Caravanning with snow this week
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Seemed to us that there might have been two ways to tackle such as the M62 . Close it down completely so no one was put at risk, with plenty of warnings, allowing only medical emergencies access under guidance. Or, given that it appears to be the big lorries that are stuck, operate some sort of convoy system, so that the essential travellers can be weeded from the none essential, and only move on the next convoy when it is clear? Interestingly, despite the (very) challenging terrain, the M62 has only closed twice previously. It's not a place I would want to be stuck out in, on those bleak moorland parts.
My other half was part of emergency services, and common sense is applied at all times in this household. Given where we live, the hills, the snow,(not as frequent nowadays) our hobbies past and present, a 4x4 is seen as an essential piece of kit. With the appropriate tyres on as well, and knowledge of how to use the different gears. We do errands for neighbours and friends when it is like this, as do other family members. The internet is your friend though, excellent up to date information.
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TDA, Quite agree with your thoughts on the M62. Folks think all the hills etc are all in the far north without realising the M62 has the highest stretch of motorway we have & really needs to be treated as such.
I saw a TV programme about the First closure many years back. Two bobbies out to check the road conditions were utterly staggered to be passed by a middle aged chappie in his saloon car. When they caught him and asked what the blazes he was doing he just kept repeating "But I have to get to work so I moved the road closed signs & drove past, but I did put them back"
P.S. Last night I saw again one of the famous clips of snow ploughing on the beloved Applecross high road aka Bealach Na Ba. A bit worse than Crewe to Nantwich road
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I too agree with TDA, I said as much on another thread, it was pretty much the same here on the M80 Red Alert and yet the road was still open.
IMO the road should have been closed, all HGV's on the road should have been stacked in the slow lane like they do at Dover when the ferries/tunnel are on strike/closed.
This would have enable the snow ploughs to clear the other 2 lanes without hindrance. Once cleared they could then let cars use these lanes behind a snow plough and the lorries keep to their lane and travel in convoy.
This is tried and tested method in Germany and has been for over 30+ years.
I remember once going skiing to the Hertz mountains, we had clear roads all the way there but once there it was horrific. The police were stopping folk who didn't have snow chains and turning them around.
Those with chains were allowed to proceed. We had chains and were used to ski areas so didn't feel it a problem. Not long into the mountains we hit a queue of traffic behind a snow plough.
We spent hours behind that plough as it was the only way to get back down off the mountain. Never got out of the car once, as no where to stop so bad was the snow. We later found out that not long after we had been allowed through they completely shut the road. However at no time did we have a problem as long as we stayed in convoy behind the plough.
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We were just pondering in truth, wondering if it could work, so interesting that others have actually seen such a system at work. Sadly for UK, I doubt they have the number of police officers available to do it. Although the army certainly could.
We went out for a drive on Wednesday, fully prepared, and only local, to get a feel of conditions. We drove over 3 motorways, M1, A1 and M18, and all were standing traffic, mainly lorries. Not much else out on roads bar a few 4x4s, so most folks being sensible. I admit to moving some cones on a "road closed" section, but it wasn't because of snow, just a hole awaiting more work, and we got past it easily. We delivered a few supplies, checked on a few folks, and had fun doing it I must admit. But we were never far from civilisation, and had some proper clothes and boots on. Sadly I can't load the video of part of our drive here!
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That'll give you something to practice next time you get snowed in TDA
As for the run out, that's something I used to do before my Motor'vanning days.
First sign of the dreaded white stuff then into the car, off up towards Buxton via Congleton and get some real practice driving on snow/ice. It always came in useful on those night-time callouts with tracksuit over jimjams and out into the countryside in a minivan or HA Viva !! at least they were originally kitted out with chains but only in the early days .
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TDA, not sure that many police would be needed. A police vehicle at each end of the road to be closed should do the trick.
Then its down to local authorities road crews to clear the road. Police then reopen road once clear. We have snow gates on many highland roads up here something similar could be installed if the will was there.
Given the amount of police and other emergency workers (firecrews and ambulance) that had to deploy to the M80 the other day I think less would have been involved if it had been closed.
The main problem IMO is that folk seem to be undisciplined and just ignore warnings, its the same when they are told to stay away from the coast when its high tide, what do they do, they go to have a look then get washed away and some poor soul has to rescue them.
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having a 4x4 we ventured out to check on elderly relatives and most of the time we were the only car out, but we did notice how many younger drivers were going too fast perhaps having no expereince on snow due to the mild winters we've had? OnThursday on a snowy snow filled road driving slow (enough that the autolock hadn't) we were overtaken by a corsa with four young lads. We got our own back when they got stuck at the next unhill junction, their front wheels spinning madly while we stopped behind then just sailed by
Must admit that we got the AWD as it came with the car we wanted due to the kerb weight we wanted so the AWD wasn't a factor in buying the car as we never had it before. But it's proved it weight in gold and I certainly wouldn't buy another without it - well for the towcar anyway.
