Snow and ice are the worst enemies of any driver and with these weather conditions fast approaching we thought it best to obtain expert road tips to prepare for the season ahead.
Happy traveling!

The 10-Minute Check-Up:

• Check all fluids. This includes engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids. Also make sure your windshield washer fluid and antifreeze/coolant is topped off.
• Check all hoses and belts. Look for cracked, brittle, frayed, loose, or worn spots, as these can affect proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check lighting. Identify any problems with exterior and interior lighting to guarantee that your vehicle is visible to other drivers on the road.
• Check wipers. Wiper blades need to be replaced every six months. Make sure that yours are working properly.
• Check all tires. See that your tires have at least 3/32 inches of tread. Anything less should be checked by a mechanic and replaced. Uneven wear could indicate a need for wheel alignment. Also check tire pressure and look for bald spots and bulges.
• Check brakes. “Brake components that are badly worn or are in need of hydraulic fluid may not provide the level of control needed for safe winter driving,” says Joseph Fosko, senior service specialist at AAA, East Penn. “Slick roads magnify brake system problems so it’s important to have brakes inspected annually before winter weather arrives,” he adds.
• Carry an emergency kit. This is perhaps the most important tip of all. In your kit, you should have first aid, a snowbrush and shovel, ice scraper, jumper cable and traction mats. For a full list, visit AAA.com.

No Brainers (Tips for better gas mileage):

• Avoid aggressive driving
• Adhere to the speed limit
• Avoid excessive idling
• Make sure your gas cap isn’t damaged or loose

Hazardous road conditions are an unavoidable fact of living and driving in the Lehigh Valley and you never know what’s around the corner. By following these protective measures, you will be able to overcome those winter driving woes.

Ah yes, today is the long-awaited, strangely popular Groundhog Day. Good ole Punxsutawney Phil, who lives in the town library by the way, predicts our weather’s fate courtesy of his shadow (or lack there of).

When I was in college at IUP, Groundhog Day somehow happened to be this major deal. Surely it must’ve been because it gave Western PA its annual 15 minutes of fame. I remember during my freshman year some of my dorm mates traveled via shuttle up to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsy for the legendary event. I opted to stay behind, which was smart because some of them were slammed with underage drinking citations.

Groundhog statue pic taken from the car

It wasn’t until my junior year that I actually traveled to Punxsy–and no it wasn’t to see the rodent. My friends and I drove through the town en route to Dubois and they made a special stop just for me because, being an Eastern PA girl, I had never been there before. We took a few photos and ran over to the library to catch a quick glimpse of Phil himself then hopped back into the car. Sort of like the artsy donkeys scattered around the Valley, in Punxsy you’ll find, appropriately enough, artsy groundhogs.

Unfortunately for me, and those who loathe winter, Phil saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter. Or, to put it in better terms, six more weeks until spring. That sounds so much nicer, right? We’ll see…

Winter and I have a love-hate relationship. Most of the time he’s rather dull and unattractive, but from time to time we actually get along with one another.

Like today, for instance, I quite enjoy these lovely warmer temperatures. But I know he’s going to turn a cold shoulder and show me his ugly face without warning. The funny thing is, I snowboard. So when I say I hate winter, people tend to ponder my choice to partake in such a winter sport. I may not exactly love the cold, but what I do love is the adrenaline rush that comes with snowboarding.

This season, my first trip to the mountain actually came on New Year’s Day for a nice evening session at Windham Mountain in New York. Really nice place! Unfortunately, only the lower half of the mountain is lighted so my group and I didn’t really have the opportunity to experience the more challenging runs. It snowed the entire time we were there so it was really nice to ride on real snow rather than the man-made stuff you find around here.

Speaking of man-made, on Wednesday night I drove up to Bear Creek for a quick two hours. Did you know they added a Waffle Hut at the bottom of the mountain? They had one of those at Windham, too. Must be the new thing.

Another thing they had at Windham was a Big Air Bag. Skiers and snowboarders launch off a small-ish kicker and land onto a huge air bag that sort of just immediately dumps you off. A few of us really wanted to try it at Windham, but riders need to wear helmets. Fortunately, Blue Mountain just added one, so perhaps in the very near future I will check it out.

Despite the cold that winter brings, the after-Christmas sales are seriously hot. I’ve managed to avoid the mall, surprisingly, but today at lunch Gap was calling my name as I walked by. I gave in. And walked out with a great sweater dress, two button-down shirts with ruffles, and a pair of tights for next to nothing. All sale items were an additional 25 percent off. How could I say no? I’m having a bit of buyer’s remorse, but I know as soon as I wear those items I’ll realize it was totally worth it.

Winter, sometimes I love you and most of the time I hate you. Actually, I just love to hate you. Spring, I am so incredibly looking forward to our reunion.