The Frozen Wasteland Tour 2018.
OK! Things are heating up. BB’s job situation looks more promising than ever (they’re checking references) and we’re beginning the planning for our move. Luckily, MWCMC is providing a full-service move. I don’t have to really do anything. I just call the company and say ‘go’ and they do it. That makes me quite happy. I hate packing and moving, as everyone does. I’m thoroughly excited to just open my door and have professionals do all the stuff.
We expect that to happen around January 25. Then we’ll drive south from Philadelphia to visit BB’s family for a few days. Then we’ll plough west across the country in my Subaru Crosstrek. I’m a touch nervous about a winter crossing of the continent. It’s a major transit and February is a bad month for it. We’ll be taking the easy days fast and the hard days slow, and watching the weather report like hawks to determine which interstate to take over the mountains.
So one thing I’m asking for in the comments here: what would you put on the winter trans-continental drive checklist? The car is in tiptop condition with only 6000 miles on it. Here’s my top-of-the-head list:
- Blankets and pillows
- At least 4,000 calories at all times
- At least 2 gallons of water
- 4 gallons of windshield wiper fluid
- Phone chargers
- Flashlights
- Chemical hand warmers
- A bag of kitty litter
- A week’s change of clothes
- A physical national road map
- Snow boots and gloves
- A utility knife
What else would you bring? What routes would you recommend? Got any special places along I-70 (we’ll probably be on that until Denver or so)? Are you on that route and want a visit? You could be a Frozen Wasteland Tour 2018 stop!
Infactorium 
Tire chains. They’re required on some mountain passes in the west when it snows, and waiting until the requirement is lifted doesn’t make any sense. Looks like you’re avoiding most of the highest passes, but it’s still nice to have them. Also, on many Interstate passes they have people to put them on for you so you don’t even need to know how to use them, just give the folks a tip when they’re done.
A GPS
Money and credit cards
iPad or ecquivalent
Agree with tire chains. Sometimes a gate even comes down to block the interstate when passage will be too dangerous. Consider whether you can borrow or rent a CB radio in case of an emergency. We did a cross-country move in late Dec early Jan, Cleveland to Eastern Washington. Car broke down on I90 in Montana (was an older diesel VW and the fuel gelled up), no cell signals, and it was early Sunday morning. It took more than an hour before we encountered another vehicle, who then notified a state trooper at the nearest exit. It was a couple more hours in below-zero temps before a tow truck got to us.
I stock up podcasts on my phone to listen to on long road trips, helps keep me awake, and can be good entertainment if you have to wait on a tow, or for a road / pass to reopen. If you’ve got room, it’s not a bad idea to have a gas can, if you’re waiting for a pass to reopen, you don’t want to have to choose between running the engine to stay warm and conserving gas. Safe travels!