Mountain Newcomers

My neighbors have been up here for a very long time and they always remind me there was one year the snow was 10 feet deep and there were some roof collapses b/c of it. I hear it's been pretty mild since I moved up here, but that can always change.

yep, our ice rink roof collapesed in Blue Jay one year from too much snow, my kids still miss that rink. I can't remember what year that was . . .

A TRUE FOG STORY FROM 2006... PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK

I'm glad everyone has warned you about the fog. Last year, February-April were the worst fog months. The fog has been so bad that I literally could not see the 189 exit off the 18 and also missed the Daley Canyon Road exit, so I was stuck on the 18 till I somehow managed to turn around in the Rim High parking lot. "White out" conditions happen on the 18 and it's scary.

One day in March this year the visibility at 3:00 in the afternoon was ZERO. I mean you literally could not see past your windshield. I was in the Narrows and scared out of my wits. I put my flashers on and was going about 5 MPH which was as fast as safety would allow. I couldn't believe it when some pushy truck behind me kept honking and tailgating me. He was on my bumper and honking like there was no tomorrow. Remember, the visibility was absolutely zero.

Finally, the trucker slammed on his horn with one huge bang and then *passed me in the Narrows.* Talk about a retarded manouever!! He could easily have caused a head-on collision and caused a pile up. I couldn't see if he continued to pass other drivers in the Narrows, but I could hear him honking at other drivers.

People like this are truly maniacs and make a scary driving situation even worse.

When you're in the fog on the 18 and can't see anything, I would advise *not* to get over on the side of the road to wait things out. For one thing, the wait may be hours or days. But even more critical is that with zero visibility, it will be very hard to swing back into traffic.

My final complaint is... many people continue to drive without their lights on in the fog. Don't they realize that no one can see them in the fog? They are an extreme hazard.

It sounds like the fog is INTENSE. I have heard that from others that they had to drive with the door open to see the line. How often is it extremely foggy? Are we talking like once a week, more, etc. and it seems to occur in the winter/spring months the most.

Candace - I have been on the same stretch of highway in those conditions, only I was driving at night. You are right about the crazy drivers. We have them on my side of the mountain too. Since there's been so much road work on 18 they have been coming up the back way on 38. We get fog too. In fact it's foggy right now. I wish there was a simple solution for tailgaiters. Mine would be to throw out a ton of tacks behind my car so they get flat tires. That would slow them down :~

Lost- it is like that every time it either rains, snows or is going to rain or snow which could easily be several days a week during the winter AND spring.
Candace - I was in that same situation during that hell blizzard in March.. was so bad I ENDED UP in the Rim HS parking lot, and thought I was headed the other way the whole time!!

OMG! now I don't go out in it unless it is an emergency. When you hear a storm is coming, get down the hill, stock up on groceries and stuff and wait it out if you can.

By the way, where is the plow tonight? Hasn't been up LiveOak at all!!

I havent seen it here on cedarwood either!

And the most important thing to remember when it snows:

Block your screen door OPEN or you may not be going anywhere in the morning

LostintheClouds,

Old-time residents will be able to answer better than me, but I can only reiterate that the fog is the big problem, tied with the black ice. It's no coincidence that most people who come up here move away within a couple of years. They leave because they can't cope with the fog. Now if you're looking at Crestline, you won't have to drive the Narrows going to work and the fog won't impact your drive as much as if you lived in Arrowhead, TP or Skyforest.

Another problem with the fog is... it's not just in the morning. It sticks around all freakin' day. The thing that blows me away is that:

1. Many people refuse to turn on their lights in the fog
2. Many people don't slow down in the fog and then tailgate and make you even more nervous

We don't want to scare you away from moving, but you really have to know about the fog before committing to a major investment like a house.

You asked how many severe fog days? Well, 2005-06 was a very mild winter. We didn't get snow till March. I commute every day M-F, and I'd estimate there were 10 *severe* fog days and 15 more where it was pretty darn foggy.

