Winter Driving in Island Park

Last Friday night Sheri and I were driving up Ashton hill from the flat. Our vehicle was sandwiched between a parade of out-of-state pickups and toy haulers, northbound towards Island Park. There was no doubt that the mountain snow’s siren song was seductive and inescapable to those who enjoy riding sleds.

As we made our way up the mountain to the caldera, the convoy slowed more than once. The centerpiece of each delay was people trying to extricate a vehicle from a snowbank. Apparently while anticipating a glorious weekend in the snow of Yellowstone country, the drivers’ attention wandered from the immediate task of getting to their destination.

While the roads of Island Park are well maintained by the State of Idaho and Fremont County, they still present their own challenges. Here are a couple of tips for those who are visiting.

Brakes can be your enemy. Once you lock up your wheels you are at the mercy of momentum and gravity. Pump your brakes lightly. To change your direction, slightly accelerate while turning.

Tire tread makes a big difference. More aggressive tread designs are preferable to normal all-weather designs. If you have been considering new tires because yours are worn out, replace them before you drive in the mountains. Worn tires almost guarantee that you will find yourself in a snowbank or worse.

Avoid driving too near the shoulder of the road. The snow banks that boarder the roads are soft and deep. If you catch your right tire in the bank, it will suck you in. The next thing that you know, your vehicle will be buried up to the roof in snow.

Slow down. Speed is the largest contributor to driving mishaps.  Speed limits are designed around optimum road conditions. Winter mountain roads are hardly optimum. Slow down and if you feel that you are barely in control of your vehicle, slow down a little more. You will get to your destination faster if you don’t have to spend 2 hours digging you vehicle out of a drift.

Beware of ancillary roads. All roads in Island Park are not equal. Some roads are plowed and some are only used by snowmobiles. If a road does not look plowed, take a different route. Otherwise, you may suddenly find your vehicle buried up to the axels.

Drive safely and enjoy your stay in Island Park.