It may feel like September in the west but the east is already under the white siege and thinking, “If only we had a few more weeks to prepare.”  We’re never ready for winter; and we’re not just talking about physically. It’s a mechanical issue too. Is your car winterized? Your roof reinforced? Your snowblower armed for action? Here’s your Snowthrower Prep 101.

I got this message from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) that reminded me to double check the Honda snowblower I picked up at a yard sale this summer. I unloaded my Ariens at the same time. My boyfriend chastised me for making the switch because he planned to “drive it into the ground” and I was “wasting my money.” I got the Honda for $800 and sold the Ariens for $450.

But here’s the thing. You don’t want to be left out in the cold when you realize your trusty blower crapped out in the middle of January. My Ariens rocked for us but bolts and cables were now disintegrating. I had a Honda trackdrive (my Ariens had wheels) first and loved it but Honda came and took it away from me after two seasons of testing. 

When I saw this same beast in the neighborhood, I pounced. Luckily I guess, we still have another week of 50-degree sun in Park City. Snow is forecast for late next week.

“If you’re anticipating bad weather or snow, start the machine and make sure it operates before you need it and before repair shops are busy,” says OPEI President and CEO Kris Kiser. “Gas stations also can close and roads can be treacherous during a winter storm. You want to protect your power by having the right and fresh fuel on hand for your equipment. And, remember, gasoline-powered snow throwers should use E10 or less.” Huh? 🙂

Lessons from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute 

GETTING READY
Have you read your owner’s manual? Read up on safe handling procedures. Review how to operate the controls. You should be able to shut off your equipment quickly. If you lost your manual, you can look it up online, and store a copy on your computer so you have the manual available to reference in the future.

Have you checked your equipment since storing it? Make sure all equipment is completely powered off when checking it over. If you forgot to drain the fuel last winter before storing your snow thrower, drain the gas tank now. Adjust any cables and check the auger when the equipment is powered off.

Is your equipment where you can get to it easily? Move your equipment to a convenient and accessible location, so you can get to it quickly when you need it. 

Have you purchased the right fuel? Be sure to use the correct fuel, as recommended by your equipment’s manufacturer. Place gasoline in a fuel container and label it with the date purchased and the ethanol content of the fuel. Use fresh fuel in your snow thrower as fuel that is more than 30 days old can phase separate and cause operating problems. Make sure fuel is stored safely and out of the reach of children. For more information on fueling properly see www.LookBeforeYouPump.com.

Are you fueling safely? Before you start the engine, fill up the fuel tank on your snow thrower while the engine is cold and outside your home or garage. Never add fuel to a running or hot engine.

Are batteries charged? If using a battery/electric-powered snow-thrower, make sure batteries are fully charged, in case electricity goes out during a winter storm.

Is the area you intend to clear free of obstructions or hidden obstacles? Snow can hide objects. Doormats, hoses, balls, toys, boards, wires, and other debris should be removed from the areas you intend to clear. When run over by a snow thrower, these objects may harm the machine or people.

Are you dressed properly for winter weather? Locate your safety gear now, and place it in an accessible closet or location in your home. Plan to wear safety glasses, gloves and footwear that can handle cold and slippery surfaces.

OPERATING SNOW THROWERS SAFELY

Do you have a clean out tool or stick? NEVER put your hands inside the auger or chute. Use a clean out tool (or stick) to unclog snow or debris from your snow thrower.

Do you turn off your snow thrower if you need to clear a clog? Always turn off your snow thrower and wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop before clearing any clogs or debris.

Do you use your snow thrower in visible conditions? Never operate the snow thrower without good visibility or light.

Do you know where your cord is? Use an extension cord that is weather-resistant and designed for outdoor use. If you have an electric-powered snow thrower, be aware of where the power cord is at all times. Avoid tripping. Do not run over the power cord.

Can you aim your snow thrower with care? Not only could you piss off your neighbors by piling snow onto their driveway but that dogs jumping at your fans of snow could get run over. Never throw snow toward people or cars. Do not allow anyone to stand in front of your snow thrower.  Keep children or pets away from your snow thrower when it is operating.

Speaking of which-

Are pets and children inside while the snow thrower is operating? Kids and pets may love to play in the white stuff, but it’s best to keep them inside your home and supervised (by someone else) while you are using your snow thrower to clear a path or driveway. Do not allow them to play in the snow as it is tossed out of the snow thrower’s chute. I fail at this one but I have a smart dog. He gets his exercise this way and I don’t have to take him for a walk after 30 minutes of blowing.

Good luck this winter! I seriously hope you don’t have a driveway like mine but if you do, a trackdrive on your thrower and Blizzak snowtires on your car are the only way to go. 

Steep driveway from hell

Mark your calendar for March 7-8, 2020, because MotorTrend Group has announced the first-ever Four Wheeler Adventure Expo. It’s going to happen in Costa Mesa, Calif., at the OC Fair & Event Center. The consumer event will bring together outdoor lifestyle, off-road and adventure-travel enthusiasts, exhibitors, and experts.

The Four Wheeler Adventure Expo is Four Wheeler Magazine’s new flagship event. This unique event caters to a wide range of adventure-travel enthusiasts who enjoy the backcountry. There’s something for adventurers of all kinds, including off-roaders, hikers, mountain bikers, and rockclimbers. The Expo will host classes and seminars to prepare attendees for their next adventures with travel workshops hosted by the Four Wheeler team and top adventure experts. Fans will be inspired by films at the Travel Theater and by watching expedition driving experts as they host seminars to showcase the skills needed for extreme off-road driving conditions. Attendees can gear up with the latest camping and travel equipment, mountain bikes, and off-road vehicles in the exhibitor midway.

“With the explosion of the adventure-travel market, we’ve aligned Four Wheeler’s new flagship event with this market growth,” said Sean Holman, Content Director, MotorTrend Truck & Off-Road Group. “Off-road and adventure-travel enthusiasts share a common passion for the outdoor lifestyle. Four Wheeler Adventure Expo brings together these communities to explore, learn, and find the gear they need for their upcoming journeys.”

Who’s Producing Adventure Expo

“The Lodestone Events team has produced some of the country’s largest consumer events in the automotive aftermarket industry,” said Michael Deer, Senior Director Automotive Events, MotorTrend Group. “As the producers of the Overland Expo series, Lodestone Events is uniquely positioned in the adventure-travel community to assist in making the Four Wheeler Adventure Expo a huge success.”

Adventure Expo At a Glance

What: Four Wheeler Adventure Expo
When: March 7-8, 2020
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, California 92626
Ticket info: Spectator tickets are also available online for $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show at fourwheeler.com. Free admission for kids 12 and under.

Exhibitor space and sponsorship packages are available online now.

Gert Boyle, the self-proclaimed “One Tough Mother,” died Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019. The Columbia Sportswear chairman of the board was known for championing the path for female business leaders and was the first woman inducted into the National Sporting Goods Hall of Fame. She passed away in the retirement/assisted living community in Portland she moved into shortly after a home invasion in 2010.

I never met Gert so I’m not equipped to tell her story. Instead, I’ll pass the baton to Nancy Brouchard who wonderfully captures this force of nature.

Five years ago, Anne Lorimor of Paradise Valley, Arizona climbed Kilimanjaro to become the oldest woman to summit at age 85.

However, that record was overtaken just a few months later by Russian Angela Vorobeva who climbed the mountaint at age 86.

Then in 2017, the world record for the oldest person to climb Kilimanjaro was broken by Dr. Fred Distelhorst, who was 88 years old.

Not to be outdone, on the morning of July 18, 2019, Lorimor re-claimed her title as the oldest woman and also became the oldest person to climb Kilimanjaro by successfully reaching Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Anne Lorimor celebrating with a congratulatory cake. Photo courtesy Greg Homer

Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and also the tallest free standing mountain in the world. The mountain stands 19,341 feet above sea level.

Climbing Kilimanjaro does not require technical mountaineering skills, but does require excellent physical fitness and mental strength. People who are successful in reaching the top must be conditioned to hike on steep terrain and in inclement weather for extended periods of time.

There are several established routes which typically require between five and nine days round trip. Lorimor climbed Kilimanjaro on the remote and beautiful Rongai route, which her guide service Ultimate Kilimanjaro describes as a “moderately difficult route” in “true wilderness.”

The biggest obstacle when climbing Kilimanjaro is the extreme altitude. At high elevation, there is less oxygen in the atmosphere which can lead to altitude sickness if the body fails to adapt. Serious cases of altitude sickness can be fatal.

Due to this, many safety precautions were put in place to prevent, detect and treat altitude sickness. Lorimor’s guides, who are certified Wilderness First Responders, carried bottled oxygen and a portable stretcher in case of emergency.

Lorimor’s record-setting feat did not come without its challenges.

“There was a point when I really was concerned because I fell before I started up the mountain,” said Lorimor. “I had great pain in my side, and I couldn’t take deep breaths.”

The mountain crew conducted daily health evaluations which included measuring heart rate and oxygen saturation levels to ensure Lorimor was strong and healthy. She passed with flying colors each day until they neared the summit.

Elibahati Mamuya, lead guide for Ultimate Kilimanjaro, recounted the situation. “She was quite strong on the climb. But at one point she had lower rib pain and was breathing heavily,” Mamuya said. “We were watching carefully.”

However, after taking some rest Lorimor felt better and her breathing improved. Her grit and determination got her to the top.

The final leg of the climb was an arduous 5,000 ft. elevation gain that took her 12 long hours to complete. Lorimor’s positive, can-do attitude was noticed by everyone around her.

Mamuya said, “Anne knew from the very first day that she would make it to the summit. She is a very special person and it made me happy to be with her on her journey. I was very impressed.”

Lorimor explained in a 2015 interview that she had been climbing since she was around seven years old. “I grew up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and everywhere I have been I have climbed whenever there has been mountains to climb.” For Kilimanjaro, Lorimor designed a year-long personal training program in northern Arizona that included climbing one of her favorite mountains of which is Mummy Mountain (11,533 feet).

Lorimor hopes that her achievement will help to inspire others. Her personal mission is to give back to underserved children and youth.

As a child, Lorimor grew up very poor during the Great Depression. Her and her nine siblings were homeless for a time and lived in a tent. She was able to attend boarding school because a generous teacher saw potential in her and paid her tuition.

With the intent of paying it forward, Lorimor created a non-profit organization called Creating Exciting Futures (https://www.creatingexcitingfutures.org) to empower and benefit at-risk youth.

“I show kids their options and give them the tools to grow and lead productive lives,” she said.

Visit https://ultimatekilimanjaro.com for more information on climbing Kilimanjaro.