Got home yesterday long before the snowstorm hit our area. Because my wife freaks out with driving in the snow and works nightshift (when the snow was going to hit), I took her to work so I could pick her up.

I left the house 15 minutes after the snow started falling @ 10pm. I had 17 mile drive to pick her up. Well - it didn't go very smooth.

I have a '99 Chevy Blazer. When I left the house, the roads were just slushy, so I didn't have the 4wd engaged. When I got to the second hill, the rear end broke free, so I got off the throttle and hit the 4wd button. It lit up all nice and pretty, showing it was engaged. WRONG... Something in the front axle isn't locking in, so who knows - I'm hoping for the vacuum actuator, but when I checked it this morning it sounds like the front axle is clicking in, but still nothing from the front end.

Anyway, I decide to try to make it to pick her up anyway. All was fine until I came to the 3rd hill, which has a decent pull to it. Traffic was at a dead stop at the bottom, so I figured someone wrecked further up. That's when I decided to turn around. Just turning around on that crap was a nightmare - it probably took 10 minutes to get facing the other way. I went to my parents house and borrowed my mother's Subaru Outback to finally make it to pick my wife up.

Her daughter was also on the way home at the time. She got hung up on a very steep hill about 1 mile from her house. So, being the every-so-nice stepfather, I offer to go get her and take her the rest of the way home. Luckily, I had no problems with that, or the rest of the trip home.

All in all, the 34 mile round trip, which normally can be done in 40 minutes took roughly 3 and a half hours. We made it home at 2:45am. Mind you I started my day @ 3:30am yesterday. When I got home from work, I took a nap for an hour or so. When I got in bed last night (this morning), I'm pretty sure I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

What really sucks is that now my Blazer has to make a trip to the garage on Monday. I'm just hoping it's nothing major - there's nothing like having a huge unforeseen bill pop up days before Christmas, especially after I just dropped a little over a grand in various repairs on the Blazer about a month ago.

I'm gonna move to Laredo, damnit!!!

 

Don't feel bad. I hate winter myself. I'd rather it be 106 than 30.
Luckily the winters here are mild. If all we got was snow, it wouldn't be bad. Most of the time, we get ice. (Sleet, freezing rain etc).

 

We've got roughly 8-10" right now. It should stop snowing in another 8 hours or so...

 

I hear ya, and hope everything continues to work out for you. People who live in snow country deal with challenges allot, and sometimes the extremes can be life threatening, if you don't know what you are doing. You met your challenges Mal, and everyone made it home safe. You earned a bark at the moon!

I know areas that are not accustom to severe weather, are sometimes not prepared, or forced out of their comfort zone, sometimes knowing only by the Grace of God, you made it through.

I've always loved living in N.Michigan, over anywhere else. For me it would be punishment to make me live in Laredo, unless Milla Jovovich has a Villa there, and would start finally answering my calls.



Who is he?
He says his name is Roadhog.
He's cute...can he act?
No...but he says his pet Iguana is very talented.

Pet Iguana?
Yes...Iguana...he says it's about this big...
Ummmm...send him to my Milla-Villa tonight.

 

In Laredo your Blazer will get stripped by Mexicans then you'll have to walk in 100 degree heat.

 

My Honda Ridgeline was doing great in this 20 inches of snow in Central Virginia until the snow plow blocked me in and got stuck going over the hump of snow and ice

 

I know of a couple of guys that have had problems with Blazers and the front drive. One guy bought his new, and never used it until a few years later in KY, he got stuck in sand. He kicked in the 4-wheel drive and it did nothing. Later, at the dealer, they had to replace the front drive shaft. They had fine splines and without ever trying to use them once, the splines wore smooth. Don't know if they're still using that, but I think I remember it was the end that goes into the transfer case. Don't remember if he had to replace the female end in the transfer case too, or not.

Sorry, but I'm sure that is not something you wanted to hear. Hope you have a Merry Christmas in spite of what I've said.

 

Hawk man your nuts, I stayed put all day. Currently at 23" and still coming. Spent 4 hours clearing the major snow off the vehicles then digging them out. Tomorrow will be spent making a path out of the driveway and clean the vehicles off again, got an addtional 4" after cleaning them off. C-ville station was saying towards Lynchburg and Wintergreen Resort got 30-31"

 

I couldn't drive in that mess either. If I didn't have to, that is..

 

Subaru does it every time. I live in the UP with an average snowfall of 200 inches and have no problems in the Subaru!!!!!! :clap: