We got our first significant snowfall of the winter yesterday that dropped anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snow across the Pocono region. Up in Mount Pocono where I live we got about 5-6 inches, and this morning traveling down into Stroudsburg I’d be surprised if they got more then 2 inches. Although the entire Pocono region is known for it’s snow and winter activities, there is definitely a weather difference as you travel throughout the area. Some areas will receive a dusting of snow and the roads are well plowed and salted, where other areas will receive a significantly amount of snow and the roads are very poorly maintained.
If you plan on visiting the Poconos for vacation or visiting in the winter, you really need to take into consideration the location of the Pocono Resort or Pocono Rental you’re staying at, especially depending on what type of vehicle you drive.
If you are traveling in the “main areas” of of the Poconos like downtown Stroudsburg, Route 611, Interstate 80 the roads are typically well plowed and well salted in the winter. You may encounter increased traffic throughout the holiday and winter season, especially right before a snowstorm hits, but beside that there are usually you really shouldn’t encounter many obstacles. The roads themselves are usually clear and if there is a danger it is usually other drivers or ice that become an issue.
If you are visiting the Poconos and venture out a bit further off the main roads and it’s your first time visiting the area you really need to be cautious. Many of the roads in the Poconos are not well maintained, and not just the surfaces after it snows, but they have large potholes and even larger drainage ditches and holes. At least a few times a year you will see someone that pulled over to the side of the road stuck in the snow in a ditch because they didn’t realize there was a huge drainage ditch on the side of the road.
Many of the back roads are either not paved, poorly paved or are just extremely windy and dangerous. Even when traveling to some of the best known ski locations, like Shawnee Mountain and Camelback Mountain, the roads in the winter can be very treacherous unless you have a vehicle with 4 wheel drive that handles well in winter weather conditions.
One of the worst roads hands down is Route 715 – I still have yet to figure out why they don’t place guardrails along parts of that road. Sadly many many people have accidents on that road which is probably the worst combination of elements you could have – it’s a very curvy road, it is very hilly, there are steep drop offs in parts on either side, there are MASSIVE drainage holes and ditches that they were “fixing” that should have covers but they don’t. When I say hole I mean I could fit a few people standing up it in no problem – they are a serious hazard and I am clueless as to why they are not being addressed before someone gets seriously injured this winter.
A good rule of thumb when driving in the snow in the Poconos is to just stay on the road – if you must pull over make sure you do it in a driveway or some place that is well light so you know you’re on safe grounds. Although most residents in the area are more then happy to lend a helping hand to a stranger in need, there are many places off the beaten path where you may not find help for awhile.
Even in on the best road the unexpected can happen and leave you stranded, case in point the Valentines Day disaster of 2007 where people were stuck on Interstate 80 for over 20 hours in freezing conditions.
I would always rather be over prepared then under prepared, so here is my list of must haves to keep in your vehicle during winter travel:
Water
At least a gallon or two. It costs next to nothing and is a MUST if you are ever stranded. You can live without food for a lot longer then water, if you have children, pets, it is something vital you would need if ever stranded for an extended period of time.
Food & Snacks
I often bring something to snack on road trips regardless, but I like to keep “extras” in the car – peanuts, granola bars, trail mix, food that I typically will not be tempted to snack on, that lasts for a long period of time so I’m not concerned about it expiring and that would be very sustainable if it was the only thing I had to eat.
Safety Kit
A car safety/emergency kit will usually carry a number of useful things – ours has a blanket, reflectors and basic medical supplies including band aids.
Hat & Gloves
Keep a small box with gloves, hats and a possibly scarves stashed somewhere in the car. If you have room keep an extra blanket or two in the car as well.
Cell Phone Charger
Although most people keep one in their car anyway a cell phone is your one lifeline(unless you have onstar) to be able to get in contact with help and it does you no good if it’s dead. If you ever get stuck start charging your phone right away incase the car battery dies and only use it when absolutely necessary to save battery life.
The items above are a good start but make sure you adjust what you need according to your family – if you have someone who is diabetic, asthmatic, needs medication or special care be sure to keep additional supplies on hand for them as well.
Am I missing any items that you think are a “must have” to keep in the car during the winter? Have you experienced the negative side of driving in the Poconos in the winter? I’d love to hear your story.
Wow how eerily ironic, I woke up this morning and saw this in the Pocono Record: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091207/NEWS/912070319 Thank goodness she seems ok.
I’m not crazy about driving up in the mountains. Is there sightseeing that can be done without the cliffs and drop offs?
It depends on where you plan on traveling to. For the most part the Pocono Mountains during the Spring/Summer is perfectly fine to travel. It depends on how far “up” and/or how far “out” in the wilderness you plan to travel. For example if you venture to Big Pocono State Park there’s road edges that if you were to drive off (which if you’re paying attention there’s no reason you should) it would be quite a far way down. But unless you’re traveling up that high, most roads are perfectly fine. There are plenty of remote areas though where you can be far from a gas station, or even civilization at times where having an emergency kit/charged phone/extra food on hand would be smart to have.
There are plenty of things to do – wineries, horseback riding, shopping, lakes…that are more “ground level”. I would pick the areas you want to go and then just do some research as to the elevations/roads to get there, the majority are perfectly fine. The same goes for hiking – there’s been quite a few accidents or worse at some of the more popular hiking/falls destinations. Again, I’d research the areas you want to visit, assess if there’s any risks and then make a decision based upon that.