What does this picture show you? How much I value education.
Yesterday, I plowed all day so I could drive my son to school today. And after I dropped him off—I went home and plowed some more so I could pick him up. However, the county did not maintain the public road as well as I did my roads, and despite my best driving I slid into a ditch.
Let me tell you, sliding on Old Stage is terrifying because one side is ditch with mountain rock face and the other is cliff. And I didn’t even know why I was sliding so bad. So I got out, and the second both my feet hit the dirt road, I was on my back looking up at the white sky—-THICK BLACK ICE. About a half inch thick on top of the dirt.
So what do I do? Call my husband, call the school, and look for tools. No shovel, no gloves, not much BUT—I did see my kids Halloween candy bucket. That bucket was enough for me to dig the snow away from the tires, fill the bucket with dirt, and pack dirt around my tires so I could get traction on top of the ice and get myself out and pick up my son from school. WHAT A DAY!!!!!
Comments:
- Susan Kemer So glad you were watched over and saved!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Susan Kemer I cant even tell you how terrifying it was!! I literally couldn’t give myself a ton of gas, otherwise I might fly across the road and over the cliff 20 ft away. Took lots of careful driving and moving lots of dirt
- Rachel McCash Cronin
- Susan Kemer The bucket…. The BUCKET!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Susan Kemer lol this guy saved me!!!
- Bill Van Horn Wow….be careful! This has happened to me before and I stocked the trunk with all kinds of things like emergency kits, flares, and spare jackets. It takes space but it’s good to have just in case.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Bill Van Horn yes!!! I literally took so many things out because I wanted to go through a carwash. NEVER AGAIN!!! My truck can stay dirty!!! Ughhhhh
- Bill Van Horn Glad it you made it home safe….I try (try) not to go anywhere in the snow and ice, but I know it’s imopssi9ble some times.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Bill Van Horn yes!!! I was surprised today was a school day! I let the school know when I showed up covered in dirt and snow lol
- Patrick Hampton💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
- Active NowKari Chamberlin Glad you are safe and sound
- Rachel McCash Cronin Kari Chamberlin thank you!!! Me too!! 🙏🏻💗
- Active NowKari Chamberlin Ugh how scary. I hate driving in the snow
- Bonnie Silver Well, you’re amazing and quite resourceful! Great job!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Bonnie Silver thank you so much!!! Halloween bucket for the win haha 🎃
- Bonnie Silver Sharp Mom with McGyver skills to the rescue 🙂
- Rachel McCash Cronin Bonnie Silver BEST COMMENT!! Omg I loved McGyver back in the day!!!
- Bonnie Silver What did I win? hahahahaha
- Rachel McCash Cronin Bonnie Silver 🏆 🏆 🏆
- Deborah Trem Williams Way to keep your wits and think it through and get it done!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Deborah Trem Williams that was what the call to my husband was for haha he is amazing at helping me stay calm. But it’s true—there was no saving me—I was alone on a mountain and had to figure it out with what I had lol
- Deborah Trem Williams Rachel McCash Cronin YOU did AMAZING 💖
- Nancey Ahlstromer Glad you are safe.
In a pinch, you can also use your floor mats for traction.- Rachel McCash Cronin Nancey Ahlstromer omg yes!!! That is a great idea!
