Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Robert Arrowsmith
link Robert Arrowsmith
Oh what a fun week it has been, starting with the snowstorm of the past weekend.
Before I begin I do want to thank everyone for their patience as we worked our way through the weekend. I myself had to get out in it a couple of times to get our publications out and on the road, and believe me it was rather interesting. And being that I have the space each week to write what I think, I’m going to give you some observances of what I saw from the time of the storm up until where we are now.
There are several stages of drivers during the timeframe of a storm. In the beginning you have those that absolutely have to get out, and when there is trouble, there are people out there that are willing to assist.
Immediately after the storm has passed, there are those that feel they need to get out and get to their normal routine. Bear in mind this past week those that were getting out in the morning were finding they were going to have to dig themselves out. Many, and I mean many, found it fruitless due to the amount of snow and ice we had that night.
We were very lucky this happened on a weekend. Otherwise I can see where this region would have been shut down for a week.
Tires! Yes, Forrest Tire, Discount Tire, Quality Lube and Tires, you are welcome for the free shout out. I was amazed at the number of four-wheel drive vehicles that had no chance last weekend. I realize events like this are few and far between, but if you really intend to get out “all” the time, you could really help your four-wheel drive vehicle if you have the right tires.
I personally had no problem getting around last weekend, due to the quality of tire on my truck as well as the four-wheel drive.
In fact the first carrier that showed up on Friday night to deliver his Saturday papers was in a Prius. A Prius? Yes, quality of tires had something to do with that.
Again I know, you do not need heavy-duty tires all the time around here, and you are concerned about gas mileage, or looking cool with your tires, but I still get 20 miles per gallon in my truck with my tires, and I wasn’t stuck anywhere. Your tires are only so cool if they are sitting in your driveway or street because you are stuck.
Once the roads start to clear, the cool people start to come out. That would be those who don’t care about hitting puddles in the road causing others to have to come to a complete stop due to deluge of water on their windshields, and putting others at risk. You know the type; they ride on the snow that is still on the road, race through the water not caring about others, not worried if they are the potential cause of an accident.
I get why people cannot drive on the roads after a storm here. Having lived in northern climates the past decade, I was amazed how difficult it was to drive. But you know what? Before you blame drivers for not being able to drive here, it is a combination of things that became apparent.
Poor tire choices are a factor, but the road conditions here after this storm were as bad as anything I have ever seen in my life, and that includes Alaska, Vermont, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Montana, Michigan, and North Dakota. The road from Farwell to Hereford should have still been shut down Saturday after they graded it, but made it so smooth that even the best vehicles were having problems getting around.
A possible suggestion for the future: If you are going to plow, leave enough snow to give vehicles a chance at some grip, and give drivers a fighting chance. To take it down so smooth, especially when the weather isn’t going to warm up and allow for melt right away, causes the slickest type of ice possible.
I know, this does not happen often around here. But as always, I learned a lot about the community based off of this event.
Robert Arrowsmith is publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at:
