Subject: Re: WWCB bonanza... WARNING!!
Date: Dec 31 20:36:53 1997
From: "Ruth Sullivan" - GODWIT at worldnet.att.net


Hello Richard,
Thank you for given us warning about our planned trip. only in case the
weather getting real severe, we are ready to go.When I remember you left
real late in the evening to twisp, where the temperature drops low and the
road getting icy.I maybe contact you on some details If you dont mind?
Onother subject:The Slaty-backed Gull in Everett MARINE VIEW DRIVE.If you
not already saw this Bird, i think you should go and take a look.You might
see this Bird on the Web-site after the 5th of January.
PS: WE ARE ALL EXITED TO SEE ALL THI BIRDS you had. I be happy, this to
see the White winged Crossbills real close for a photo.Common Redpool for
my list.
Wishen you a Healty and Happy NEW YEAR for 1998,also my deepest SYMPATHY
for you Brother.
Ruth
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net


----------
> From: PAGODROMA <PAGODROMA at aol.com>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: WWCB bonanza... WARNING!!
> Date: Wednesday, December 31, 1997 10:21 AM
>
> Those of you rushing off from the We't side to the Okanogan for the
White-
> winged Crossbills and other winter birds, and if via U.S. 97 / Blewett
Pass,
> BEWARE!!
>
> **WARNING!!** The north-side down slope winter roadway can be and IS
> extremely treacherous and dangerous! I nearly lost it on that stretch in
snow
> during my rush to Twisp and the winter birding gold mines of the Okanogan
on
> the 26th. Compact snow and ice, good ol' and reliable "ICEBIRD" (my AWD
> Subaru) went'a fish-tailing on the down slope, then completely out of
control.
> Tapped the breaks ever so slightly at first sign of trouble -- even that
was
> too much, and I was off on a thrill ride that lasted a full mile at the
very
> least. Sliding sideways, facing one way then the other, then a slow 360,
and
> still sliding, and just trying to keep the car in the road and not hit
> anything, never touching the brakes again. I was remarkably calm through
this
> whole thing -- to panic was pointless! -- car sliding all the way down
and all
> over the road, miraculously making all the twisty winding curves.
Finally, I
> did another 360 plus 180 more and was then going backward as I saw the
> shoulder approaching over my shoulder. At that point, I just kind of
calmly
> shrugged thinking to myself, "Well, this is it, I guess"...and started
off the
> road backward. The instant the rear wheels hit the fresh plowed powder
on the
> shoulder, the car came to a sudden but gentle stop, "poof" -- almost as
if
> caught by someone or maybe it was 'my guardian angel'. I never hit a
thing --
> extremely lucky!!! Then, I just pointed "ICEBIRD" north and drove away
-- a
> lot more slowly and cautious!
>
> Having owned AWD and 4WD Subaru since 1978 and accumulated lots of
experience
> driving snowy icy roads, this was the FIRST time *ever* that I had ever
so
> much as slipped or skidded at all and have never gotten stuck.
Overconfidence
> maybe? Maybe. Just be careful! The north-side down slope of winding
Blewett
> is a notorious trap for unsuspecting, poorly equipped, or just plain over
> confident and careless motorists. I've encountered more winter-related
> accidents along that stretch than anywhere else in the state. If you
have one
> of those big and powerful 4WD SUVs, don't think for a second that you are
> invincible. It is those exactly that I routinely see more often than any
> other crashed in the ditch and overturned. The 4WD SUV's can be
especially
> unstable and hard to control, especially so if you're already out of
control.
> If you lose it on a slippery down-slope there (or anywhere), just keep
your
> foot OFF the brake, keep the wheels pointed in the direction of the skid
as
> best you can, and just hope for the best, and stay calm.
>
> I prefer to drive Washington's mainline winter routes (EXCEPT I-90
> Snoqualme!!) at night / early dark wee hours, even when it's raining or
> snowing since there is usually little or no traffic meaning fewer
vehicles to
> be bothered with, or have to be worrying all the time about the other
driver,
> or deal with the heavier travel volume constant splatter of dirty mist,
slush,
> or snow. Also, other vehicle's distant headlights give you an early
warning
> of a shared roadway which you don't get by day until suddenly being
confronted
> in rounding the curve. If it's snowing and not a full-blown blinding
> downburst, often there is a layer of powder on the roadway to provide
better
> traction, at least until you catch up to the snowplow which has scraped
it off
> often leaving an exposed layer of slick compact snow & ice. Then I'll
> carefully try to pass and thus back on the unplowed fresh snow again.
>
> So, just be careful, be safe, wear your seatbelts (at least for the
transit)
> and have a great Washington winter birding experience!
>
> Oh... Here's another tip. Stop in for gas and coffee at the Conoco
station
> and mini-mart on the right as you enter Tonasket. The coffee is the best
> bargain in the state... it's free with fill-up, and FREE for all on
Sundays
> regardless! And a gas fill-up there, even to just 'top off' is a good
idea
> before launching forth to explore the Okanogan Highlands where you won't
find
> another gas station until you return to Tonasket (or Oroville). Don't
count
> on Wauconda (Rt.20), the 'Wauconda Cafe'; sometimes they have it,
sometimes
> they don't. But the 'cafe' there is a Highlands classic; local,
colorful, and
> friendly, and great food.
>
> Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
> 47.56N, 122.13W
> (Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)