Our own quarter-mile long driveway is downright treacherous. Sometimes we have to put the truck into 4-wheel drive to navigate it.
This morning when we walked out to get the mail, Roy took the ash bucket and a shovel to spread ashes on the worst areas.
When tires are trying to move on this stuff, you don't have much control.
On the walk out to the mailbox and back, we keep Zoey on a lead only when we get near the road. So when she's free she typically runs back and forth, forth and back taking in all the good smells where the deer regularly cross the driveway. These days she often falls down - splat! - because she can't get any traction on the ice either. (But don't be worried. It doesn't seem to phase her one bit. She's up in a flash and on with her investigations happy as a dog in the woods could be.)
The worst part of the driveway is right before you get to the main road . . . from the point in the picture above until you have to stop to check both ways before pulling out. Stopping at that point has been very exciting.
Roy started by spreading the bulk of the ashes on the spot where the driveway joins the main road which should now make for much safer pulling out and, of course, turning back in again.What we really need is several inches of snow to pack down, cover the ice and give us all around safer surfaces to drive on. (And walk on!) It's unlikely that we'll see temperatures anywhere near melting until spring so this ice covering is gonna get real old if we don't get more snow soon!
All of you out there with an excess, we wouldn't mind if you sent some our way.
6 comments:
That is interesting! I never knew about the wood ashes for melting ice, probably since my parents didn't heat with wood. Still learning! Be careful out there and I hope you get some snow soon!
Hi, Erin - I think, perhaps, the ashes on the ice do more for grip. The theory being that they "settle into" the icy surface and make for a little traction. But then they also absorb any heat from the sun (being dark in color) which would in turn allow a little melting. At any rate, we're trying any and all ways to improve the situation even a little.
Anyone who is unsteady on their feet or has frail bones truly has my empathy/sympathy. They must feel totally housebound right now. Heck, even when I'M croggling around, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells!
I'd be happy to send you some of our snow to help pack your icy roads. Please?
Hi, Jo - I know . . . it's just not fair. One place gets too much snow and another doesn't have enough. Especially strange this year because you folks south of us are getting so much more snow than we are. Hard to figure, huh?
Ice is the worst!!
Thanks for the tip on the ashes--we've been dumping ours in the ditch, but the next bucket full is going to the slippery end of our driveway too!
Hi, Ruthie - We got an inch of snow overnight . . . but wouldn't ya know it, have bright sunshine today and a temp in the 20's which means all the snow is melting and will freeze and make MORE ice tonight! Arrrgh.
Post a Comment