Living in the snow.

[Zarn]

   Hello Everyone!

    We are moving to the town of Wrightwood in January, and we are as you all like to say "Flatlanders". My wife and I are uncertain of proper snow practices and road conditions in the heavy winter months.
    We are hoping to get some info. from any of you who can spare a secret or two in regards to type of tires, are chains required ever, and how well are the roads maintained and cleared after a heavy snow?
    I grew up in Detroit, but never got around to driving in the snow. (moved when I was 7) The house we purchased has no garage. How important is it to park in a garage? We have 4 children, so aside from having a full basketball team with 1 off the bench, we also have in-house snow plows. I hope they dont unionize!
    Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.
     
             Thank you for you time.    
                                  --- Zarn ---

[Nolena]

[Zarn]

Thank you!!!!  Slower than a turtle on tranquilizers??? We noticed the pics of the winter in 2001.. Is it like that Every winter?? We dont mind it, and actually welcome it.. but one of us will be commuting down the hill.  Maybe it's a good idea to trade up for 4x's.  When the roads are bad, do the school busses run at all?  What does it mean to have the roads "cindered?"
How often is it impossible to get down the hill?
Thank you for your response!

[Stitches]

Hi Zarn.    In 1997, we moved here with our four boys and quickly found out that the next one was due.    They are now all in school.   My basketball team.   My husband works down the hill and sometimes I worry about him making it home at the end of the day if it snow badly.    That has NEVER happened.    He's a good driver and has made it home, sometimes late but has never been stuck down the hill.    We both carry chains at all times.    It came to the point when we just put it in the car and left it in there all year round.    Neither one of our cars is a 4X4.   I agree that it would be easier but we have the chains and don't mind putting them on and off.  

First of all, Wrightwood is NOT Detroit.    We do get pretty good dumps but  usually it clears up and the snow plows come in and clear the streets.    I wasn't here for the 2000-2001 season where it snowed like crazy so I can't speak to that.     The school builds in 4 snow makeup days during the academic year.    They don't usually use them all.    I think that if the road conditions are too dangerous for buses (which carry chains and put them on when necessary), then the school district call for snow day.    If they do run, sometimes they just run to Highway 2 and the kids and parents get home somehow.  

Lucky for us, the owners of the house left all their snow shovels under the house.    Looks like the owners before them did that also.    At last count we have 6 shovels, one for each kid and one for me.     I also carry a shovel after a dump just in case I have to shovel out while I'm trying to go somewhere.

[KW]

Welcome to Wrightwood!

When cal trans cinders a road, they spread gravel-like stuff all over it to help with traction.

I live up on Oriole, and I try not to head straight down to the highway on icy days. I go down a block, then over a block, then down a block, then over a block, all in my lowest gear. I have 4wd, but that doesn't really help with the ice; it helps with the snow.

I hate to put on chains, so I really love my 4wd. Also, I've lived in and around Wrightwood for the past 28 years. Rarely have we been trapped. Big winters like '01 only come along every once in a while. When they do, start a fire, put on the hot chocolate, and enjoy your day off!

KW

[AntiFltLndrs]

[Stitches]

With all the kids, I would suggest you do what I do.    Sometime in late September or October every year stock up on some essentials.    When the kids were little I used to keep an emergency supply of diapers, toilet paper, water, soap etc.    Also I stock up on Mac N Cheese, evaporated milk, spam, beef jerky, snacks etc.    Just in case you get snowed in and you run low on supplies.     Additionally, when I hear that there is a big storm coming in, I do all my shopping for perishables like veggies, meat and dairy.     With all the kids, I have a fear of running out of supplies and the kids going hungry.    That's never happened either but I couldn't bear the whining if it did.  

[Chozen]

Welcome!!!  

I live off of Highway 2 and work off the hill.  I have lived here for 9 years and only missed work 4 times... 2 days for train fire or detrailment (one of those things) maybe 1 day for fires and 1 really big snow day.  I have never put on chains... practice at the end of each summer just in case.  My boys have 4WD's... which makes me feel more comfortable (or at least I worry just a tiny bit less).  

I have had to leave work early on occasion to guarantee getting home at night.  They plow the roads (at least Highway 2) pretty good... please .... just don't stop on highway 2 during the snow.  If you must stop... pull over first.

Go slow and use lower gears... front wheel drive and good tires work great.   :-/

Your gonna love Highway 2 in the winter!    If you need to get anywhere... plan ahead and leave early.

Welcome to Wrightwood!!!!

[Kristaldawn]

 Iv'e lived in Wrightwood for 16 years and every winter I get along just fine. My car is front wheel drive, so you just take it easy with no quick brakes or burnouts. I guess the only people that would have a real problem would be those that live all the way up Acorn or upper East cyn.
   I live near town so if the snow was that bad, I just park my car in town. If you can get to hwy. 2 you'll be fine. I don't reccomend Lone Pine Cyn. early in the morning either!! People start slidding all ohter the place if they don't know what they're doing!! Scary Stuff !!!

