Winter lasts a long time in Big Sky Country. As winter sets in and the snow starts to pile, the roads of Montana can become hazardous. If you have an unexpected emergency, you’re going to want to have a winter survival kit for your car.

Cars Off The Road On Lone Mountain Trail | Photo: D. Lennon
Cars Off The Road On Lone Mountain Trail | Photo: D. Lennon

In SW Montana, there are long stretches of road that travel through remote mountains where you cannot rely on cell phone service. When the temperatures drop and the roads get slick, accidents happen.

Whether you run off the road during a blizzard, break down on a snowy forest service road, run into a long-term traffic jam while cruising home from Bozeman, or blow a tire in the middle of the night while driving on Highway 191 through Yellowstone National Park, you’re far from help in remote and wild country. In the event of an emergency, you could be stuck for extended periods of time in cold and wintry weather conditions.

Every driver needs to be prepared for the unexpected. The best thing you can do is to make a winter survival kit for your car. A winter survival kit can help you survive in the event of an emergency. It’s one of those things that you will probably never need, but if you ever do, you’ll thank your lucky stars that you made one and left it in your vehicle during the winter season.

It’s easy to make a winter survival kit for your car. Here are the things that drivers should carry in their vehicles during the winter season:

Winter Driving | Pixabay Image
Winter Driving | Pixabay Image

  • Road Flares/Reflective Triangles
  • Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
  • Gorilla Tape
  • Metal Shovel
  • Phone Charger with Full Charge
  • Old Cell Phone
  • Jumper Cables
  • Paper Maps
  • Multi Tool
  • First Aid Kit
  • Brush/Scraper
  • Cat Litter/Sand
  • Fuel Container
  • Tool Kit
  • Book
  • Snacks/Food
  • Extra Medications (If Necessary)
  • Rags
  • Trash Bags
  • Down Jacket/Hat/Gloves and additional warm clothes
  • Sleeping Bag/Blanket
    Snow Covered Roads | Pixabay Image
    Snow Covered Roads | Pixabay Image
  • Water
  • Lighter/Matches
  • Candle
  • Tow Straps
  • Cord/Rope
  • Tissues/Napkins
  • Extra Fuses
  • Windshield Wiper Fluid
  • Satellite Messaging Device - These things can save your life by allowing you to send text messages from literally anywhere on the globe.

Most of these things you can pick up in Big Sky at the local Ace Hardware. Stop by and buy the things you need. Then pack it all up and leave it in the back of your truck or in your trunk. We hope you'll never need to use your winter survival kit, but if you do, you'll be glad you have it.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Take the time to prepare a winter survival kit for your car so that you can survive an unexpected emergency that leaves you stranded for long periods of time. This simple kit has the potential to save your life.

Remote Roads In WInter | Pixabay Image
Remote Roads In WInter | Pixabay Image

If you're new to winter driving, here are a few more things you can do to stay safe this winter:

  • Invest in a trusty pair of snow tires that will help your vehicle stick to the road.
  • Take a winter driving course.

Always prepare for those just-in-case moments. Please stay safe on the roads of Big Sky Country this winter.

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