- Nancey Ahlstromer Rachel McCash Cronin I think I saw it on a survivalist websites
- Lynette Jones Murphy So glad your ok. Black ice is not a joke.1Delete or hide this
- Rachel McCash Cronin Lynette Jones Murphy I could not believe how slick it was! Especially as a dirt road! I literally couldn’t even stand on it without slipping
- Tibeca Yao Might make sense to stay home where it is safe on those bad days.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Tibeca Yao yes!!! This morning was great! The snow started at noon and just dumped 5 inches! 😱 We’ll definitely be staying home tomorrow 💯
- Jessica Kish That road is scary when the road is clean! Glad you are safe. But I wouldn’t be doing that again. Get chains.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Jessica Kish yes!!! Chains, shovel, 2 buckets of dirt, extra gloves—huge list is happening haha
- Active NowElisabeth Phelps Rogers So scary with the cliff!! Do you have chains? We would always weigh my truck down with big bags of cat litter as well
- Rachel McCash Cronin Elisabeth Phelps Rogers not for this truck! We will be getting some ASAP along with new snow tires, salt, sand and I need cat liter anyways since my outdoor cat is now indoors with all this crazy weather! 😩🥶
- Michael T Hoover Rachel McCash Cronin I use sand bags for weight in my truck… Use your 4 wheel drive on that road and learn about how to use let gears on certain situations! Be safe… There snow tires will help… One brand has rubber studs that can be put to grip…
- Michael T Hoover Lower gears*
- Active NowBrook Nuttall I’m glad that you are okay. How scary!
And great job on sticking with it and solving the delima.- Rachel McCash Cronin Brook Nuttall basically how I felt haha
- Active NowBrook Nuttall Nice!1
- Cathleen Mason What a woman!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Cathleen Mason thank you!!! I felt very much like a boss after all that!! Digging snow and dirt by hand with a Halloween bucket to rescue myself and my kid from school! Or possibly like a crazy person—but let’s go with BOSS haha 🙌🏻
- Cathleen Mason Rachel McCash Cronin YW! I think BOSS works!!! You did it like a BOSS!!! I mean. Seriously. How many women can say they did that??!!! Me? Maaayyyy beee. I’d be scared $&@ less. You’ve got skills ❤️❤️
- Steven Dale Salt & chains?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Steven Dale yes they are added to my list!!! As well as new snow tires
- Rachel McCash Cronin 💸💸💸 but LIVING is worth it lol
- Active NowDona Vroubel Snow I Can Handle. Black Ice Scares The Pa-Jeebers Out Of Me. 😱
- Rachel McCash Cronin Dona Vroubel it was SO SCARY!!!! Once I got the truck out, I was literally driving SO SLOW. And then both my boys and I all chanted the sound of God/creation the entire way up to make it home calmly 😩🥳
- Active NowDona Vroubel Rachel McCash Cronin I’m so glad you were all safe. Living in the Sierra Foothills At The 3200’ elevation I’ve Also has Those “Thank You Jesus” Moments.
- Brittany Rocha I was always told to keep a bag of cat litter in my vehicle in the winter for situations like this
- Rachel McCash Cronin Brittany Rocha yes!! Added to my list!! I need some anyways as my Mountain Kitty is basically indoors right now with this crazy weather
- Midori Tetreault You are a badass!
- Leah Tennyson Rodgers 💪🏻 💪🏻 💪🏻💁🏻♀️ Yes She Can!
Wow! What a story! I’m so glad you are ok and y’all made it safely home!!!- Rachel McCash Cronin Leah Tennyson Rodgers I love you lady!!!! And thank you!! Me too!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
- Natiana Frankie Stokes You’re such a boss! ❤️❤️❤️
- Rachel McCash Cronin Natiana Frankie Stokes thank you lady!! 😎😎😎
- Mark Bore Given the roads you drive on up to your place it would be worth it to get your snow tires studded as well.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Mark Bore I’ve never even heard of that. Looked it up and wow!!! They look intense!!! And exactly what I need lol
- Mark Bore Rachel McCash Cronin You can get different heights. Check local regulations for what is allowed on local roads in town. Your local tire shop should be able to help.
- Alexandra N Aiden Kogan So thankful you are ok and I writing this. ·
- Rachel McCash Cronin Alexandra N Aiden Kogan yes!! Thank you! Me too! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
- Leah Kemeny Rangel I got stuck in a parking lot of black ice once. The only place open close by was a little girls dance studio with a few moms. I’ll never forget the advice one mom gave me and it works every time. Keep cardboard in your trunk. She had some and we stuck it under my tires and it worked like a charm. Glad you’re ok.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Leah Kemeny Rangel oooh man yes! Thanks for the tip, I’ll add it to my list!! Being out here, more means survival 🙌🏻 Glad that worked for you and we are all safe!
