OK, I asked for it. Even last winter, I said I wanted to see it snow so everyone here would freak out and predict the end of the world. Well, I got what I wished for today.
Here's the thing, I know people here aren't used to it. I can respect that. But is it really such a big deal that one of the local TV stations dedicate two and a half hours to covering it, preempting even the national news? That seems a little dramatic.
Around 1 this afternoon, we decided to try and make our run to Ikea that we've been putting off, because I need some storage solutions for my office. I checked the DOT traffic cams for I-405 and I-90, and it all looked good to me. If people were scared and staying home, what the heck, I'll go for it.
We headed down the parkway and saw several abandoned cars. No joke. The road was wet, but not even remotely problematic. Once on I-90, the higher elevation portion between us and Issaquah was getting a lot of blowing, but you could still see grass in the median, and the wagon ruts were totally adequate. However, watching people drive, I immediately observed a risk factor that I hadn't thought about: People suck at driving. While I trust myself to drive in this weather, I don't trust everyone else. We decided to go as far as Issaquah and stop at Costco, as we were getting dangerously low on formula.
As we headed back, the stupidity began immediately. First exhibit: Leaving the Costco parking lot. I had to turn left out of it, and the two lanes of traffic did not have a break to enter into as they were waiting. The middle part of the road was snowy, and you don't have to be a genius to know that launching into that reduces the chance you can stop. But some asshole in a giant SUV was behind me honking at me, so I politely flipped him off. His solution to this was, once I was out in the road, to go around me and cut me off. Moron. Joke was on him though... my turning lane was unencumbered by overly cautious people, and I never saw him again.
Once on the freeway, it was definitely getting icy, which was not surprising given the lack of plows and salt/sand/whatever trucks. The usual rules would keep people moving though: Don't needlessly brake, don't oversteer, give yourself distance. Given the lack of merging skills by most drivers here, this one shouldn't surprise you. Some jackass in an Escalade with giant rims comes to a stop a few car lengths behind me on the ramp, with plenty of room to keep moving and merge. He turns the vehicle hard left to merge and slides a little. His response is to lock his breaks, and being on a hill, he starts sliding and twisting backward into traffic. I could see his giant wheels not moving. Idiot. Giant four-wheel drive cars don't make you indestructible. The funny thing is that pointing the wheels where you want to go and pushing the accelerator has saved my ass countless times. It's the exact opposite of braking. Is that really a trade secret, even here?
Over the next few miles, there were good wagon ruts in some places, and a nice, granular layer of snow on the shoulders that gripped well, as did the rumble strips. I did my best to carefully avoid the people going too slow up hill. Once off the freeway, where the abandoned cars were, I was worried we wouldn't make it because again people were braking where they shouldn't be.
Interesting side note, going down a steep hill in this weather in the Prius is a breeze. It has a "B" mode which I assume stands for something like engine braking, and it feels a little like down shifting in a normal car. It did a nice job slowing the car down hill (while charging the battery, of course). The exotic transmission in that car is something of a wonder, and apparently simple and elegant, from what I've read.
Unfortunately, the weather related driving drama didn't end when we got home, as one of the PEPS moms ended up crashing here for a bit with her daughter while the dad was out stuck on the Connector somewhere on the freeway. So I had a temporary little girl for a little while, which was fun.
Serious precipitation should be over by morning, but we won't get above freezing until Turkey Day. While it is a little frustrating that I lost much of the day, I have to admit that I felt really at home today. Given the prominence of evergreens here, covering the mountains around us, I can't even describe how beautiful it is.
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