Stuck in the snow in California in a Porsche 911 for 3 days

[Liberal_in_LA]

Sacramento couple found safe, 60 miles away

A Sacramento couple whom volunteer rescuers and a CHP helicopter crew had sought for days in the wine country of southern El Dorado County were found 60 miles away in the snowy, rugged foothills of Placer County on Wednesday.

It turns out Mark Schroeder, 55, and Janette DeGrace, 52, never hit the wine country near Fair Play, where a witness placed them Sunday afternoon, but had gone to a remote mountain bar called Uncle Tom's Cabin, friends and relatives said.

On the way home, Schroeder's Porsche 911 got stuck in the snow and the couple spent three nights in the car, rationing their snacks and running the engine intermittently to keep warm as snow fell and temperatures dropped.

--------------

Jungsten said Schroeder hiked for six miles, sometimes through deep snow, to a hilltop where he got a cellphone signal and called 911.

--------------

Another co-worker, Jason Woods, said Schroeder and DeGrace had conserved their fuel by turning the engine on every half-hour to keep warm. And they had carefully rationed their food – peanuts, trail mix and Girl Scout cookies, he said.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/16/4267864/2-found-alive-miles-away.html

[Romulox]

1. Sounds like a narrowly averted Darwin award.

Porsche 911 sounds like a fine choice for an impromptu climb up a snowy mountain!

[cyglet]

4. Not my first choice, no

but they just decided on a whim to go up the mountain to a remote bar?

I don't even drive my VW GTI in the winter...

[Historic NY]

2. "If anyone wants a good Porsche," John Schroeder quipped, "you can go pull it out."

[hifiguy]

3. A Porsche 911 is a wonderful and amazing car.

It is, however, on a short list of cars that should never be driven in a snowstorm.

Sports cars in general have tires with very hard compounds designed for running at speed. In cold weather the rubber gets even harder and it's like trying to drive with giant hockey pucks on the driven wheels: Zero traction - Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[wandy]

8. As the proud parent of one of the last 'detroit mopar muscle' thing I can tell you that it's a fine

ride on a sunney summer day. Taking it out for a two block run for a lofe of bread on snow covered roads. You're far better off walking. High performance tires are designed to 'soften up' and give traction at higher speeds and higher tempturs. For cold tempturs you summed it up nicley 'hockey pucks'.

[Demonaut]

14. I have a Porsche and use it for sking trips. albeit not deep snow

ski rack and all

[Blue_Tires]

5. i guess it depends on the year, but wouldn't his porsche have roadside assistance?

If I'm reading the story correctly, I just don't understand how 18 inches of snow can strand you for THREE days unless they were on some really treacherous dirt roads...

[RebelOne]

9. I guess you did not read the story.

He could have had roadside assistance if his cellphone worked. He had to hike 6 miles to get a signal,

[Blue_Tires]

10. I meant, more of a satellite-based service; like Porsche's equivalent of GM OnStar...

[msongs]

6. amazing they found snow in California this winter nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. We got a foot last night... in So. Cal. n/t

[dembotoz]

7. in wisconsin we have these things called snow plows

3 days???
wow

[lastlib]

11. Okay, people, listen up! Don't ever freeze to death in a car in a snowstorm...

When it's that cold and that deep, you risk not only freezing to death, but also carbon monoxide poisoning when snow blocks the exhaust pipe. Get out of the car, and burrow into the snow. Snow is a good insulator from the cold; animals have been burrowing into snowdrifts for millenia to keep warm. It will rarely get much below the freezing point in a deep snow burrow--easily survivable. By contrast, a car can get brutally cold in severe conditions. Carry a blanket, sleeping bag, or at least a tarp for extra protection. And that six-mile hike through deep snow was foolish. Not only was he separated from his companion, but he risked hypothermia and death when he should have stayed put, conserved his energy and body heat, and waited for better conditions. This whole affair just sounds to me like stupid on steroids.

One of the most important items in my survival kit is a deck of playing cards. Cardinal rule when you are lost in the woods is to *Stay Put*. So my thinking is to stay put and pass time playing solitaire with my cards. I can almost guarantee that in a few minutes, someone will be looking over my shoulder, saying, "Put the red eight on the black nine." And I'm found!

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. Utility candles will keep you from freezing to death in a car.

Just remember to crack the window now and then.

Candles like these

[Bosso 63]

12. Rip the ceiling lining out for a blanket and use the spare tire for a signal fire,

and don't confuse a Porsche for a snowmobile.

[Motown_Johnny]

16. I wonder what the trade in value toward a Cayenne would be

[XemaSab]

17. That whole story was VERY odd

In the initial report that they were missing, police suspected foul play because BOTH of their cars were broken into that night.

I'm happy that they turned up safe and sound, but there's still a lot of weird there.

[Bad_Ronald]

18. Well, if you gotta be snowbound, why not be snowbound in style?

I've never owned a Porsche, and undoubtedly never will....but I wonder: What kind of snacks does one buy (and ration in case of an emergency) while driving a Porsche? I doubt if it would be anything with peanut butter in it. After all, that might stain & ruin the posh, hand made leather seats.

Anyway, I'm glad they survived. Imagine the horror of spending anywhere from $75-125k on a 911 only to be entombed in it. Even the most crooked funeral director wouldn't dare overcharge that much for a coffin.