Training Log Archive: ebone

Off to scout potential O map area at LT Murray today.

I forgot that LT Murray is closed to the public right now, so the elk can winter undisturbed in the foothills. It's just as well, because a blizzard swept in today. It wasn't too bad for most of the way out, but steady snow and blasts of wind were coming forth as I approached and passed by Cle Elum.

After finding the locked gates and winter closure signs, as I was about to get back on I-90, I saw a man with a minivan who had spun out and had ended up a bit down the slope off the shoulder. I pulled off to the side of the entrance ramp and walked over to ask whether he needed help. He looked to be in his mid-20s and said he had plenty of gas and a cell phone. However, he didn't appear to have warm clothing or much of an idea how to deal with his situation. Maybe he was shaken up by having slid off the freeway backwards at high speed. I asked if he had AAA, and he did, so I suggested (to his apparent surprise) that he call them, because--you know--that's what it's for.

I was satisfied that he would get help, so I started walking back to my car, before deciding to go back and mention that he should tell them what position his car was in, so that they could send an appropriately equipped rescue truck (maybe that's obvious, but he did seem a bit dazed). When I returned, he said that his phone was out of juice. I offered mine. I figured it might be a while before they made it out to help him, so I decided it would be worth trying to extract the car ourselves. While he talked to AAA, I started digging with a bucket he had in the car. While I dug, a state patrol officer came and wrote the poor guy a ticket. After about 15 minutes, I had cleared a lane in front of the car.

I pushed the front of the car while he cranked the steering wheel all the way over and feathered the gas. The wheels spun, but we were able to rock the car into the cleared track and back onto the shoulder, still facing the wrong way. I had him back up about 150m until he could turn and back up onto the on-ramp to turn around, and he was back on his way. I thought I had had my excitement for the day until I hit a near white out on the way down from Snoqualmie Pass, after I'd already taken off the chains at the chain-off area. The snow on the freeway extended all the way to I-405. I fish-tailed a few times but kept it on the road and managed not to hit or be hit by anyone.

Anyway, the snow clearing was a good arm and core strength workout.

C • AAA 6

Used a big bucket.