This past week, Olympia has been hammered by just about as much snow as it’s ever seen. There’s a good foot of snow on the ground, ice and slush make walking significantly more difficult than it should be, and there are more snowmen around campus than there are people. Because this amount of snow is an oddity in the Pacific Northwest (and I'm from Michigan... 'nuff said), here are my top ten winter weather survival hints:
10. Wear warm clothes.
I ran into someone walking to the corner store the other day in shorts. What are you doing, dude?! It’s cold! Right now, it’s 31F! Greeners, if you don’t have warm jackets, hats, mittens, scarves . . . I highly recommend hunting some down. And if you have a friend who is lacking in the Winter Clothes department, you get brownie points for letting him or her borrow yours.
9. Hot chocolate tastes better when there’s snow on the ground.
It’s time you invested in some hot cocoa mix and marshmallows. Or, if you’re not feeling in a DIY kind of mood, you can grab some at either the Marketplace or the Sem II cafe when campus opens again...
8. Ice is very slippery; don’t run on it.
Prepare yourself; I’m about to sound like your mother. WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING?! DON’T RUN ON THE ICE! YOU’LL BREAK YOUR NECK! Seriously, though. It’s a bad idea. Falling hurts.
7. Don’t drive on it, either.
Snow, slush, and ice make driving a really bad idea when winter weather gets this severe. Not only do you have to worry about keeping control of your own car, but you have to keep in mind that everyone else is more likely to lose control, too, and there are a TON of Washington drivers that have no clue how to drive in winter weather.
6. But if you do drive, be prepared.
The likelihood that you’ll get stuck, slide, crash, &c is much higher. Keep a first aid kit and a snow shovel in your car. I still sound like your mom, don’t I?
5. Snow isn’t a snack.
Okay. You may call me Mom now. But, seriously, eating too much snow will make you sick. It may look perfectly clean, but if you take a snowball inside and melt it in a glass, you can see how much dirt and scum you’re really eating.
4. Your umbrellas look silly.
They’re for rain. Not snow. Rain falls down. Snow blows sideways. Also, since the ground is so slippery, it’s best to have both hands free so that you can catch your fall if you slip.
3. Sledding isn’t just for kids.
I’m officially done being your mom. As soon as possible, I recommend that you trek to the nearest hill and sled. If you don’t have a sled, here are some alternatives:
- toilet seats - sit on the inside of the lid and use the seat as a handle
- trash bags - they’re very slick, but not all that sturdy; aim away from bumps
- yourself - either on your butt or head first, like a penguin
2. Neither are snowball fights.
You’ve missed out if you haven’t thrown a snowball at someone this winter. Just make sure you’re throwing snow, not ice, slush, rocks, or other things that you wouldn’t want to get hit in the face with.
1. Take your opportunity to build a badass snowman.
There is a snow dragon outside the HCC. Challenge issued. May the best snowman win.
Comments
Criticism of Seattle snow critics
Found this article defending citizens of Seattle and the Puget Sound area for being "snow wimps." Worth a read. http://sportspressnw.com/2012/01/critics-of-seattle-in-snow-shut-the-hell-up/