So much for

[Camino LS6]

... a post-christmas day of rest.

Monster snowstorm headed my way.

I sure hope that the ROPOS is up to the task.

[caddycruiser]

Exactly. Again.

Joy. The weather guy won't stop saying "Delaware", and of course the family felt it only fitting to keep the Weather channel on 24/7 today.

Sun. Come back. Winter is eck. Blow east, just blow east and barely dust us...come on...

Mom has taken the snow as a sign from God she was never meant to have a Camaro. Literally. Oh joy.

Get 'yer shovels out...

[daves87rs]

What snow?

[balthazar]

I'm seeing 2-4 tomm night, plus 5-8 Monday in my plow zone (Princeton).

Gotta get the snowblower out tomm and blow out the cobwebs, too.

Not looking forward to this other than the money...

[Robert Hall]

Was over 70 here today.. Cold tonight, though...down in the 40s...

[SAmadei]

I'm not liking the looks of this storm. Could see a foot at the one house and 18 inches at the other two.

I swore I was going to buy a snowblower this year and I never had the chance... this is where I'm going to pay DEARLY.

[Intrepidation]

14-20 in my area, winter storm warning. There's also blizzard warnings in much of Eastern Mass.

[ocnblu]

I WANT SNOWWWWW.... gotta try out my 4X4!

Afterwards, it's supposed to warm up to temps not seen here for over a month, so it will cease to be a problem quickly.

Edited December 26, 2010 by ocnblu

[Camino LS6]

It's the 50mph winds that worry me, not the 6-18" of snow.

[caddycruiser]

It's the 50mph winds that worry me, not the 6-18" of snow.

Yes.

North DE, dry and bright. Down here in beachy DE, let's just say it's white. "Delaware" keeps getting repeated on weather channels. And it's only just started.

Didn't measure yet. I'd say maybe a start of 2-3"? The cars are looking taller.

[Drew Dowdell]

We're only going to get the outer edge of this storm you guys are talking about, but we got about 3 inches on Christmas eve. The Toronado pulled itself up the hill like it had AWD.

[caddycruiser]

Okay. It's not stopping. Part way in, I think we're up to around 5" or so...hard to tell, but close guess. Big & heavy.

We shoveled around the cars to keep the driveway from getting too deep, otherwise the rest is as it is.

And some dizzy street video:

Edited December 26, 2010 by caddycruiser

[balthazar]

Latest sez 3-5 today, 6-10 tonite, so 9-15" total.

Right now (2PM) there's about a half-inch down.

We'll see if the '90 GMC has 1 more season in her...

Edited December 26, 2010 by balthazar

[caddycruiser]

Development hired the same plow truck driver as last year...impressed he's already out trying it for us. You can hear that '89/90'ish Dodge truck roaring from 1/2 mile away. Scrape.

[Camino LS6]

Not enough to plow yet, but snowing hard.

I spent alot of time chipping ice where the pond overflows the driveway - really sucks. Used lots of ice-melt already.

[Drew Dowdell]

it's always this time of year that I start looking at Avalanche 2500s again and thinking about the money to be made......

[Intrepidation]

Winter Storm Warning has been upgraded to Blizzard Warning. Pretty neato. Glad we fixed the roof yesterday. Just gotta finish prepping the snow blower after work and we'll be good to go.

[caddycruiser]

it's always this time of year that I start looking at Avalanche 2500s again and thinking about the money to be made......

I know a certain new Camaro owner who won't stop saying she should have got an SUV...only because of the snow. Never a comment until now.

Shovel, shovel. Oh dear. Last week of the crazy year at the car dealership is looking like it will have an over the top, very white start to it.

[caddycruiser]

We're at 8", according to latest back yard check. Oh sweetness.

[balthazar]

'round 1.5" so far in central NJ. Can still see tips of the grass (it was mowed in late Nov (mulching leaves).

Fired up the blower, running fine. Pulled the plow truck up by the house & locked in 4WD.

Found my mittens & loaded up the CD changer...

[Drew Dowdell]

I know a certain new Camaro owner who won't stop saying she should have got an SUV...only because of the snow. Never a comment until now.

