Winter Storm

My experience with American winter (North-East) was mostly pleasant, give or take couple of bad slips and odd driving experiences. In 2001, I joined BEA. There were two routes. One via 287->78 and the other through hills. The latter was a shorter distance and pretty nice leasurely drive. I used to prefer the latter.

During one winter evening, the storm started getting worst. Actaully, it was a blizzard, with sticky snow. I started in time, expecting some delay. The word-of-mouth was 287 was jam packed. As always, I chose the hill road! Bad decision. The signs were omnious. Just getting to the base took about an hour. Going uphill was nightmare. One particular spot was converted to muddy ice. It was like baton passing. A car would struggle to get through that spot. Either it would succeed after some struggle or vancuish. There were already about 3/4 vancuished. I got up next. The road was so muddy, the steering wheel was turning as if friction between the road and a tyre did not exist. I somehow got past the spot without either getting stuck or ramming the already stuck.

The road has two hills. The intersection between the hills was pretty empty. I should have got the message. Irrespective I pushed ahead to the next hill. The uphill wasn't as bad. In hindsight, it was only because the drivers had wisely stayed off it. The police had actually blocked the road with just enough opening for the residents living on the hills. I sneaked through that opening. The downhill started. The downhill has about 15 degree gradiant. I was just about managing to stay on the course. Suddenly the car started drifting towards the right. I applied the brakes. However the car, with its momentum, refused to stop. It also changed direction and now headed leftwards, towards the valley. My heart jumped to the mouth. It was a small curb that halted the car's travel. I was numb. Thankfully, the car still had life. It just about managed to get us safe at the base of the hill.

It must have taken me 4/5 hours to reach home that day. I rarely drove on that road then onwards. It was my stupid decisions that I remember this incident mostly about.