Got stuck in remote snow storm today, please help me prep for future!

[StooriMidori]

Hi everyone, I'm a procrastinating wannabe prepper but a scary experience today has gave me a kick up the arse to get organised!

I came off the road in my car in snow, up a hill (exposed), about 15 miles from the nearest village and with no phone signal this morning. Was able to walk far enough to call for help and the SOS on my car got my location. I was utterly shitting it incase nobody could get to me and was pretty shaken. I was finally rescued by a kind lorry driver after about 45 minutes and will be avoiding this route in future. There was no snow at ground level so very scary how it changed so quickly and it was a single track road with drops on each side so I couldn't safely turn.

I do a lot of semi rural/rural travel for work so I would feel better if I had a kit in the car just incase. I would definitely keep a change of clothes as I was glad of the dry clothes I had for work after I got wet walking in the snow. Any other suggestions would be very welcome. My main worry was what if I'd been injured and couldn't walk to get help. Thanks in advance for any advice xx

Waterproof coat and trousers.
Sturdy boots.
Gloves (wool is warm when wet)
Hat
Scarf
Sleeping bag/ blanket
Drinks
Snacks eg biscuits/cereal bars/Kendal mint cake/ crackers.
Choose something long life.
Seatbelt cutter/window breaker tool.
Gel handwarmers. (Click the button and warm up. )
Spare Powerbank for phone.(and wire)
Spare reading glasses
Dry socks
Something to wee into. (Pottette plus)
Pen/pencil notebook
List of mobile phone numbers for emergency
Change for phonebox/car park/meter/ vending machine
Torch
Warning triangle
Highviz tabard for all occupants
Something to clean the windows with
Waterproof picnic blanket or plastic to sit on if have to sit on an embankment.
Umbrella
Wetwipes and handgel
Entertainment such as a book if you are stuck for a long time waiting for rescue. (Helps keep you calm and saves phone battery)

Pack a flask when you travel. Wrap flask in blanket as extra insulation. If you have hot water in your flask you can make cous cous from a sachet. I have little pots of coffee and milk powder and a medicine spoon in my car.

First aid kit.
Whistle

(sorry now I have done the autistic list bit...)

Hope you are feeling ok and not too shook up.

Oh and I suggest a tow rope,
Jack
Tyre pump

As well.

Get a 4x4 with all terrain tyres

Foil blankets ( cheap off ebay) a box to RIP up snd to put under your wheels if you get stuck ( works with mum too but doesnt always work). A little shovel. Torch. A big bottle of water That's bear minimum. I always have that in my car

Something too pee with. Fleece blanket and a cushion. Power bank and lead. If I knew snow was a possibility then some food. I always have crips and drinks in my boot but they are to keep safe from the kids. Oh and gloves.

Mum? Mud!

Yes, a flattened cardboard box for putting under the wheels. A small collapsible snow shovel.
Warm clothes, water bottle and biscuits.
Power bank and cable for phone.

Over-shoe cleats.

I bought some a few years ago when we had heavy snow and now keep them in the boot of my car. Really handy when dealing with unexpected snow and ice, and would probably be useful in mud.

The brand I have is YakTrax.

How're you feeling now op?

If it's specifically snow you are concerned about op, keep some cat litter in your car. It's ideal for putting under your wheels to create traction.

@BlackeyedSusan
I am impressed!!! Seriously great thinking.

Just thought of another - toilet roll for wees and runny nose 😊

Register your phone for the EmergencySMS service & download the what3words app. Sometimes texts will get through where there's insufficient signal for a call.

Sorry to hear this op. Are you in UK? (Not that it matters just love how different our climate can be.

Old Nokia style phone/brick. I find when my smart phone doesn't have signal a brick does.

A little suitcase stove, they are about £20 and not very big

I have
Foil blanket
Waterproof thick coat (it just lives in the car!)
Toilet roll/wet wipes
A protein bar and shake (long life type)
Bottle of water
Torch

Then my handbag has a charger and power bank in. I basically thought I need to be able to drink, eat and stay warm so that covers most of it

If you driving onto high ground (or long journeys for that matter) in winter carry at the minimum (in quantities appropriate to passengers of course):

Blankets/sleeping bags
Water
Snacks (eg cereal bars or other longer life items you can leave in the car)
First aid kit
High vis vest(s)
Spare tyre/kit
Snow shovel
Snow chains or socks
Spare bulbs and know how to fit
Torch
Winter outdoor clothing eg water proof coat, fleece, hat, gloves, sturdy boots.

I used to live where there were proper mountains so we had studded winter tyres and I prepped my car for winter each November. I also carried water purification tablets and a gas stove if going into the mountains off the freeway

I have a pack of salt too.

Going to add cardboard box to the boot. (Insulating as well as for wheels)

FIL has snow tyres fitted and then changed back at the garage - they keep his tyres there.

Is this something your garage offers?

The snow socks work as well

Wow, that is fantastic advice! Thanks so much. I'm ok this morning, thank you all for asking. I'm in Scotland so it hasn't been something I've worried about much but I've started working in rural locations in the last year so it's possible it could come up again. It was raining at ground level but snowing when I went up over the hill so there was no indication of the conditions until I was too far and couldn't turn back! Never been so happy to see rain again when I managed to get on my way.

Download the app ‘What3words’. Gives you a precise location to pass on to emergency services. Ideal when you don’t know precisely where you are.

what3words.com/pretty.needed.chill

I’m in rural Scotland on roads like that. I have sleeping bags, foil blankets, hats, scarfs, gloves, socks, bottle of water and cereal bar type things. I also have a jump-pack and electric tyre inflator.

I don’t worry about a sheewee or something like that. If I need a pee and I’m stuck up a mountain I’d be fucking delighted to be caught in the act. but would just nip to a peat bank.

Thank you! I've downloaded What 3 Words and realised I have an emergency contact thingy on my phone too. I'm driving again tomorrow so off to fill up the tank and check tyres and oil etc. I have foil blankets and will pack a fleece blanket too. Going to try and source as much of your suggested items today. I'm feeling a bit nervous, it's blowing a hoolie here and snowing (but it's not lying).

I have one of these
www.force4.co.uk/item/Ocean-Signal/RescueME-PLB1/D95

Other types are available.

A neck travel pillow is always good to have. A wind up torch, not battery. Gloves. If you’re properly stuck in the snow something bright red to flag your car. Where I live drinks freeze in our car, any drinks in glass explode.. Always tell someone where you’re going.

A paper map is also good to keep in the car, if no internet.

Wow, that’s quite scary!

I’m on the south coast so not likely to happen here but I did get stuck in snow trying to get to work once. Managed to get moving again but I did think then that I should get winter tyres. That was probably 10 years ago and it’s not snowed since🤣

Fleece blankets, water, snacks, tyre socks, warm clothes were the things I thought of. I had on my work clothes so wasn’t even appropriately dressed if I needed to walk!

I would definitely have a 4wd if I lived anywhere that remote.