Snowed In: The Great Escape! A Van Life Short Story
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- A Canadian gets her van stuck in a cul-de-sac. Will she ever escape the aftermath of a winter storm?
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/ kiraandthesurvivalpod
Music from Epidemic Sound:
The House Where I was Born - Ecovillage
V1rgo - Ambre Jaune
White Horizon - Sight of Wonders
Borrowed Matches - Tape Machines
The Songs We Sang - Colton Walls
Nordic Shine - Savvun
You don't need chains, you need a slow cooker :)
😂 Priorities!!
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod Just wrap some slow cookers around your tires, that'll get you out of any sticky situation :P
Lol...true...slow cook the snow
You meant Crockpot ;)
We carry a container of kitty litter in the trunk of our car. Helps with traction on ice.
How marvellous for you.
That's some video production on such a mundane subject
That's what I live for 😅
I think you captured a Canadian experience beautifully Kira. A not common amount of snow, making the best of it, cue deer, drone shot of trees was gorgeous, perfect music and the wonderful stillness of cross country skiing. Melding frustration and beauty is one of your personal talents on top of your film making talent. 🎥
Thank you Hiker C ;)
There is a special relief in warming yourself up with whatever source one managed to create in cold weather. It keeps annoying things at bay at the very least. Keep that tank full, keep that pod on. Maybe a second tank, too.
The fact that you managed to squeeze in a moment of beauty even in this video, where you’re completely stuck in snow, is a testament to your inner artistry and videography, I think. Can’t wait to see where this journey goes next.
This means a lot, thank you so much!
Good snow tires, snow chains, maybe some MaxTrax and possibly a lift kit for your vehicle. That should do it for most situations.
Happy new year. The major problem I have is that over such a long time period no Canadian came to help.
Even I was bummed by that.
Like the dodge truck... was it stuck too?
That’s cuz us canuck guys were busy shovelling our own trucks and roofs. 😂🤣
And no beer. Are you sure this is in Canada?
You mean like for 4 minutes?!
This has me thinking the guy in Philly or wherever using the flame thrower to clear his drive way was a genius.
WHAT? HAHA!
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod ua-cam.com/video/ylhrszIY-Do/v-deo.html
@@PlayingWithFireOutdoors Oh. My. God. 😂😂😂🔥🔥🔥
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod After shoveling away my snow I can relate!
Chains. Shovel. Sand/Kitty Litter. Always! Good luck!
Thanks so much Kira! Learn a lot from you. After seeing how you built your van, I now know how the get free knowledgeable labor to build my van as well.
This reminds me one winter my battery died at laundromat. A tow truck guy was in the same lot and I offered some money for a jump start, he wanted to charge me the full rate, I refused and nobody was around with jumpers. I jumped on bus to go get the company car I had access to and drove back to jump start my car. I then drove BOTH vehicles home, stopping every few hundred metres to drive the other car forward and alternated like that for 3km. Being independent can be tough but it's a good skill to develop in these times. Ideally we can meet similar people to help us through so as not to get too negative from the struggles.
I gave a single tear standing ovation in my living room by myself when you finally escaped, Then waved like a sad/proud dad watching his only daughter leave to college when the van drove away.
😂😂😂 Love this.
This was somehow so relaxing to watch. I love how you made a video out of this. Me on the other hand am not looking forward to digging my car out of the snow when I get back home to Iceland and I also forgot to put winter tires on before I left 🤪
Oh man, good luck with getting your car out, Isley !
You know wheel chains would be handy 😁 Once we stucked in snow, we used floor mats from car under wheels to get out snowdrift.
Today i was wondering when is the next video and waaala, here it is! Yay! Today’s video is the personification of patience is a virtue and persistence pays off! Glad you are free and Thank God free at last! Stay safe and warm! Be careful hitching rides though!!! 👍🏼😍🙏🏼
Hey Chicago, Happy New Year!
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod Happy New Year Kira! Stay Safe in Canadia! :D
Great job filming your escape attempts with the drone
The drone was super fun to use. Also glad I had it since I lost my tripod :)
Snow socks saved my bacon!
That van is such a tank!
