Montana, etc.

Montana

Idaho

Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and Tahoe were trying.  After staying another day at the hotel in Billings to wait out the record-setting snowstorm, we trooped on.

PS - It was negative 7 degrees Fahrenheit in Billings -- so cold that when you stepped outside and took a breath, the snot inside your nose crystallized into ice boogers.
 

through Norbie's eyes

It was scary -- the worst part, worse than the nonexistent visibility and ice-rink roads, was getting passed by trucks going 75 mph.  Since plowing was minimal and at times absent, the fast lane was buried in inches of wintry goo.  When trucks flew by they pummeled Norbie and shrouded his face in a cloud of snow/ice-stuff, rendering the driver temporarily blind.  Good times.

I saw more accidents, slide offs, and jack-knifed tractor trailers and RVs than I could count.

When we reached clear roads in Nevada, we thought we were out of the woods.  But as these things go, the gloomiest woods were still ahead of us.

chain worker

At the Nevada/California line on I-80, every vehicle was checked to make sure it had either (1) snow chains or (2) a combination of 4-wheel drive and snow tires.  Norbie has 4WD, but he wasn't wearing his snow boots.  We snowed them pretty good because they let us go without much trouble.

The Donner party picked a rough spot to camp

We also snowed them a little while later at an "agricultural check-point."  Its purpose is to prevent the introduction of "non-native species" and pests that may harm plant life in the Tahoe region.  A woman asked us if we had any produce (we did), or if we had any plant materials (we did, and there was an installation of dried plants hanging above Sancho's head).  Naturally we said "no" and "no."  She let us by with a smile.

I-80 through Tahoe was concurrently the worst road conditions thus far and the best winter driving experience to date.  My (and Norbie's) confidence was up from several days driving through shitty weather (the entire length of Montana, Idaho, and a few spots in Nevada).  The speed limit through Tahoe was reduced to 30 mph, and by and large the Californians obliged.

It was great.

When we were about halfway through Tahoe, they completely shut down I-80 westbound to attend to the many accidents/slide offs.

We sat for at least an hour and a half.  I peed in front of many motorists.

shameless

Sometime during this series of events, Sanch and I decided that there must be some sort of prize for the strong who survive this.  When we came out of the mountains and reached Sacramento, the survivors were rewarded with a brilliant sunset.

 

Sacramento sunset prize