Mountain Newcomers

We just closed on a house in Lake Arrowhead last week and had to drive down the mountain Monday afternoon in the fog and it was horrendous. It happened one other time about 6 weeks ago- worse than Monday when we were visiting. I am wondering how often the fog rolls in and if there is a way to predict when it's coming- for instance is it more prevalent in the spring? Summer? When the weather is getting cooler or hotter? How about how long it usually lasts or when it comes in- morning? it was about 2PM both times i drove in it. I am planning on having fog lights installed on my SUV as well. Any feelings about whether they actually make a difference? I knew all about the snow before i bought the house( I am from Massachusetts and have experience driving in it) but wasn't really prepared for the fog and am concerned. Thanks!

Fog lights will help they also have fog glasses at the eye glasses place they help also but your just get use to it after awhile and anytime it cloudy down below or raining your be driving thru the clouds.

Which eyeglasses place sells the fog glasses?

fog glasses! I am going to look online right now for them. Thank you.

In my experience with living up here for 8 years If the fog is really bad fog lights dont do anything and you should not attempt going down the hill unless its an emergency. Just my opinion.

I personally use a blindfold in foggy conditions.

being up here now for 13 years, I can tell ya, I just go slow, and I drive with my hazards on, especially when it is that bad................

Thank you for the replies. Next time I will just head back to the house and stay an extra day. That is if I can even figure out how to turn around and get there in the fog. ugh.

Safety glasses with yellow lenses really cut the glare in daylight fog and increase the distance you can see ahead. I get the cheap ones for $9.99 Lowe's or Home Depot and don't worry if they get scratched or not.

You should
NEVER EVER I REPEAT NEVER EVER
drive with your hazards on.

When you are in the fog they are very very distracting to other drivers, and can cause the other drivers to loose their bearings when they go pass you and can cause them to loose their concentration on the road leading to accidents, it can also get them thinking that there is some sort of Emergency up ahead and this can also lead to accidents.

HAZARDS are for Emergencies and Emergencies only they are to let other drivers know that there is a HAZARD in or on the Road. They are Not to notify other drivers that there is a car driving in front of them that is what running lights are for.

If you are driving in fog just remember keep the low beams on or fog lights if you have them, and drive slow and steady remember that the more you try and concentrate on the road the more you will loose you bearings, focus on your entire periphrial vision and you should do fine. It takes lots of practice and patience and smarts...... don't go anywhere that you do not absolutely have too.

I would venture to say most accidents are from two types of drivers the drivers who are overconfident and in a hurry, and inexperienced drivers who just don't have a clue.

Practice Practice Practice. It really does make Perfect.

I agree. Never drive with your hazards on unless there is a real emergency. It makes me think there is a hazard ahead!

I put my hazards on when I've come up to another car driving slooowly in the fog & you can't see 2 feet in front of you. It's easier for the car coming up behind to see the hazards & I turn them off the second a car is behind me.
I asked ScaryFast if this was ok & he said that it was.

The CA driver handbook clearly states......

Use Your Emergency Signals

If you can see an accident ahead, warn the drivers behind you by turning on your emergency flashers or tapping your brake pedal quickly three or four times. You can also use the hand signal when slowing and stopping.

Never stop on the road, unless necessary for safety or to obey a law. If you need to stop, then start braking early as a signal to the cars behind you. If your car breaks down on the road, make sure that other drivers can see it. If you are having car trouble, and need to stop, follow these rules:

Pull off the road away from all traffic, if possible.
If you cannot get completely off the road, stop where people can see you and your car from behind. Don’t stop just over a hill or just around a curve.
Turn on your emergency flashers if you are not moving. If your car doesn’t have flashers, turn signals may be used instead.
If it is safe, lift the hood to signal an emergency.
Give other drivers plenty of warning. Place emergency flares or triangles 200 to 300 feet behind the car. This allows other drivers time to change lanes, if necessary. Be very careful when using flares. They may cause fires, especially when used near flammable liquids.
If you don’t have emergency flares, follow the rules listed above and stay in your vehicle until help arrives. Be careful for your safety and stay off the road. Remember, don’t even try to change a tire if it means you have to stand in a traffic lane.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs41thru43.htm