All I could think watching this video is "chains... chains... chains.." lol
Next time you’re stuck turn the traction control off. You need to keep the wheels spinning to gain forward momentum.
Your editing on this video was next-level! I loved how the music stopped when the door shut and the montage of multiple Kiras shoveling snow. Well done!
I'm so happy you liked it!
Time for a 4x4 van!
Besides chains, look up snow traction ramps on Amazon. Thats what LtVL guy also carries to get his Westfalia unstuck
Ahh yes, those would be helpful
It was full of suspense. "Will she, won't she?"
U make me so happy that I live in Memphis TN area. I thought the high of 44 with drizzly rain was bad today. I realized I'm blessed. Please get chains. I'm so happy u got out.
I love it!! "Okay, it's time to go for a walk."
Best way to figure out a problem! Keep up the great work and keep pushing ahead! You've got this
I know it’s probably been said and that you probably already know, but you can get a lift kit for your van. I can feel your eyeball roll from here- it was sonic.
Hi Kira. Happy and Healthy New Year to you also. One thing I picked up on instantly was you were turning your steering tires before moving. That's like making a small plow going forward. Once you start to move , even a small bit , turn your wheels slightly. That also will make an easier track for your wheels to follow back and forth in. Hope this helps. I'm the 73 year young guy who's been stuck with cars , vans , pickups and tractor trailers. Good luck. Wally
You need winter snow tires...lol. Great use of the drone though. Loved that perspective.
These are winter tires, they came with the vehicle...but I'd like to definitely buy some better ones. And some chains LOL.
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod yeah, when you do, do not get ice tires. They are useless. Ask for an aggressive snow tire. Studs are the only thing that help on ice. You can even buy a studdable snow tire and out the studs in yourself, but it's a tedious and slow task...lol.
you need better tires. i had same issue with summer tire or worn winter ones. if you dont have the cash just buy 2 for the front wheels
, 👍
You need a Knight in a Foresty Forest van to come save you with all the mighty 4x4 power :)
Taking a seemingly-infuriating task and turning it into a story of triumph, takes special talent. Very enjoyable.
From 8:10 on is Kira's "Rocky Balboa at the top of the steps" moment
Hehehe totally!!
Kira, You are one tenacious and awesome young lady thank you for the video.
When she said there is a little bobcat over there I thought it was an actual feline, was all sad when it was just that kind of bobcat T_T.
Still amazing video, as someone who has never seen snow in his whole life this is quite eye opening.
It’s a mechanical machine ma’am. Possibly named after the feline animal but can’t be certain.
I think you video editing is very good. I loved when you fell and made the snow angel. Happy New Year.
@0:21 Lunch and dinner for a week. LOL. Van hard and safe.
Watching from Florida and shaking my head at what you’re going through.
Keep beach sand in the van and throw it under the wheels for traction. Sometimes kitty litter works as well.
Take no heed of those hating.
Snow angel was AWESOME, had tears in eyes.
You ROCK!
Editing is on point.
Much love :)
P.S.
I'd rather have a Ford or Chevy full-size van for the ground clearance alone...
..and the extra space inside.
Live and learn I guess :)
A tough situation to be in, day-after-day. I've experienced it, growing up in Michigan, long ago. But what a wonderful, artistic video you've produced, showing the struggle, and eventual, triumphant escape to... "Freeeeedommm!"
Chains ! Look for a used set online, MAKE SURE THEY FIT before putting them in the veh big step done! The cable type ones work pretty good, fairly easy to install, small size ,& light. The full sized ones are heavy, bulky, need more tire than the cable ones work in sand, snow and mud, more durable ,and repairability. The main trade off is weight and size.
Literally cheered when you finally freed yourself!
Haha awesome 😂
As a Canadian retired trucker and a van owner from way back. I had good snow tires and kitty litter to drop under the tires to help me get out of a situation like that.
Nice video. Great camera work and editing!!
Thank you boring Bob, I appreciate you saying this 🙏
Keep some salt in your van always in winter, usually you just need to get rolling a bit then you can usually manage to get the car out
Salt does not work when it's that cold. You must not be Canadian or you'd know that. Salt only works well when temps are -5c or higher.
