A massive blizzard hit western South Dakota yesterday with reported 36" of snow and winds up to 68 mph. The power went out city wide, so I went on a joy ride in my trusty Ford Bronco about an hour before it hit because most storms here are a joke. Turns out the blizzard was no joke, I headed out later to help a friend that was stranded and ended up getting stuck myself. By the time I got unstuck from a 2' hardened snow bank I got word that he was headed home. So I decided it was time to head home myself and help as many people along the way as possible. pretty much any truck without limited slip or locking differentials were a lost cause, I spent a good hour trying to get an F250 unstuck, but we were unsuccessful. later I mistakenly turned my truck off for 5 minutes to help someone and the battery froze. Meanwhile I heard blood curdling screams for help off in the distance, so I ran like hell through 3' of snow to help them, falling flat on my face at one point. Turned out to be 2 women and a father carrying his baby that collapsed from exhaustion. someone else arrived seconds before me and rushed the baby to the nearest hotel, so I assured the other 3 got there safely. I went 30 more minutes without a running vehicle and soaked cotton clothes before someone found me and gave me a jump start. On the way back the snow in the road was 2'-3', I had to keep at least 20mph of momentum and there was 50ft of visibility, and got stuck on the last hill before home due to a car stuck sideways in the middle of the road. By this point the first stages of hypothermia were setting in, so leaving the truck was not an option. I finally got unstuck and got home after being exposed for 3 or so hours. Today the roads are officially closed until further notice, but I always have at least a weeks worth of canned food on hand. Some areas still don't have food or power. Hypothermia is more serious than you think, it's important to make sure you stay dry more than anything.

• published: 06 Oct 2013
• views: 105