- Anthony Pipes You can also use your floor mats
- Brandi Danielle Where do you live
- Rachel McCash Cronin Brandi Danielle we are in Colorado! 🏔
- Active NowTaylor Osorio My husband slid up there last year and will never go back up when it’s snowy again! It terrified him, almost went off the mountain! Glad you are okay!!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Taylor Osorio yes any slips on this road are terrifying!!! It’s either rock or cliff!! 😱
- Active NowBritton Zane That’s rough. You definitely should get some chains⛓
- Rachel McCash Cronin Britton Zane for sure!!!
- Active NowBritton Zane They’ll help you guys so much! Traction is everything
- Anthony Pipes My first thought was were you in 4 High or 4 Low?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Anthony Pipes 4H . Is that the right one?
- Anthony Pipes For highway driving yes. If you get stuck I would recommend a lower gear for for a little more torque. Your rear was pretty stuck so no guarantee but it would give you the best shot.
- Leachel Lynn Franckowiak What state is this?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Leachel Lynn Franckowiak Good ol Colorado 🏔
- Leachel Lynn Franckowiak Omg, glad you are ok! I am about to drive from Washington state to Michigan… super nervous. Lol
- Nicole Rogers Glad you are ok! 💜
- Rachel McCash Cronin Nicole Rogers thank you!!! We will be staying inside all day tomorrow! I just got a “frostbite” warning on my weather app!! 😱🥶❄️
- Chelsea Mettler It is definitely scary sliding anytime so I could only imagine running into the rocks or going off the cliff. Scary but I’m glad you were able to get out safe!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Chelsea Mettler oh man yes!!! And now it’s 4 degrees out! I can only imagine the amount of ice now! 😱🥶
- Chelsea Mettler Rachel McCash Cronin it’s still like 40° where I live haha but I love the snow!
- Cathy Cronin Coughlin I have no advice.. I’m speechless at how well you handled that… and lived to tell it!!😂
On the other hand, maybe I do., don’t you dare leave without gloves, a little shovel, and Scooby snacks!!! Or homeschool! 😂😂😂- Rachel McCash Cronin Cathy Cronin Coughlin Right?? Since I plowed my roads I was feeling very confident—“just a quick 15 min drive to Troy’s school—maybe 20 min with the snow”. Didn’t think I needed anything—I almost didn’t even wear my coat! 😱🥶 Next time, I’ll leave as if anything might happen because IT CAN!!
- Cathy Cronin Coughlin Rachel McCash Cronin I’m so glad it all ended well. So scary!!!
Of course, you know, now I’m going to always worry if you are trying to navigate those snowy mountains!!! - Active NowLisa Mckown Rachel McCash Cronin always have each vehicle have a “winter emergency pack” and blankets with folding shovel. If I lived up there, I would. You can’t be too careful!
- Cheresa Wynn I don’t think school is important enough to risk driving on that road in a storm. School isn’t even important enough for me to take my kids in the city. In fact I can’t think of much that would get me out of the house in this weather. I’m glad you’re ok
- Rachel McCash Cronin Cheresa Wynne agreed!!! Getting him to school was easy, but then it dumped 5 inches and got crazy at pick up. I’ve decided we are staying home tomorrow for sure. I got a 2 hour delay text but man—it’s supposed to snow more tomorrow. So it could definitely be a repeat of today—which was terrifying ❄️ 🚗
- Cheresa Wynn Rachel McCash Cronin it’s going to be super cold in the am so there will be a lot of ice. My kids have a 2-hour-delay also, but they may not be going. That is so scary!
- Adrianne Reyes Cheresa Wynne I agree!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Cheresa Wynne it’s 4 degrees now and my weather app says it “feels like” -8!! 🥶❄️🥶❄️😱 · 15w
- Cheresa Wynn Rachel McCash Cronin it’s freezing! Almost everything is shut down.