Shovel, shovel. Oh dear. Last week of the crazy year at the car dealership is looking like it will have an over the top, very white start to it.

Or snow tires?

But isn't that why you have the spare Subaru?

I only want the Avalanche 2500 so I can make money doing plow jobs on the side.

that sounded dirtier than I intended....

[Robert Hall]

Or snow tires?

But isn't that why you have the spare Subaru?

I only want the Avalanche 2500 so I can make money doing plow jobs on the side.

How many plow jobs would it take to cover the cost of a used Avalanche 2500, though?

[Drew Dowdell]

I really need a truck anyway... I'm just thinking that if I'm already going to get an Avalanche 1500, I might as well step it up to a 2500 and make some other money on the side.

[Camino LS6]

Time to walk the dogs and fire-up the ROPOS.

[caddycruiser]

I really need a truck anyway... I'm just thinking that if I'm already going to get an Avalanche 1500, I might as well step it up to a 2500 and make some other money on the side.

Good idea. And when going pre-owned, 2500 especially...even if the 8.1L is a gulper.

As for the Camaro, that's a yes to snow tires. I used to drive my G8 GT around on ice with no issue, and the factory summer Bridgestones. The Camaro's Pirelli's and its traction in general are lacking compared to that Holden mobile. As I've said 25x "it's a sports car...this is part of the ownership experience...snow tires, or..." but it isn't clicking.

Still snowing...over 8", but I can't find a better spot out back to measure, that isn't drifted to or from.

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't use it to commute, so fuel economy isn't a factor.

Gusting winds here, but the snow has stopped

[ocnblu]

Meh, windy and still snowing, but only a dusting here so far.

[SAmadei]

Along the South Jersey shore, you really can't accurately tell the depth... I have 4-5 drifts in most of the yard and wind scoured ground in others. I'd say we're past 10 inches now.

Roads out to the other house and back are a disaster. You see plows driving around but little snow being moved. The Bonneville did more plowing than the plow trucks, as the snow on the road was 7-8 inches in spots, and the Bonne only has 5 inches or so of ground clearance.

Safely ensconced in the house now... should be fun to repeat it all tomorrow after it stops.

DF, I told the storm to say 'Hi' when it gets up to you... ;-)

[caddycruiser]

Passed 10" here a while ago at the beach, still not sure how much where I work 46 miles west.

Mess, mess, messy. No plows ever down off the beaten path to the development, so tomorrow as it continues to snow shall be fun.

Supposed to keep coming, and stay in the 20's.

[SAmadei]

Looks like I underestimated... NOAA puts us at 14-15.7 inches 2 hours ago. 8-0

I really hope I don't have to even go outside to sweep off the satellite dish... its really nasty.

[Camino LS6]

Well, the ROPOS and I have done this place twice now, I think I'll wait 'til morning to clean-up the rest.

It's impossible to tell just how much has actually fallen due to the wind. I'd say less than 6" so far.

Jersey is getting hammered though, just heard that Cape May already has 18" along with 50 MPH winds.

I bet Balthazar is having fun.

[caddycruiser]

Jersey is getting hammered though, just heard that Cape May already has 18" along with 50 MPH winds.

I bet Balthazar is having fun.

As is the forgotten Delaware coast right below & beside. Stopped looking.

Then got a work manager text "try to be on time tomorrow"

Edited December 27, 2010 by caddycruiser

[SAmadei]

Jersey is getting hammered though, just heard that Cape May already has 18" along with 50 MPH winds.

Depending on the source, we're up around 22" just north of Atlantic City.

The drifts are crazy. I always get a huge drift in the front yard... but this time its stretches to the street... about 3'-4' foot deep the whole way. The backyard is completely full of snow 32-42" deep. No longer can I open the door... or find the propane grill. 8-0.

State of emergency in NJ... you can get a ticket/tow if you're caught driving for no good reason.

Thankfully, the snow has finally tapered off. But the radar shows we still have a bit coming a little later.

As is the forgotten Delaware coast right below & beside. Stopped looking.

Then got a work manager text "try to be on time tomorrow"

You're near Lewes? I thought you were further north.

[caddycruiser]

You're near Lewes? I thought you were further north.

Yep. 5 minutes away.

