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In about 1976 I bought a 60 Jeep wagon for snow
plowing. I had to go to the Stevens Point WI airport to pick it up
on a trailer and return the 55 miles to Neillsville WI. It was in early
spring and the weather was changing about every four hours from sunny to
snow. I had gotten within 5 miles of home when the first white out
hit. I could not see the end of the truck hood, (73 Dodge 2 wheel
drive) causing me to stop for the duration right where I was, in what
I thought to be my lane. This blast sooned cleared, and I
continued on after getting back to the lane I belonged. I soon
turned off the black top county road onto a town gravel road...only a mile to
go. As I went up the last quarter mile of the road, another white
out...No sooner than the hood went out of my view, the engine stalled. I
sat there for about 5 minutes waiting for the snow to stop. Soon
after I decided to get out and walk home. I left the comfort of my
cab and headed right into the snow, feeling the ditch edge along the road as I
went. I reached the edge of the county road on which I live and
stopped. I could see about arms legnth at times, but 0
visibilty seemed to have settled upon me forever. I listened for
cars or trucks on the highway, but the wind was so strong I could not hear
anything. I decided to run for it across the highway until I found
the ditch...Which I found face first as I hit the snow drift on the opposite
side of the road. I got up spitting snow from my mouth and clearing my
eyes. I turned and started walking, feeling the edge of the ditch as I
went until I bumped into my mailbox. Home at last. A right turn and
up the drive to the warm comforts of home. I no sooner got into the house,
and the the snow stopped and the sun came out! Back to my truck to
find the air filter housing had plugged with the driving snow, choking off the
engine. Yes, there are white outs, even in little 'ol WI on
occasion.
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