Snow?

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/11/2020 at 10:03 • Filed to: Doggo

Winter has struck early in the great white north this season. I passed a newer Outback with CHAINS on coming down our county road this morning. There was only about 1/2 of packed snow on the road. The car was going about 5-10 mph. I guess this is their first winter in Montana?

It always feels weird to pass a car that I also own (I have a 2013 Outback) when I know that car is a fucking tank on snow and can’t possibly see why it needs chains or a creep along speed .

DISCUSSION (17)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 10:14

The thing that has probably impressed me the most with our 2013 Outback is just how well it does in the snow. I’m more confident driving the Outback in snow stock all-seasons than my Raptor in 4-Hi. With snow tires or even A/T tires I think it would be completely unstoppable.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/11/2020 at 10:17

I just put a set of fresh studded snows on the outback too, I have yet to drive it on ice and snow but my wife says the new tires are really good.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 10:23

Eh, the looks I get airing out my Winter bibs on the first morning in the 30's are nothing compared to the shellshock that I’m confronted by in most people when it’s -30.

The awful Jack Nicholson Joker quote comes to mind here.

404 - User No Longer Available > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 10:34

Meanwhile up here it’s still 16C outside and I can probably go outside with shorts. It was 24C just a day ago.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 10:35

I’m not a race car driver, and I certainly have average at best car control, but the one thing I do have is years of experience driving in the snow. Not to mention the 16 years before that of growing up riding in a car in the same conditions. I often take that for granted and have to calm myself when people creep along at 4 0 under the speed limit on less than perfect roads.

I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have never been exposed to it, then to be expected to know what you’re doing when you are. My best guess is that’s it’s like being thrown into a McLaren and being expected to match lap times of race car drivers.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
11/11/2020 at 10:43

New cars are so good these days with AWD and traction control it’s like cheating. The cars I grew up driving were objectively terrible by comparison even comparing to my Mazda3. I’ve only stuck the Mazda once and that was in a plowed snow bank that I tried to drive through. I really don’t see any reason why you would chain up an Outback and then drive 5 mph.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/11/2020 at 10:45

That sounds nice.

facw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 10:54

We are supposed to have a high of 75° here today. Not surprisingly the ski resorts that were planning on opening this weekend have all pushed back to next weekend (looks like they’ll still have daytime highs well above freezing next week, but the overnight lows should be low enough for snow making).

PowderHound > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 11:01

We’ve been getting consistent snow for the past few days and I’m loving it!

MUSASHI66 > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/11/2020 at 11:33

16c is 61f. By Colorado bylaws, you have to go out in shorts down to mid 30’s, which is around 2c.

barnie > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/11/2020 at 11:36

Doggo seems oblivious or even happy to be in the snow?!?

80F here today. But TS Eta is going to roll near us us so we’re gonna get a lot of rain and wind next couple of days . Plenty stores aboard for me and the kittehs. Fresh propane 2 days ago and water tank filled.

404 - User No Longer Available > MUSASHI66
11/11/2020 at 11:46

Meh, I’ve driven around with my top down in -10C before...

VincentMalamute-Kim > barnie
11/11/2020 at 12:27

He’s a husky, happy to finally have good weather. I’ve got a defective Malamute that refuses to go outside after the first snow. She gets used to it.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/11/2020 at 12:28

That Outback driver has excellent skills but was caught with his track slicks on. I’m sure that’s it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Nom De Plume
11/11/2020 at 12:32

There’s an interesting anecdote in the Wikipedia article on Chinook winds, which, while not yet cited, is likely true:

| In 1983, on the 45th floor [about 145 m (460 ft) above the street] of the Petro-Canada Center, carpenters worked shirtless in +12 °C, windy conditions (temperature reported to them by overhead crane operator), but were chagrined to find out the street temperature was still 20 °C as they left work at 3:30 that afternoon.

Shirtless or t-shirt and having to make it through -20 to get home is... interesting.

Nom De Plume > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/11/2020 at 12:48

Inner city environments can be interesting. 1983 they might have been locally influenced by warm air being expelled from another building being diverted through their structure. Or it could’ve been a meteorological phenomenon.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Nom De Plume
11/11/2020 at 13:14

Well, the whole deal of a chinook wind (and why that was mentioned in the article for them) is that it’s a high-level warm wind over the top of cold air, with a sharp thermal separation, at least when it first rolls in. Hot air that dumps its moisture on the windward side of terrain, and then rolls over the cold air on the other side, actually *regaining* heat as it descends due to pressure effects. Weird shit.

The tower was high enough it was up in the warm dry wind, while at ground level there was a trapped pocket of harsh winter as normal. One might guess the air-trapping qualities of the city enhanced that, but the main source being attributed for the wild difference was the chinook.