Despite freezing temperatures throughout the day, Cedar City has yet to see snow this winter even into December and it is not forecasted for the next week.
But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen soon, and the time to prepare was the beginning of November when it usually starts snowing, but it isn’t too late.
Here are a few tips to survive the cold and the snow:
1. A towel on the windshield prevents frost.
This one requires a little bit of foresight. If it is going to snow, this is not smart. If it snows, make sure to lift your windshield wipers up so they don’t freeze. But a towel on the windshield prevents frost from building up. Alternatively, if you get up later in the day, you can just park facing the east and the sun can do it for you.
2. Walk slow and get grippy shoes
Use some common sense. I have slipped big time on ice. Here is a video of it. Check the bottom of your shoes. Are there treads? Are they smooth? Don’t wear the smooth shoes.
3. Get shoes a size big, then wear thick socks
I use a pair of Bucketfeet that are a size 10½ (I have small feet). Then I wear a pair of wool socks over a pair of normal socks. The normal socks prevent itching. It’s a bonus that they are some of my coolest looking shoes and work well with sweatpants.
4. A hydro flask keeps things cold, but it also keeps things hot
Hydro Flasks are the Apple products of the water bottle community. I use an Android water-bottle, also known as the Tal water bottle from Wal-Mart. It’s $30 cheaper and does the exact same thing. These water bottles are better known for keeping water cold for 24 hours but also keep liquids warm for 12. Hot cocoa and coffee are perfect on a cold day and a Hydro Flask like this won’t let it freeze after 10 minutes outside.
5. Take shortcuts through buildings
I use the Emma Eccles Jones Education Building a lot, because it has a staircase that can take me from Upper Campus down to the Middle Campus, and I don’t have to use the stairs in front of the bell tower. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to acquaint yourself with buildings you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
6. SOUP
Nothing like a good soup to keep the soul warm on a cold day. It should scald the throat and the tongue. I recommend a taco soup or hearty chowder.
7. Sunglasses in the snow
It seems counterintuitive because sunglasses are for sunny days, but the snow reflects a lot of light that can actually damage your eyes. Sunglasses take care of the blinding light from the snow. Plus, you look cool as h*ck.
8. Buy new windshield wipers
My first big snow storm in Cedar, my windshield wipers didn’t work. Directly before the snowstorm, I went to Wal-Mart to buy some new ones but the snow began when I was inside, and I couldn’t change my wipers because they were frozen. I drove home with my head out the window and sunglasses on so the snow didn’t get in my eyes. Learn from me: buy spare wipers in advance.
9. Don’t use hot water to unfreeze anything.
I always thought this would be such a good idea growing up. Toss some warm water on the windshield, boom, frost gone. Throw a little on the sidewalk, there goes the ice. I was lucky to have a mom who thought I was an idiot. Hot water on a windshield will shatter it and it will just refreeze into more ice on sidewalks. Use salt or forethought and turn your car on early.
10. Layer up
Rule #1 of cold weather: layers mean everything. This gets to be a little bit of a hassle in class. No one needs three coats in math class. Try to keep the layers thin so they can be put in a bag or hung on the back of a chair without too much hassle. If it is really cold and you can’t help it, try putting it in a secure location once you get to school, maybe an office or private workspace if you have one. If not, be the guy who keeps it somewhere else in the classroom. No one will judge when it’s freezing outside.
Have any more suggestions? Comment below or send them to me at life@suunews.com and we can do a part 2!
Story by
Andrew Leavitt
life@suunews.com
