Here are few tips for a winter road trip in Pakistan. Last winter many people headed towards Murree to enjoy the snowy weather. But tragedy stuck when many people lost their life after being getting caught in snow storm. Many people lost their precious life due to cold weather, lack of preparation for the trip and know how of how to handle the situation once they found themselves in the situation. It is hard foresee disaster but there are certain steps that one can take to avoid calamities especially when one plans a trips.
In winters, snowy regions attract many people. But with snow comes many challenges. Although people generally prepare for road trips by filling up their fuel tanks, getting water and snacks and checking the vehicles. However, winter road trips need more planning and preparation to have a successful and safe trip.
Following are few of the things that me and my family has always followed before starting on an adventure and something that I researched off the internet after the Murree incident. Hopefully this will help you be prepared for the worst and be mindful of certain things.
Prepare yourself for a long but a fully equipped journey of dos and don’t for winter road trips in Pakistan.
Weather reports and Road Closures for Winter road trip in Pakistan
It is very important and I cant emphasis enough that you should research about the weather of the destination and the place your routes goes through for the weather updates. DO NOT rely on NEW channels for these reports. Many news channels in Pakistan just give general information of the weather. Please use internet and available resources to check the weather report and road conditions and any alerts that might have been going on the local levels.
Road block due to flooding, traffic jams, accidents, are few reasons that might cause trouble on the road.
Following are few links that will help in getting a better idea of the weather condition and of any alerts you must be aware of. From experience I have learnt that twitter is very reliable and traffic police pages and people general will quick to update you on the current situation of the roads and weather condition.
- Pakistan Metrological Department
- National Weather Forecasting Centre
- From experience I have learnt that Twitter is very reliable and traffic police pages and people general will quick to update you on the current situation of the roads and weather condition.
Prepare your Vehicle for Winter road trip in Pakistan
Many people living in Pakistani cities might not have experience driving on snow and frozen roads and thus many overlook preparation of their vehicles for cold weather.
Anti freeze for your radiator:
Water in radiator freezes as you travel to colder areas. Anti freeze helps regulate temperature of your engine. You put the antifreeze in your radiator along with water.
Check all of your car lights:
Lights are vital for other cars to see you from behind in fog, snow or rain. Good headlights can be the difference between life and death. Good headlight will make it easy to spot and steer clear of any road blocks, bumps and ice on road.
Wiper Blades:
Going to a colder destination means rain or snow and without a good wiper blade you will not be able to see clearly and if in an unfortunate situation you get stuck in blizzard or a storm you might be stuck on the road and unable to drive. Washer fluid is also important to keep the pump lubricated and working without which it will freeze and stop working.
Battery health:
Cold temperature drains battery faster. Check your battery health and ensure that it is in good condition before any winter road trip.
In case of blizzard, clear snow off of your windshields, keep exhaust pump clear, clean off snow from the lights.
Good Tires and Chains are vital for winter road trips in Pakistan
Tyre for a snowy area trips are the first things to check and get fixed. This is must do before a road trip to a snowy retreat. Worn out tires are disastrous as they are prone to slip on snow and unable to get a good grip on the slippery road.
Check the tire condition, make sure to inflate it properly, as the temperature drops so does the tire pressure. Underinflated tires affect steering and handling on snow and will cause problem during brake. Keep spare tyres /Stepney for any unfortunate situation. Finding tyre shops in a new area or on a highway will be very difficult and getting stuck on road in cold weather can be dangerous.
Get a set of chains, they give you traction in snow and ice and they are mandatory of you are going to deal with steep roads in the mountains.
Research Your Route
Before starting your trip research the route on google maps and check out the main turns, fuel stops, relaxing spots, and locate guesthouses and restaurants on the route. This will give you an idea of how long you need to drive before making a stop for fuel or food. At the stops you can inquire about next stops and other details.
Extra Time and Planned Stops:
Plan extra time for winter road trip. If the route is 2 hour long on a summer road in winter keep an additional one hour extra because in snow an drain you will drive slower. Driving at night in snow or rain is very dangerous thus try to make the most of the day light.
Planned stops will help you schedule exact time and it will be less hassle to find a spot for breaks.
Booking Accommodations
Booking accommodation ahead will ensure a spot at the guest house / hotels which in tourist areas get over filled especially in a snowy or storm condition. Make sure you know where these places are located. Call ahead before reaching to confirm your arrival will give them heads up to prepare rooms, meals, etc
What to Pack:
Although the list of things to have in your car for a winter trip is long but some of the basics are extra warm clothes and blankets. Temperature in cold area drops suddenly at night and if you are stuck in car you should have few warm items in your car trunk. (you should bring the ugly warm sweater or fuzzy blanket at home along for the ride)
Water and snacks: A snow storm will immediately put a halt to everything and even the shops and street vendors will run back home. In these situation always keep snacks in your car. Even if you have lunch booked at a restaurant, you should buy some dry fruits, biscuits, juice, water, etc. to keep in car. (get snack that can be consumed instantly and doesn’t requiring preparation, cooking or warming)
Things to Keep in your Vehicle for Winter Road Trip:
If you are going into a snow covered area or expecting to get a lot of snow on road you should have some tool and supplies in your vehicle at all time. for a long winter trip keep these items in your car at all time.
- Extra Warm Clothes, Blankets, Hot packs and gloves
- Flashlights
- Food and water
- Car Chargers and power banks
- Shovel & Ice scraper
- Jumper Cables
- Tow Ropes
- Jack, spare tires, socket set/wrench
- Multi tools
Remember to Keep Emergency Numbers Handy!
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