[Zarn]

Wow!!   So much great advice, I love this town.  We are really excited to move!!!  I am really scared still about highway 2 during snow. My husband is not, and he is just happy to be moving to Wrightwood.  I have an Astro Van, which doesnt seem snow worthy, so we'll see if I do a trade in or not..  My husband has a big chevy work vehicle!! Im a bit worried, but everyone who is responding seems to think it isn't so bad.  We will deal with it.  So stay away from Lone Pine Canyon... what about Sheepcreek? It seems like it would be a pain also.  What can I ask you guys, my wheels are spinning..  Does everyone grocery shop at Jenson's???  I am thinking twice a month I'll have to go to Costco in Victorville.. seems a bit outrageous, and probably won't happen.  I have a preschooler who will be needing to enroll, does anyone know of a good one??  Does Wrightwood elem. have after school care if needed?? One more question for this post... does Mountain High offer discounts to residents??
bye for now.

[Ensen]

I think the best investment you can make is snow tires.  Second would be a vehicle with ABS.  4WD is nice to have, but it doesn't do anything to help you stop or maintain control when you're skidding, which is when it gets scary.  People might other opinions, but I had snow tires on my car for the first time last year and what an incredible difference it made.  I'm sold.  Although, this year I think I will invest in a 4WD and put snow tires on it.  Should be the best of all worlds I would think.

Me myself shop at Stater's in Phelan, Costco, and Jensen's.  Costco for the once a month big shopping, Stater's for the once a week shopping, and Jensen's for any other little things you might have run out of or forgot when at Stater's.  I like to shop locally, but the price's at Stater's are so much better.

I'm not sure if they're still doing it, but Mt High used to give free season passes to anybody who purchased a home here.  If you're buying, I'd inquire about it.  Otherwise, I believe you can buy season passes for $249.

[Zarn]

Ok.. Im going to check into the passes, thanks for the tip. Can anyone tell me about Sheepcreek?  Icy in the winter like Lone Pine Canyon??        
So do snow tires replace the need for chains??  Don't they have those little studs in them... are they ok for "down the hill" All these expenses are going to kill us.. Oh well, it's the price you pay to live in this beautiful place.  Cut corners elsewhere!!!  Like on pretensious perfectionism (down the hill) hee hee.

[AntiFltLndrs]

[Stitches]

If you bought your house your realtor should have told you about the passes.     When escrow closed on our house she handed me information and I went up there and picked up 6 passes.   Unfortunately for me a week after picking up the passes I found out I couldn't use it because of the baby.   :-[

Wrightwood school doesn't have an afterschool daycare.    But as some others have mentioned, Pincone is just across the street and the kids meet somewhere and someone from Pinecone takes them to the Daycare.    There is also something called Homework Haven.   I think it is run by the Methodist Church.    The lady comes afterschool and picks up the children and takes them to their facility and they do homework and play.  

I do the weekly grocery shopping at Stater Brothers but end up at Jensen's at least once a week for forgotten items.     I too have been meaning to shop Costco more often but seldom get a chance to go down the hill.   With an afternoon kindergartener I only have about 3 hours.   One hour to get there and one hour to get back and only one hour to shop.    Not long enough for me.    But next year when she is in school all day I could do the shopping with peace of mind that I won't get stuck "down the hill".

[Zarn]

Im going to check out Pinecone... is that a preschool also, or just a day care.  We are still trying to figure out our schedules.. We haven't closed escrow yet, so I will check it out about the passes before that happens.. gotta take advantage of that one!!!!!!!   We have four kids just dying to learn to snowboard.  My husband and I can snowboard, although we are a little rusty!! Ha, understatement.  But hey, I can get down the mountain looking like a thirty something mom, that's for sure!! I can't wait....

[AntiFltLndrs]

Pinecone has two programs: Pre-School and School Age  The child has to be potty trained to attend.  Good Luck!!

[Zarn]

THANKS everyone!!!!!  I will be contacting Pinecone... and my husband and I are gearing up to at least get the snowtires.  I suppose we'll keep chains in the car, and eventually probably be getting at least one 4x.  I suppose we will just learn to drive in the snow/ice. You can talk about it all day, but until you actually experience it, I guess ya can't tell how your vehicle will do.  YIKES.  

[Snowbird]

... When the roads are bad, do the school busses run at all? ...

I remember once riding the school bus (back in 1980/81) it got stuck in the snow so we had the day off.
The next day down at Serrano we only wore sweaters, so what a difference! And kind of strange as Serrano is only a 15 to 20 minutes ride downhill!

[KW]

A good place to practice driving in the snow/ice is the Ski Sunrise parking lot. You have an uncrowded, wide open space, so lots of room for mistakes.

That's where I'm taking my son as soon as we have enough snow to practice in...

KW

[tinkbellblonde]

Wow, KW...how do you even get up to that parking lot in the ice/snow to practice?!    [smiley=SMgrowsnow.gif]

I remember Bill Cosby talking about driving in the snow and ice - everyone knows you're supposed to turn into the skid - and he said that that advice always seemed wrong - like leaning into an incoming left hook.  

I've always just kept the speed to a minimum - I'm not scared to drive in it when I'm crawling along at a snail's pace....