- Dawn Strate Summer school. Winter homeschool. I’m glad your alive. Your going to hurt in the next few days. 🌸🌺. Didn’t I say snowmobile last year? Ya keep one vehicle at the bottom and snowmobile to and fro the home.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Dawn Strate I’m already super sore from snow plowing. It seriously is a full body workout, even on a 4-wheeler. And we may have to consider a school schedule like that as time goes on. We have a playroom loft which I could easily transition into a classroom 🤔
- Dawn Strate Rachel McCash Cronin YES! Your can do it!!! Safer. Well, maybe. Lots of real science , math, geography, physics, zoology, and biology in the mountains. You can even study the mountain peaks and map them out.
- Active NowMario J McCash What an adventure!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Mario J McCash no more adventures like this haha!! I can’t believe how crazy this storm is getting!! 🥶🥶🥶
- Active NowMario J McCash Rachel McCash Cronin yikes! Stay safe!!!
- Nicole Gayatri Wow. So glad you are safe
- Rachel McCash Cronin Nicole Gayatri thank you so much!!! Definitely staying inside all day tomorrow!
- Holly G Jury this is why we love homeschooling!! 😉
- Rachel McCash Cronin Holly G Jury I’ve been fascinated with homeschooling for so long!!! Watched so many documentaries on it and “unschooling” too. I’d love to take the plunge one day!
- Holly G Jury we mostly unschool 🙂
- Rachel McCash Cronin Holly G Jury yeah from my research, that’s the best way to go!
- Amy San Miguel Hell ya girl!
- Active NowKelsie Louise I don’t miss those days in Colorado but seriously slow clapping in approval! Yes girl!! Way to go!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
- Arianna Siotto Sturtevant You’re incredible. That’s why I got studded tires. Although Massachusetts has great services when the snow comes. 4 years ago we got state of emergency because we has too much snow (112 inches in a month), after that it’s all good. You should write to your town.
- Rachel McCash Cronin Arianna Siotto Sturtevant that is SO MUCH SNOW!!!! I used to live in Boston and it definitely gets crazy out there!!
- Active NowCora LaBelle Adapt and survive!
- Active NowJaclyn Easton Omg I would be so scared! I’m glad you are alright. Maybe they can send him homework to do for now?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Jaclyn Easton school is closed for everyone luckily!! It was a mistake on their part to open school yesterday. It was closed on Monday—they should have closed yesterday as well, and it’s closed today. The city roads were just as bad as this road when I did finally get to town 🥶😱
- Active NowJaclyn Easton Rachel McCash Cronin wow you are so brave and I’m so glad you and the boys are ok! Maybe next year you may consider homeschooling? You practically already educate your kids more than most people because of how you live your life now. Just a thought 🙏🏼 I’ve always wanted to homschool at least through 6th grade. 😊
- Rachel McCash Cronin Jaclyn Easton that’s amazing!! Yes we’ve thought about + talked about unschooling/world travel for middle school and then going back for high school. We just need more money saved up. I love private schooling for elementary—he’s learned to read, write, count to over 300+ and it’s only the beginning of kindergarten lol. I dont think I could have done that on my own—but maybe! I have friends that do and it amazes me
. Maybe I just need more confidence haha. I’ve found where there is motivation, anything happens! But so far we do want to unschool/travel middle school 🙌🏻
- Mindy Burnette Wow look at you doing things and all lol Smart thinking!!!
- Active NowKiernan Bee You are a rockstar!!!! Glad you are okay!
- Shari Ritter Holy Snow! Where is this?
- Rachel McCash Cronin Shari Ritter Colorado!!
- Shari Ritter Glad you’re ok
- Rachel McCash Cronin Shari Ritter thank you!!!
- Rachel McCash Cronin Shari Ritter thank you!!!
- Lance Fairbanks Be Safe Out There!
- Ashley Allen Thankful you’re okay!!
- Fenton Quinn Good job!