence, Virginia.
We had bitter cold, also, in Louisiana. Down in the teens and below freezing for highs for a couple of days. I was all piled up in many layers of clothes and blankets. Even my two cats got under the blankets. Several days later and we are on the 70s.
Hi from Washington state. The ice here was no fun good thing didn’t last long. Wishing a safe and Happy New Year to you and as I always say keep the dirty side down and the Shiny side up.
Mike, I know home time is precious, but I was wondering if you could possibly do a live Q & A sometime? I know I am not alone, with many questions for you!
Hey!!! Mountain Man Mike, Love your videos and I Love to travel. Especially, your videos from Vegas to Colorado, because I know that stretch from the back of my hand from traveling back and forward to Michigan my hometown. Your videos are my go to for relaxation. My daughter always asks me where am I at today, lol. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, keep doing what you're doing I enjoy your videos Matika from Las Vegas, Peace
3 miles south of chemult, is a rest area, then 49 miles is the Indian casino with truck parking. I like both of those. Both chemult and klamath falls pilots always seem to be full. Snow even worse... 58 east of the tunnel is always icy in winter. One year, 17 trucks accident. Had to go Bend and cut across Mt Hood on the 26. Stay safe out there
The Bob Ross of trucking thats who you remind me of mike good job good job ,,,you do an excellent job driving in the snow excellent job and you communicate with such a calm voice ,reminds me of the late Bob Ross. Take care and happy new year 🎆🎈🎊
Idaho has been chit show ice , rain snow , wind ,snow on top of ice OMG I stayed home my van was froze wouldn’t start and snow covered and all around it tryed clearing it but it was 20 below , today I finally got out.
Happy New Year '23 when it comes Mike and to al your fellow and female trucking associates. You stay safe out there on the highways and byways and guess we'll see you on the flipside somewhere along the routes.
I'm sitting here (on very windy (supposedly summer in NZ) cool night, thinking that as a trucker, you'd be better off with at least one pair if not two pair, of high brightness 9" LED Driving lights, mounted atop our cab roof, just for this scenario at 26:00 with nothing approaching yet there's that HUGE pitch black "hole" right in the middle distance, created by having high beam lights mounted well below the drivers position. With some top of cab "very bright" driving LED Lights, that black hole about 150 - 200 Yards in front, would immediately be brightened to allow you to SEE the road (and anything stationary without lights) for a much greater "safety" distance ahead, which would let me get OFF the front of my wheelchair and sit back correctly, in the knowledge that YOU aren't driving blind.
Wow, Mike you really have me on this one. Hwy 58 goes from Eugene to Hwy 97 Between Crescent and Chemult. Had to Google Map Columbia City, OR. I have drove over Hwy 30 more than a few times never read the name even on a map. And I've lived in Oregon all my 59 years.
A happy and prosperous New Year to you and yours is sent from southwest Germany. Stay healthy & always drive careful. Greetings from Uncle Guenter 💯👍🙋♂
Back in 2008 20 miles from home my car broke down in 17 degrees. It was a back road with houses. It was going to be 3 hrs before someone could come get me. Yes, I had to ask a stranger to stay inside for a few hrs.
I've hauled in snow for years, never bothered me to roll over the rockies. That was when all the trucks I drove were manual. Now, with the automatic I have I feel less comfortable. Overall the automatic is kinda nice but every time I pull a load down a mountain I REALLY miss my old school manual trucks.
I would make 4 trips a week hauling skiers up to the ski area the one thing I hated the most was coming up behind a car going down hill at 10 to 15 mph
Drove from Lincoln, NE to Dubuque, IA in 1984, in a Dodge Omni with no heater and below zero temperatures. Remember all the semis along I80 sitting with jellied fuel tanks. Never again. By the way, CRST Cedar Rapids Steel Transport, I imagine she's had a little experience with ice. Southern Iowa gets its share.
I’ve heard so many people say that you have to know how to drive on snow and ice. I’m no expert, but it seems to me that no matter how many millions of miles you have under your belt, you would have to slow down in those conditions, and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns. I’ve seen semi drivers barreling down the road going 60 miles an hour in treacherous conditions.😮
on a Christmas road trip with a girlfriend back in the 70's , driving back to Washington. traffic came to a stand still. sitting on I-5 in Portland, pouring freezing rain. Girlfriend had to pee, I said, "Go knock on that greyhound door." Ask to use their bathroom. that's my asking another vehicle story.
I think you might have been talking about the Wednesday before Christmas. When I saw your title, I thought you were going to say you were stuck on I-70. Took me 4 and half hours to go from Silverthorne to Georgetown, a trip you do all the time. Longest drive in 30+ years. I see Quality trucks a lot but can never see if it is you... or if the chicken is in the window.
I took kids & a few families in my sleeper when the interstate was shut down a few times during my career. No reason to let them sit out & freeze while they ran out of fuel. 🤟
@Riding shotgun In every vehicle I've ever worked on if the fan works on high but not at other speeds, it's the resister, if there's no fan at all it's something else.