Still dark, hard to tell outside. We've switched cars up, and the first to leave tried to take the Fleetwood, which normally is a tank. Didn't make it far, traction issues. Got it back to the driveway and stole his Subaru back.

Main roads in DE are never a problem, it's every other semi main road that lead up to them. We'll see how zoom-zoom does in a bit.

[caddycruiser]

Problems.

Part 1. Shoveled driveway all night. Street not deep, but snowy of course. Tried the Fleetwood. Couldn't get itself moving down the street. Strange. Inched it back to the drive.

Part 2. First man out took the Subaru. Made it down the street. Called 25 minutes later. Got stuck on the road from development up to the main road. Got it unstuck. Slid and spun up to the main road, barely. Main road then cleared but covering in bad drifts. Roads off it barely touched.

Well then. If the Subaru that makes it through everything with a western PA driver behind the wheel got stuck, it may just be an official snow day.

[caddycruiser]

Before clearing off, the snow shots of the cars are too cool.

The Camaro somehow always looks even cooler when bulked up & drifted on. Sweet lines.

Now, about getting on the road...working on it. Perhaps.

[Camino LS6]

Crazy wind!

Hard to tell just how much snow we got due to the blowing and drifting. I'd guess between 6-8". If we had gotten dumped on, it would really be a disaster with this wind.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

We ended up with 12 inches here in NC (after the wrap around)

It was pretty but it destroyed all of our families travel plans. I think we're going to trade the GFs Cavi on a 4 wheel drive SUV.

WE were supposed to have 40 MPH winds but luckily that didn't happen. That would've been a disaster and I'd probably be without power. (like last Christmas)

Edited December 27, 2010 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[caddycruiser]

I couldn't make my commute, too long, too much heading west and driving through fields--nothing but drifts, unplowed roads, etc. Working from home today.

My best friend with an '07 Mountaineer AWD decided she was stir crazy and had to go to work in Rehoboth for something to do. Made it out the unplowed driveway, then barely down the first road a few houses hit a drift and got stuck. High centered, apparently, just sitting in the middle of the road. Forward, backward, neither works...so much for a semi bulky SUV.

Sun is out, however. I think it may be 29 degrees.

EDIT...Mounty is out. Kids in an old Dodge truck hooked up to her hitch and tugged until she was freed.

Edited December 27, 2010 by caddycruiser

[Intrepidation]

Last night I finished prepping the snowblower. Ran great, did a little of the snow, parked it for the night. This morning I get up, ready to be done in 15 minutes, go to start it, and the nylon cable snaps.

That ruined my morning. On the bright side, the cowl comes off easily, so I took it off and had a shop fix it to the tune of $15. Now it's ready to go.

[balthazar]

>>"I bet Balthazar is having fun."<<

Oy.

Started out from my house at 4PM.

For the third time in a row, I drive the 30-some minutes to the plow job, make one pass on the main drag to the end, and the blade isn't lifting.

Top off the fluid, bang on the connections, get the blade up, drive from 20 minutes to the 'plow shop' and wait around to get the pump replaced.

Back out to the job, plow for a while and the front brakes go (ruptured line). Limp it back to the shop on RR brakes only. NO ONE on the road- very few plows (circa 11PM)

Wait, replace 2 brake lines, back to the job.

A few hours later I tag a raised manhole cover hard enough to lose both headlights. Plow for another hour on hazard lights, then limp it back to the shop on parking lights & hazards.

Wait, headlights are a lost cause, but the hidden toggle switch that operates the (presumed dead) plow lights is found.

At this point it is now 4AM & I am frazzled to the core. The job is in passable condition, so I go home, sleep about 3 hours, then go back around 10AM and tidy up for about 4 hours.

At first I was frustrated, but I rolled with it. The upside is I get paid from leaving my driveway to returning home. 17.5 hours, plus a rouge $20 for backdragging a driveway for 5 minutes.

[caddycruiser]

What a plowed experience, balthazar...wow.

I'm still stuck. Sad, but true, although watching the news and calling people at work, other halves of the local world have moved on, yet we can't make it to any main road without the "we shall praise you...and call you Lord..." '96 Subie. The curvy road lining the bay down to our house has yet to be touched, and it's essentially plowing through 12-14" and now hardening stuff to get to the main road, then over a mountain when you get there.