@@UFOPlanet The salt is to give you abrasive traction, I am most definitely Canadian.
beautiful video. You're a great film editor, very nicely done! Glad you're free again. Happy New Year!
Something that's worked for me in the past is a roll of old carpet, you can put it in front of your drive wheels and it provides good traction.
You should carry some sand and those orange tread things
Great job finding a solution
Helpful to witness your journey
Blessings on the new year!
The most common solutions are covered below: snow tires, kitty litter, chains...ugh, park in a garage when it snows. Good luck and don't go too far away from your shovel. lol
Very well done video, great music. Glad you made it. Happy New Year👍
Happy new year Thom!
Lots of love from Norway!
your vids are artsy as hell. I love it.
🎨🙂
Oh my goodness, why did I watch this till the end 😒. Can't wait till the pod is completed, as I'm sure there're fantastic things to come from K&thePod 🤞
Sorry to hear you got stuck! But glad you found some moments of peace to relax in the beautiful surroundings!
Only thing I could say is let your tire pressure down to
We got stuck in some snow in our NV200 once and left us stranded for half a day. Now we always have chains and a shovel with us. And some bigger A/T tires. :)
I'll have to look into some bigger tires.
Great aerial view on the van escape!
Bleach on your tires will soften the rubber and provide some traction on ice for 100 feet or so.
Fireplace ashes on the snow will change the albedo of the snow and cause it to melt even on an overcast day.
Some jute twine tied through your wheels will provide traction also (as long as the twine does not interfere with your brakes.
In the bush, I have even zip tied fir tree boughs around my tires. Zip tie them so that if the thick end comes loose it does not spear your inner fender, ie the thick end of the bough should be the last part for your tire to roll over.
Cat litter is an excellent traction aid. Even used cat litter.
Neat tips, thanks!
Jute twine. There is an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing!
an angel making a snow angel my van got stuck in snow too lol hang in there Kira
Nice work on that drone shot getting your van unstuck!
Nice Freedom edit at the end there . . . Cable chains can be a pain in the ass but helped me a lot when I ran a 2002 Toyota echo year-round on all seasons. I could go anywhere. Thanks for the video. :)
Hey Kira, love the video! Getting stuck in the snow always sucks. I noticed from the side shots of you trying to move the van, it looks like your tires are a directional tread pattern and the driver's side front tire may be on the wheel backwards. Something to double check. Keep the videos coming. Good luck and happy new year!
That was some dump of snow! It took me two days with a mini snow plow to clear enough of my back alley so I could leave so I know exactly the volume you had to deal with, and you did it by hand! Persistence is an essential component of survival, and you've got plenty of it.
As for a dash mount idea, I have a rear view mirror camera mount holder with a cellphone tripod mount holder that allows me to attach my phone to my rear view mirror to use with my navigation software. It's handy and secure, and no reason you couldn't use it to shoot video of yourself driving, or the windshield view. Both these items can be found on Amazon.
Nice drone perspective of your escape attempts! Glad you made it out to the mountains. Weather has been nice these past few days so I hope you've taken advantage of it
Another great vid! Nice one kira. Keep them coming and good luck :)
excellent video !
Thanks Dale 😊
...and after she rejoiced "I'm FREE baby!" Kira drove the Survival Pod to the nearest car dealership and traded her van for a lifted 4x4 SUV.
LOL!
Happy new year. Best wishes for 2021. Love your videos and positive perseverance.
Well done! From sunny summer Australia. ..mmm..warm.
To get traction on ice you need one or a couple of the following, chains, traction board thingies, old carpet, kitty litter, free gravel the city offers, buddy with 4 wheel drive.
You could look into buying a traction mat. Overlanding people use them a lot! Would be helpful in a situation like that.
I got stuck a few years ago and tied thousands of helium balloons to my car... it didn't work.
😂😂😂 Sounds like a Disney Pixar film story
OMG Awesome! 😂🤣
Think they make drones big enough now to carry your Survival Pod outta that cul-de-sac.
