Snow driving in New Zealand

As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml



cheers

Brook

So don't you watch the weather forecast - it is no wonder people come to NZ
and die on our roads and in our bush - NZ is not like other places and it
pays to be aware of the context. Good that you are getting chains, but most
reputable hire companies wil not let you take a car in late winter in the
South Island without them - something to do with ski field acess roads.

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote in
message ...
As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml



cheers

Brook

Good story!

I must congratulate you on having had the foresight to assemble and
*carry* an emergency kit. Even here in the Great White North, I would
bet that the percentage of motorists who have a good kit is *very* low.

As a former driver of tow-trucks in mountain areas, I would suggest
adding:

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...
As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you
are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with
driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml

Good story!

I must congratulate you on having had the foresight to assemble and
*carry* an emergency kit. Even here in the Great White North, I would
bet that the percentage of motorists who have a good kit is *very* low.

As a former driver of tow-trucks in mountain areas, I would suggest
adding:

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...
As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you
are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with
driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml

"David Gee" wrote in message
news:n55Uc.15869$jZ5.1146@clgrps13...
Good story!

I must congratulate you on having had the foresight to assemble and
*carry* an emergency kit. Even here in the Great White North, I would
bet that the percentage of motorists who have a good kit is *very* low.

As a former driver of tow-trucks in mountain areas, I would suggest
adding:

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

Thanks for that. I might add your suggestions to the page if you don't mind.

cheers

Brooklyn Waters

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...
As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you
are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with
driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml

"David Gee" wrote in message
news:n55Uc.15869$jZ5.1146@clgrps13...
Good story!

I must congratulate you on having had the foresight to assemble and
*carry* an emergency kit. Even here in the Great White North, I would
bet that the percentage of motorists who have a good kit is *very* low.

As a former driver of tow-trucks in mountain areas, I would suggest
adding:

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

Thanks for that. I might add your suggestions to the page if you don't mind.

cheers

Brooklyn Waters

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...
As a newbie to travel in the snow I learnt a lesson yesterday. If you
are
planning on traveling in New Zealand and you are not familiar with
driving
in the snow check this.

http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/august2.shtml

In rec.travel.australia+nz Brooklyn Waters wrote:

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

Thanks for that. I might add your suggestions to the page if you don't mind.

You might find the flares are hard to get in NZ.

--
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...

"David Gee" wrote in message
news:n55Uc.15869$jZ5.1146@clgrps13...

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in
aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature
above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it
is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly
carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary
car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

Thanks for that. I might add your suggestions to the page if you don't
mind.

cheers

Brooklyn Waters

Please do -- genius is only recognized when it is shared. g

"Brooklyn Waters" wrote
in message ...

"David Gee" wrote in message
news:n55Uc.15869$jZ5.1146@clgrps13...

* a candle; although tiny, a candle (with the base wrapped in
aluminum
foil) will produce enough heat to keep the interior temperature
above
freezing, provided you don't keep opening the doors and windows; it
is
also a *lot* safer than running the engine, which produces deadly
carbon
monoxide;

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary
car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

* a small spade (aluminum) or folding army trencher

* extra gloves; keeping your hands dry and your fingers warm is
important;

Thanks for that. I might add your suggestions to the page if you don't
mind.

cheers

Brooklyn Waters

Please do -- genius is only recognized when it is shared. g

"Geoff McCaughan" wrote in message
...

* some roadside marker flares; after freezing, your greatest danger
comes from other vehicles whose drivers can't see your stationary
car
through the falling snow; these are not expensive, and will remain
usable indefinitely;

You might find the flares are hard to get in NZ.

Just do what kids do all over Canada: break into police cars while they
are parked outside a donut shop ....

OTOH, a quick phone call to the Automobile Association might be useful.
Also try firms that specialize in emergency equipment or packaged First
Aid kits. Or ask your local ski hill operators where they get theirs.

HTH