# Priorities--what one packs for a drive in snowy weather

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 5, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929 "2006-12-05T12:54:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929/21 "2006-12-08T17:52:44Z")

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Extra pair of thick wool socks. Hat.

Every car should have a survival kit. Emergency blanket, pocket-poncho, food, water, fire-starting, first aid, multi-tool. A cap or hat- one for sun one for rain/cold and extra socks should be in there. I find a fleece vest- a cheap one bought at the thrift store- to be very handy also.

Sterno or one of those “candles in a can” would be nice, as **Max Torque** mentioned.

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**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929/22 "2006-12-08T19:22:21Z")

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[QUOTE=riker1384]  
As long as you’re not suggesting replace the wire for hanging the exhaust; it’ll likely melt and catch fire if you put it there.  
[/QUOTE]

No, I didn’t suggest that.  
-Lil

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**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929/23 "2006-12-09T02:45:54Z")

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One of the things that I heard mentioned on network news about the tragic Kim case was that they were unable to collect enough wood for a continuous fire because the snow and ice covered and trapped the underbrush and fallen wood.  
A [safety shovel with a serrated edge](http://www.midnightpass.com/safetyshovel.html) and a [surplus wire survival saw](http://www.bestglide.com/Wire_Saw_Info.html) might have made a difference for them.

These two items might be good to have in a basic emergency.

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**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priorities-what-one-packs-for-a-drive-in-snowy-weather/382929/24 "2006-12-09T04:51:44Z")

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[QUOTE=devilsknew]  
One of the things that I heard mentioned on network news about the tragic Kim case was that they were unable to collect enough wood for a continuous fire because the snow and ice covered and trapped the underbrush and fallen wood.  
A [safety shovel with a serrated edge](http://www.midnightpass.com/safetyshovel.html) and a [surplus wire survival saw](http://www.bestglide.com/Wire_Saw_Info.html) might have made a difference for them.

These two items might be good to have in a basic emergency.  
[/QUOTE]

Fir forests have an abundance of “squaw wood”. This consists of dead branches on the lower part of the tree trunk and fallen wood, both under the trees protective canopy. I mentioned earlier that I was surprised that Kim didn’t discover this. A couple of disposable lighters would be an important part of a survival kit.

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