Portland Snowstorm 2019: How to Have a Fabulous Time When in Snows

Covered in snow and ice, Portland, Oregon, can be a frozen hellscape, or a winter paradise. How it works for Portlanders comes down completing some essential snowy weather preparation or lack there of. Here are 6 things one can do to have a great time when it snows in Portland.

Snow is coming…

…what will you do to prepare?

Step 1: Planning and Meditation

One reason Portlanders have a tough time with snow is that they go into storms woefully unprepared – for people of able body and mind there is no reason not to complete essential snow prep tasks. Because these preps will vary for most people, meditation is needed to establish what’s of critical need.

Grab a pen and paper, then take two to five minutes to think about needs that might arise should roads be inaccessible, and public transit go down for the next week. If power goes out, what would be good to have? For the many worker bees of Portland – perhaps it makes sense to take your work laptop home so you can stay connected.

Step 2: Stock Up on Everyday Supplies

With the meditation and planning step complete, one should have a general sense of what’s needed for a day to week of being snowed and iced in. Time to go on a supply run. Be sure to check these areas too:

Check your prescription meds – do you have enough to cover the next week? If not consider refilling your prescriptions now.

Are you a booze-hound? Buy your favorite hooch.

Have a sweet tooth? Make sure you have good ice-cream, and candy coverage?

Of course – get your fridge and pantry essentials too. 😉

Step 3: Snowstorm Specific Supplies

• Rock Salt – just because Portland doesn’t salt the streets doesn’t mean private citizens can’t salt their own sidewalks and stairs. What often happens in Portland snowstorms is that trampled or melted snow ices overnight. Left untreated this can form dangerous ice-sheets on sidewalks and steps. Rock salt works buy helping melt ice and move that moisture along. It also offers grip on slick surfaces. A box of rock salt is incredibly cheap – around $3. Buy it on your grocery run. It’s also available at Hankins Hardware.
• Snow Shovel / Grain Shovel – property owners in Portland are required buy law to keep their sidewalks free of snow and ice. Not only is it the law, shoveling pedestrian corridors and walkways is great way to avoid ice build up. Consider buying a shovel to keep yours and your neighbors’ sidewalks clear. If people can stay on top of shoveling and adding salt, it will do so much to keep our sidewalks passable. This author prefers grain shovels, also known as scoop shovels, because they can also be used for other non-snow things like gravel of bark mulch. Hankins and other hardware stores will likely have them in stock, or check out snow and scoop shovels on Amazon.
• Slip on Shoe Grips – Portland is notorious for getting icy in snow events because we have wet snow, that has a tendency to freeze overnight. Left untreated ice-sheets form. Slip on shoe grips give a person extra traction in icy conditions, and they only cost around $10-$20, at your local hardware store like Hankins, and can also be found on Amazon. Consider buying a pair if you have enough lead time before the snow storm.

Step 4: Support Your Local Businesses and Give them the Benefit of the Doubt

Local businesses are hit hard during snow storms; should they close they miss out on precious revenue. Should they stay open, they may run short on supplies and staff.

For your neighborhood shops, restaurants, bars, and foodcarts, consider giving them your business before, after, and during the snowstorm. Just be sure to cut them some slack if service takes a little longer than usual or if they run out of your favorite IPA or side dish. 🤞

Step 5: Icing Out Your Whip

Planning to drive during a Portland snowpocalypse? You are brave, but it is quite doable – here’s what you’ll need:

• Knowledge – 4×4 or all wheel drive (AWD) does not help with stopping!!! So many people miss this. AWD only helps with acceleration, so unless you’re planning on rally racing or driving very very very slow, do not plan to count on your four wheel drive or AWD car for getting around. An anecdote by this author: In 2016 I was on my way to the Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area. After leaving the town of Government Camp 5 lovely 4×4 trucks and SUVs slid off the road in front of me. They were all going slow, so no one was injured, but these supposedly capable vehicles were crippled by the ice. With snow tires on my two wheel drive car, I was able to continue on. I later heard getting these trucks out caused a three to four our traffic jam.
• Chains – these are the most affordable way to keep your car going in the snow and ice. You can have them fitted to your car at place like Les Schwab or buy them off the shelf at a automotive or big box store. They’re also often for sale on Craigslist, Nextdoor, or Amazon.
• Studless Snowtires – This author uses studless snowtires. Studded snow tires, though arguably offering more grip, can be very hard on our roads, and the studless variation has gotten really good. The studless tires I have were purchased at Discount Tire – I’m on my third year with these and they offer a peace of mind throughout winter.
• Window Ice Scrapper – the kind with a brush on the handle can be helpful for snow.

Step 6 – Have Fun

Go Skiing

If it’s snowing in the valley, you better believe the mountain got a lot of snow. What’s more, the group of people who are skiing, snowboarding beginners, or looking for a day of sledding will often stay in town to take advantage of the local snow. This means less traffic, and shorter lift-lines for those who are willing to go to the mountain.

Embrace the Unique Weather

Though Portlanders enjoy riffing negatively about the cities and peoples’ inability to cope with snowy conditions this unique environment prevents profound opportunities to see your city in a new way, have fun, make art, and expand your brain.

Snow dampens sound – the fluffiness of snow, both in the air, and on the ground absorbs sound. Use this the unique silence to meditate, or simply get some rest for your heart or your mind.

Neuroplasticity in a Snow Storm – going to new environment literally causes changes to your brain. These changes taking place are called neuroplasticity, and keep your mind healthy and open. Whether you like it or not, the new environment will cause your brain to make changes whilst it takes in the new environment. Lean into this, and explore your city in this unique weather event.

Make Art – photo ops in snow can’t be beat. Take fun photos, or boomerangs. Write a poem or short story. Let your creative mind and spirit wonder in this unique and special weather event.

Most of all, have fun!