Use hazard lights only when needed

Many drivers use hazard lights wrongly, switching them on to show other drivers that road conditions are hazardous. Most do this because the drivers ahead are doing it. This is a mistake, because hazard lights can be very distracting and cause glare that limits your vision and confuses drivers ahead and behind you. Only use hazard lights to warn other drivers that your vehicle is, or is about to become, a road hazard – engine is overheating, brakes are faulty, or your wipers are defective – and that you are slowing down to stop. You should also use it when you are in an emergency – feeling sick or rushing someone to a hospital – or when the car ahead of you has an accident and you want to warn other cars behind you. Otherwise, don’t add to the confusion.

DD I use to use my flashers in the same type of situations until I got nailed by some idiot on the highway that obviously could not drive in the mountains and fog but he clearly stated that my flashers distracted him and caused a horrid glare with the fog in his vehicle.

Oh geez, RSS! Guess he shoulda been wearing his fog glasses too!
But seriously, I use them sparingly & even when I drive I do tap my brakes occassionally as well. But I'll do that instead, definitely from now on. Thanks!!

I need to get me a pair of those. I almost drove off the road the other night. just got into a huge fog bank and lost myself for a sec, scared the hell out of me, Im still trying to get the stains out of my seat. I might have been going 15 but the minute I could tell the road was no longer under my tires I knew i was in trouble, luckily just then it cleared just enough to find the center and I was on the wrong side of the road... not good.

Driving on a daily basis in the mountain is very differnt than driving in San Diego County. When I moved up here in August I was terrified of driving in the fog (pee your pant terrifed) over the last months fog has become "Encahnted mist" for me and I havent freaked out since. Now I work in Snow Valley and I go to work no matter what. I have experience lots of fog,snow, blowing snow and I love it when the road looks so much like the white field around it that it is hard to tell the difference. I love it so much that i stopped to take picturesof the road signs with the wind blown, stagmiteo(could be stalagtite) looking things on them for the family back home. I can almost see Daddy shaking his head and my insanity. Sometimes my commute (VOE to Snow Valley) takes 30 minute and sometimes 1 1/2 hours. It depends. I never hurry anymore. I ge there when I can. The explanation in our house is "mountain". I am also going to write a book about everything I learned in my first year living on the mountain- what i know now that I wish i knew then. Good luck, take some deep breaths and chill out- You'll be ok. try turning on your favorite musice really loud and just pay attention to the road. I have a Wicked Tinkers cd (I love Celtic music) that I reserve only for fog or near white out conditions. Remember- Mountain.

Gina (Newcomer to a geat way of life)

I am also new to the mountain, and commute down the hill 6 days a week. I have to say (with little experience) it irrtates me when people drive with their flashers on. It is very distracting, and casts unneccesary glare to other drivers. Just my 2 cents

Hey Guys- today I learned that you should always carry a change of clothes and a snackc with you during the winter.

A change of clothes and a snack is good. But don't forget the need for chains, a flashlight and thick gloves to put them on, tools in case they won't latch right, a shovel in case the ice is so thick that you slide with chains on and get stuck, and a blanket in case you become one of the unfortunate who are stuck on the side of the road with no help for hours.

As far as the fog is concerned. You need fog lights up here. Without them you may as well plan to stay in during dark hours between October and May.

Plus, please rememeber to slow down in bad weather. I have never had an accident and I drive in snowing weather at night at times. It pays to be cautious.

I have been up here since 77 and have never been in fog so bad I had to pull over. You do need to go slow and watch for rocks, that should be the main concern. You can always stick your head out the window and see the yellow line, but it is better to follow the white line (per CHP) as it does not end when there is a turn lane such as Crestline Turnoff (Lake Gregory Dr) after the Cliffhanger. Make sure you turn music on or sing to yourself to relieve tension--this works. The more relaxed you are, the better you will drive. Know the back roads to get off the Rim such as Twin Peaks (189 off Lake Gregory DR) which is lit up. Just try to drive it in the day and it will be fine.