DAVID NEEDHAM
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Walla Walla, Washington
A few years ago, my girlfriend, Allison, and I decided to take a trip during spring break to a nice costal town in Oregon named Seaside. We made the arrangements, checked the weather and packed accordingly. Little did we know that this trip would teach us the importance of always planning for the unexpected.
We left Boise, Idaho, about 8 a.m. and, after an overnight stop in Hood River, Oregon, arrived in Seaside late the following afternoon. We were surprised to see and feel how the weather had changed from the original forecast, but we weren’t going to let the cold ruin our trip. During our week there, we toured the towns along the Oregon coast before heading up to Astoria to see the house where the movie “The Goonies” was filmed. It was there that it started to snow.
The locals seemed surprised and excited to see the fluffy white flakes. I, however, was a little perturbed, knowing I was now going to have to pay extra attention to the slick roads. Seeing the snow also made me regret that we’d taken my father’s two-wheel-drive automatic Toyota truck instead of my four-wheel-drive pickup. Once back at the hotel, we checked the weather and saw there would be a break in the snow the next day. We decided we would need to get an early start to beat the weather.
The next morning, we grabbed some coffee and hit the road. I placed all of our luggage over the back wheels in hopes the weight would improve traction if we ran into any snow-covered roads. At the moment, the roads were wet and free of snow, so I was feeling good about our decision to leave early. Those good feelings wouldn’t last long, though.
As we got farther into the mountains, there were a few heavily shaded canyons and curves that were still covered in snow. Once again, I cursed myself for not bringing my four-wheel-drive truck. I grew up in a small mountain town, so I was no stranger to winter driving — but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed it.
As we continued to travel the snow-covered roads, I slowed our speed to about 40 mph and turned on my hazard flashers. Others, however, weren’t being so cautious. I was amazed how fast these folks were driving in such treacherous conditions.
As we started up a small shaded hill, I could feel the rear-drive tire begin to spin and slip on the icy road. Unfortunately, our luggage was not nearly heavy enough to provide the weight needed for increased traction. I slowed to about 25 mph and placed the automatic transmission into second gear so the truck would not automatically down shift, which would increase our RPM and cause the back tire to spin faster and possibly slip and lose control. We debated pulling off the side of the road to let some air out of the tires to increase the surface area and get more traction but decided not to because we were still driving up that icy hill.
Once we reached the top of the hill, the sun and glare from the ice was blinding. I slowed down to about 10-15 mph and slowly proceeded down the hill. As we got farther down the hill, Allie pointed out that there was a gasoline tanker truck stopped in the opposite lane. The driver was putting on chains to help him make it up the icy hill. Directly behind the gasoline tanker were two trucks trying to pass him. One lost control and slid sideways in the middle of the road, blocking our lane. Then we hit an icy patch and began sliding sideways. Luckily, I was able to maintain control, and the truck regained traction. Frustrated, I decided to pull off the road and wait for the trucks to move and the ice to melt.
I had just adjusted the rearview mirror so I could see everything approaching from behind when a small passenger car came racing over the hill. We watched in stunned silence as the car slid down the hill and directly into the gasoline tanker truck. I thought for sure the car was going to strike the gasoline tank and explode just like in the movies. Fortunately, it hit a tire and bounced off before striking the other truck that was still in the middle of the road. Shortly after the accident, the police and ambulance arrived. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
Once the accident scene was cleared, the sanding trucks came in and covered the hill. The police allowed traffic to resume, but Allie and I were in no hurry. We decided to hang out on the side of the road for a while and let all the other cars go ahead. The rest of the drive home was uneventful.
When traveling in the mountains during the fall through spring months, I recommend you always take the proper precautions. The weather can change in an instant and conditions can be drastically different at upper elevations. Make sure your vehicle can handle changing weather conditions. It’s also a good idea to tell someone your travel plans so they can assist you in the event of an emergency.
Ultimately, we had an enjoyable trip to Oregon. But it could have easily ended badly. In the mountains, wintery road conditions can last into spring, so expect the unexpected. If you encounter a hazardous situation, listen to your gut feeling and always err on the side of safety. If something doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t.