The Subaru made it, ended up in a field, was driven through a field, through a ditch, and came back & forth unscathed. I've heard tales of a Suburban, a couple F-150's and other cars stuck littering the roads along the way...where the Subie got through, barely. Oh, what fun.

Plowed development streets, check. Plowed main roads with severe drifts from the fact everything here is an open field covered in snow, check. Not being able to connect the two, because the path between is Mars-rific? Priceless.

Hah. I have a customer trading an '08 Seqouia for a new CX-9. Too bad she didn't come Friday as planned, or I'd have it now. Sequoia demo'ing it shall be for a day or two, once I figure out how I'm getting west to work to get it.

Edited December 28, 2010 by caddycruiser

[Intrepidation]

Went to work at 11:30, took 20 minutes to get there, normally takes me 7 minutes. Sadly I am using my car, but if nothing else, its the best equipped with a full set of Alpines. Handled the unplowed roads no problem.

[caddycruiser]

One word. WIND.

[SAmadei]

After two 30 mile (one way) trips, one during the storm and one after the travel ban was lifted, I have to say that NJ did a pretty good job of clearing the streets... even though they started off kinda slow.

It was pretty surreal the amount of snow left in some areas, though... spots where you normally have two lanes its 3' high snow for a few hundred feet... just a colossal volume of snow... on the road. I guess the DOT needs more big loaders, as a good deal of this snow is beyond what a plow can push.

Two things seem to cause the biggest disasters on the roads...

First, its open fields.... What I don't understand is... whatever happened to people installing snow fencing?!? The road will be clear for miles and then all the traffic comes to a stand still because a field has allowed a snow drift to continue to form in the middle of the highway. Years ago, fields had to install snow fencing... is that a farm requirement only? And as farms become residential McMansions, the fencing is no longer required (or even allowed by the HOA)? I think if we're going to continue to get a blizzard every year, we need to look into deploying these again.

Second... why can't the DOT plow drivers clean up the intersections better. They plow across an intersection and leave 2' high trails for cross traffic to have to battle... and completely ignore those small right turn ramps. Again, the whole road is clear and all of a sudden the turn ramp you need seems virtually unplowed... and with limited visibility and no room to merge, it becomes a game of Russian roulette... you have to blast down the ramp full speed, because if you get hung up, you're F'd.

I realize we take responsibility for handling the roads if we need to go out in this mess... but at the same time, we're paying big bucks for these services to clear the roads... and I hate seeing 95% of the problem areas being caused by situations that could be easily fixed.

[balthazar]

Property manager called: the numerous tight, dead-end-terminating loops are 'slippery', so I'm going back out to do basically nothing, but the clock will twirl and I have nothing else going on.

Lovely street design in Florida, perhaps; hell on earth to plow tho.

[Camino LS6]

Your posts are bringing back all sorts of memories, Balthazar.

I'm glad all of that is behind me now, I only have to worry about this place.

[Robert Hall]

Speaking of plowing, heard on the radio that Quincy, MA is trying an experiment w/ paying by the # of inches of snow rather than by the hour, to try and increase efficiencies...

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I'm still, for all intents and purposes, snowed in here in NC. You'd think being in the mountainous part of the state we'd have more than 5 snow plows,(especially after the record setting snow we had last year) but I guess not.

They cleaned the interstates and plackard highways the day before yesterday. (NOT exit/entrance ramps or the connector roads to get you FROM one TO the other) Then the winds and about 3 more inches of snow came and covered those roads right back up. Yesterday, with the help of the sun, they cleared the afore mentioned again and the main secondary roads. Today we finally had a plow come up our road. But by this point there really is no use because the snow thats left is either 1) half melted slush and refreezes to ice every night or 2) so compacted by traffic that it's slicker than greased $h! and impossible for the plow to scrape up anyway. It's actually MORE dangerous now than it was when the snow began.

Edited December 29, 2010 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[knightfan26917]

Can't someone send some of that snow my way, please?

Cort | 37.m.IL.pigValve.pacemaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic |

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