But remember, that was a mild, mild winter. People who've lived here much longer than me tell me you can get 50 severe fog days.

There are a few of things that you might want to consider before you move up here and that is navigating our mountain roads.

Your mountain experience will be more pleasant if you own a 4WD vehicle and don't have to deal with chains,but even if you have a 4WD the CHP may require you to chain up when it's very icey. The snow plows are very efficient and they start to plow the major highways as soon as possible, and they do a great job of keeping them clear. Having a 4WD also means that you rarely have to shovel your way out of the snow bank that the snowplow leaves behind. If you have a conventional car be prepared to chain up, because I guarantee you that the CHP will make you do it every time it snows.

Be prepared to deal with other hazardous road conditions than snow. For instance, debris (rocks, mud, etc.), black ice, dense fog and road delays. Sometimes the fog can get so thick you need to drive with the car door open to see the yellow center line. It can be a bit unnerving. It is not unreasonable to come into contact with a bear or deer on the road both of which could total your car and kill you as well as them.

Another road hazard is tailgaters! I believe these are the most dangerous road hazard we encounter up hear and we have them 347 days a year. I have seen more TC's from both tailgating and speeding, than any other road condition we face up here.

Lost in the clouds - I know it's been awhile since this thread has been active and all - but I come on this site only on occasion and I felt I had to type a response to "fog" as well.
Fog is unbelievebly dangerous up here. Snow and black ice are obviously scary, but the fog - especially combined with snow and ice - are unbelievably bad conditions for driving.
I am going on my fourth year here myself, and coming from the Inland Empire; it was, and still is; quite a journey and a very scary one at that. Being a commuter every week with 3-5 days up and down the hill; I'm still fortunate enough to have the right to stay HOME if I really need to. I also have a Subaru '99 Outback/Legacy with cables if I need them (which, if the snow is too deep, they wouldn't work either!). I guess my point is just be very very careful...drive if only necessary. Go as slow as you need to, only pull out if you absolutely have to, roll down windows to see the lines (I've never had the guts to open the doors, but I see why people would...I was definitely tempted to do so before.) Also, if you just drive slow, then even if some animal (be it deer, coyote, bear, or human tailgater!) tries to pass or encumber you, going slow should help...I had to go to traffic school for the first time in a long while, (I'll spare you the details of that!) except with the fact that even the instructor of the traffic school class didn't have much wisdom on the subject of mountain winter/spring, snow/fog driving...he was good but he was from the valley, so he just didn't drive in these conditions. He recommended that you just pull out and "wait it out" but that could literally be days, or just plain dangerous in general. People will get mad at you for going slow, but don't let that stop you...not in weather like that anyways...and, not to be a nag, but unless you have chains and don't have a choice...I would never buy a house up here without getting either All Wheel Drive (such as in a Subaru) or 4 WD. Just my thoughts after all. It's also worth saying that without good tires, the AWD and 4WD aren't the same...clearance can become an issue with the lower cars as well...Shovels and gloves/snow gear; are
very wise to carry if you will be driving in that weather...
Good luck to you and I hope that all of this doesn't outway the absolute beauties and blessings of this truly blessed country.
Happy Holidays and God be with you!

Hi Michelle:

I say go for Crestline because you have the beauty of the mountains without all the crazy snow like higher up.
I can help you buy or rent a house when you are ready and I'd love to meet our new mountain friend!!
This is a wondereful place to raise kids and I myself went to highschool up here. I have left the mountain a few times and i alwys return home !! Good luck to you and yours.
Cheryl
909- 338-9151
CherylREO@highlanderrealty.net

Do yourself a favor and stay down the hill.

Stealth, you're starting to do it again.....

He's back!

And he missed a couple of really good crimes to crow about.

Hey perhaps you could trade abodes with Stealth!!! How about a house swap?

Sabro.

Stealth, thanks for controlling yourself.