Build a winter car kit for southern Alberta

The short version

Keep a winter kit in every vehicle: shovel, traction aid (sand, kitty litter or mats), scraper and brush, booster cables, flashlight, warning lights or flares, first aid kit, blanket, warm clothes, water and snacks.
In southern Alberta, the kit is less about deep snow and more about wind, blowing snow, ice and sudden cold snaps that can stop traffic on open highway.
Keep your fuel tank full, carry extra washer fluid, and keep your phone charged.
If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle and keep the tailpipe clear of snow.
Check road conditions on 511 Alberta before you leave town.

Most winter trips around Lethbridge go just fine. The kit in the back is for the one that doesn’t: a ditch on Highway 3 in a ground blizzard, a dead battery at a farm gate, or a road that closes while you’re halfway to Calgary. A few dollars of gear and a box in the trunk can turn a frightening night into a long, boring wait.

Why it matters here

Southern Alberta winters are a little different. We don’t always get a lot of snow, but we get wind, and wind moves the snow we do get. Roads can drift in and visibility can drop to almost nothing on open stretches, even when the sky overhead is clear. Chinooks can melt the roads by afternoon and freeze them to glare ice by evening. And when Arctic air drops in, temperatures can fall fast. Out on a rural highway, help may be a long way off.

The basic kit

Transport Canada and the Canadian Automobile Association both publish winter kit lists. Here is a combined version that works well for our area:

To get moving again

A small shovel (CAA suggests one with a long handle)
Sand or kitty litter for traction, and/or traction mats
Snow brush and ice scraper
Booster cables
Extra windshield washer fluid rated for winter
Gas-line antifreeze

To be seen

Flashlight (CAA suggests a crank type, since batteries don’t last long in extreme cold)
Reflective triangles or road flares
A reflective safety vest

To stay warm and safe

Blanket (a lightweight heat-reflective one packs small)
Extra socks, boots, mitts or gloves, a toque and a warm layer
Hand and foot warmers
Bottled water and non-perishable food such as granola bars
A small first aid kit
A phone charger or charging cable for the vehicle

Transport Canada also lists matches and a survival candle, which can warm your hands without draining your battery or gas tank. If you carry one, use it carefully and keep a window cracked.

Southern Alberta extras worth adding

A paper map of the region. Cell coverage gets thin on some back roads.
Warm clothes for everyone who rides with you. If you drive grandkids to hockey or a friend to an appointment, pack for them too.
A small tool kit and spare fuses. CAA includes both on its list.
Paper towels or a rag for clearing headlights and wiping a dipstick.
Medications if you or a regular passenger needs them.

One tip from CAA: in extreme cold, carry lock de-icer in your pocket or purse, not in the vehicle. It won’t help much if it’s locked inside.

Packing it so it actually gets used

Use a sturdy bin or duffel bag and keep it in the vehicle all winter.
Keep the warm clothes and blanket inside the cab if you can, not only in a truck box or topper you can’t reach in a storm.
Check it once a month. Swap out frozen or burst water bottles, replace snacks, and test the flashlight.
Put it in the vehicle in fall and leave it there until spring. Our first storm and our last one both tend to surprise people.

Before you leave

The Government of Canada’s winter storm guidance says to keep your fuel tank full, carry extra washer fluid, use winter tires and clear snow and ice from all windows before you drive. It also recommends avoiding travel during a winter storm, and avoiding travelling alone and at night if you can.

Check the road report on 511 Alberta and look at the Lethbridge forecast before a highway trip. Let someone know your route and when you expect to arrive.

If you do get stranded

Stay with your vehicle. It is shelter, and it is much easier for rescuers to find than a person walking in blowing snow.
Keep the tailpipe clear of snow and ice to avoid carbon monoxide building up inside.
Run the engine only now and then for heat, and crack a window while it runs.
Put on extra layers early, before you get cold.
Make yourself visible with flares, triangles or your vest.
Call for help if you have a signal: 911 for an emergency or injury, or your roadside assistance number if no one is hurt.

Our next post covers how to get unstuck safely when it’s just a snowbank and not an emergency.

Sources

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