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I was talking to the driver of one of the deliveries to our co op and he was saying that one of the problems with HGVs getting stuck in snow/ice these days,is that the majority are now fitted with automatic gear boxes which have taken away some of the options available with a manual box
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We have always in the past had manual gearbox 4x4s but have just had an auto 4x4 delivered,and as not yet mobile enough to venture out ,it has remained in the garage,it is booked in to have a towbar fitted on monday so will see how i get on,
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Well we travelled home today after a good stay in York, we stayed there last year at a similar time and had cold weather with bright sunshine, a bit different this year.
We're very glad we opted to delay travel as it was a tiring run home to the west country, salt spray made driving harder, a reminder to keep windscreen wash topped up! We found much more snow further south, the M5 in Somerset still had snow in the outside lane. We saw frozen canals and rivers and the Severn near Tewkesbury was already rising fast in the thaw.
Very chilly when we got home due to a boiler fault, now fixed and lots of snow outside which is melting in the rain. One thing to remember if going away is to leave home in a good state to prevent freezing pipes etc. British Gas were in contact with us about our boiler and would have come to the rescue quickly if needed, just unfortunate this time that no-one could get to the house to switch things back on!
Anyone heading south on the M5 be aware that Strensham Services south are in total chaos with re-development work and difficult parking but the actual facilities are being kept open. This looks like a long term re-organisation and best avoided. Check out before using.
Safe travels one and all.
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Glad you're home safe and sound, brue, and that the boiler problem is sorted out. Sounds like you had a good time in York, which has special memories for us - it was at uni there in the 70's that I first set eyes on Mrs M and vice versa!
We're off down to Cornwall later this week, the park re-opens on Wednesday, so I'll wave as we pass over you early Thursday morning.
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Glad you got home safe brue, must have been quite a journey, very tiring. Was the Ouse rising as you left? We are booked in next week at RP, but I am expecting it to be flooded.
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The M62 was closed not just due to the snow and ice but mainly due to the high winds. There is a viaduct near Milnrow that is only passable with winds up to 60mph.
The winds for most of the day/night the motorway was closed were consistently at 90mph!
Artics were being turned round on the carriageway and sent back to the nearest slip road to find another route across the Pennines or to wait until the conditions improved.
Creating a convoy system would have made no difference in this instance.
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Glad you're both home safe and sound, brue, and that the boiler problem's fixed.
Hope that you manage to get through to Cornwall, M. By Thursday most of the snow should have melted and been washed away.
The Wardens for Putts Corner are on site here and have had to put off their journey down to site. They expected to be there by tomorrow but it will now be midweek before they arrive and they still anticipate difficulty getting on site.
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You're very welcome Alan
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For info TTDA the Ouse hasn't risen at all today but with the temperature still only 1c the thaw is slow. The next few days it is expected to rise to 8c and on past experience that could have a significant effect. I will update later in the week if there is a prospect of flooding.
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My sister has been at a c&cc site where she stores her van since she lost her husband . She doesn’t drive and is on her own . Her daughter takes her and leaves her with her dog . She has experienced all kinds of weather but although warm in the van she said it is awful all on her own everything froze pipes pump inside aqua roll . Her daughter has been snowed in so unable to pick her up . So hopefully she can get home today .
yes it sounds nice and looks pretty but I’ve been worried about her and will be glad when she is home .
She is hoping looking back on photos that she can laugh in the summer if we have one .
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Hope your sister can get home soon norab.
Apologies to TDA for not replying about river levels at York, pleased to see ForestR can update, we did notice it coming up a bit. Web sites like this are useful for anyone visiting river/sea areas.
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Arrived at Bladon Chains caravan site this morning. We drove through with the car yesterday from Morten Marsh to see if it was possible with the caravan. Only four caravan/motorhomes on Bladon site at the moment. This is our third week away and apart from the waste pipes freezing we have had an ok trip
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We had more snow this morning just as we were packing up. Fortunately it didn't last too long before it changed to rain. We arrived at our York site at noon and nearly all of the snow had gone.
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Drove down to Broadway yesterday afternoon. M54/M6/M5 were the quietest I've seen in 30 years.
Site was covered in snow and only 30 or so vans/motorhomes here.
Today the sun has come out, temperatures positively tropical @ 7C, couple of showers but mainly all sunshine and the snow gone.
Happy days.
Safe & happy Camping to all
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Hi TDA
Spring has arrived in York people walking about without hats, scarves even coats. All snow and ice gone by last night and when we walked back along river bank an hour ago it had not risen more than a few inches and still below lower level path.
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Thanks ForestR! It has been a lot warmer, we are only 40 miles or so from York, so guessing similar there. It's all the run off from the hills that you have to watch out for, hits York and the Ouse a few days after the thaw! But fingers crossed, we are readying the MH. Never been to RP before, but should be ok. Know city well though.
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It was washing onto the river pavement opposite the warehouses mid afternoon as we walked past.
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It's snowing heavily again here on the edges of North Yorkshire this morning - already about an inch of snow in the garden, and coming down as heavily as it was a week ago! Yesterday was warm, with a hint of sun, almost all the snow had gone, even the drifts against walls and today we're back to winter again.
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