LOL!!! @@stevetobias9097
I think if I lived in a place that had that much snow and the streets do not get plowed, I would be sure to drive something with all wheel drive and some ground clearance. Good job eventually getting free and wonderful film editing.
mundanely beautiful and uplifting...happy new year to one and all!
This was the most epic ending of all time🐐🐐🐐
You're not talking to much, you just don't like talking I bet... We like listening so who cares either way. Happy new year to you and the van build!
Happy New Year!
Not that it would change much but your left front tire is installed backward. Keep up the good work I enjoy watching your video!
I thought that might be the case too, and not all winter tires are created equal. Well done on not losing your mind Kira, this type of forced pause creates a nice opportunity to share a real Alberta winter. Thanks!
After watching this I'm buying those easy on tire traction aids and hope I never need them. ✌️🇨🇦✌️
Wow you are truly patient....yes chains !
The first 30sec might be the most canadian thing ever lol
🇨🇦☺️
May be you should consider a lift kit for your van’s suspension and a set of tire chains if you will go to heavy snow areas.
You must admit that the snow is nice!
I loved it! :)
Loved the video editing, great job. I thought I was going to see a bobcat not the tractor. I was reminded by your u turn you should always try to park in the direction you will need to leave. Take care and the very best in 2021.
You need to go to your local fire station with a kitty litter pail and fill it with “pickle” which is a mixture of fine stone chips mixed with salt. That is what the city spreads on the streets. If you can’t move shovel a bit in front and behind of your drive wheels, spread a tiny bit in front and behind your wheels, and drive away. I carry some with me all the time and has gotten me out of a lot of situations where I could not move.
You gotta be more careful about those suburban areas, Kira. They've trapped more people than anything. They are horrible for freedom! Haha glad to see it all worked out.
LOL at least you have a Van.
I almost got caught up in the Mountains on my motorcycle when a late snow storm was coming lucky I got smart (one of the few times😆) and decided to head back down I ran into a Highway Patrol Officer and he asked where I heading I said down the hill, he said good the road up the mountain was closed and they were about to the close the lower part.
Motorcycle in the mountains sounds risky. Glad you made it out!
@@KiraandtheSurvivalPod
I forgot to mention this was in late May usually the snow is gone and I was in Southern California.
Happy New Year🌟 I must admit never been stuck in snow before mud or sand yes a number of times, stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Barry..is it true that the toilets flush backwards in Australia?
I was camping in Saskatchewan when that storm hit, had to hunker down for an extra night but next morning only had to dig for about 30 mins to clear a drift blocking the road. Luckily had 4wd with good ground clearance.
Always drop your tyre pressures down in the snow, below 10psi is best, either that or get chains!
You had your wheels turned and just polished the ice under them. When trying to get unstuck keep your wheels straight. Chains are a must too. Possibly look into a set of Blizzak snow tires too.
I love Blizzaks. I had them on my last vehicle.
Tell the kids to shovel the snow so they can play hockey in the cul-de-sac on the ice.
Don't feel bad Kira...I had my rear wheel car out and got stuck...get this....4 times. And got stuck once more the next day. My shovel was in good use ....and no gym day needed that month lol. I'm in Calgary too....it was a bad dump of snow....Only a fraction of people made it to work that day.
Greetings from the international space station!
😂
FTW!
Now an orbital view of Kira's escape attempts would trump any drone footage!
You did it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The city does shovel your streets? ...oops, plow your streets?
Wow!!!!!
Happy New Year.....🤨
Kira:
1. Snow tires. Really. I know they're expensive, but you really need them. I live in Minnesota, so I know.
2. CAA membership
I’m in Minnesota too. Good tires are a must! We can’t use chains here, but if you can, get them. (Like you have that suggested a million times).. lots of good suggestions here. It was sad watching that van slide around. (I don’t like icy roads)
Those REAL Canadian problems :) best of luck to your channel!
Please check all your tires. They look like directional snow tires and at least the front driver side is not mounted in the proper direction. There will be writing on the sidewalls of the tires with an arrow that says direction. Make sure that arrow is pointing to the front of the van. Safety first!
Better for reverse :)
Happy New Year and best wishes for a prosperous 2021 Kira !!