Tag: winter driving

North Dakota’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn North Dakota, North Dakota Survival Prepping, orth Dakota's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

North Dakota’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: Survival Driving Skills & DIY Hacks

Having logged thousands of miles in some of the most unforgiving terrains on the planet—from the slick mountain passes of the Rockies to the endless sand dunes of the Sahara—I’ve learned that no matter where you are, the roads you travel can make or break your chances in a disaster scenario. North Dakota, with its sprawling plains and unpredictable weather, offers a unique challenge that many overlook until they’re caught in the thick of it.

When disaster strikes—whether it’s a blizzard, flash flood, or wildfire—some roads become downright deadly. The sparse population and vast stretches of rural landscape in North Dakota can quickly turn familiar routes into traps. This is a survival guide for those who find themselves behind the wheel on North Dakota’s worst roads during a crisis, and it’s peppered with practical survival driving skills and hacks you can rely on when you’re running on empty—literally.

North Dakota’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

1. Highway 85 through the Badlands
This stretch cuts through rough, eroded terrain with narrow lanes and sharp turns. In a disaster, it’s a nightmare—rockslides, sudden flooding, and poor cell reception make it a last-resort route.

2. County Road 6 near Devils Lake
Prone to flooding and ice during winter storms, this road can vanish under water or ice in hours. It’s a trap for the unwary and easy to get stuck on.

3. US-2 between Minot and Grand Forks
This main artery often faces winter whiteouts and heavy ice. The long stretches without rest stops or safe pull-offs make it dangerous during disasters.

4. ND-22 near the Missouri River
The proximity to the river means flood risks are high, and the road can get cut off quickly. Mud and debris wash onto the pavement during storms, hiding potholes and sinkholes.

5. ND-50 in the southwestern counties
This rural route is lightly maintained and often dotted with deep ruts and washouts after heavy rains or snowmelt.

Survival Driving Skills for North Dakota’s Worst Roads

I’ve distilled my experience into 15 survival driving skills that can help you navigate these treacherous paths safely.

1. Pre-Trip Recon
Always research your route before heading out. Use satellite maps and local weather reports to avoid roads prone to flooding or landslides.

2. Adjust Speed for Conditions
Speed kills, especially on icy or muddy roads. Slow down to maintain control and increase your stopping distance.

3. Use Low Gear on Slopes
On steep hills or slippery descents, use a low gear to control your speed without over-relying on brakes, which can cause skidding.

4. Avoid Sudden Movements
Steer and brake gently. Sudden jerks can cause loss of traction on ice or loose gravel.

5. Understand Traction Zones
Know which tires have the best grip depending on your vehicle type. For 4WD, front tires often steer, so keep them clean and clear of snow or mud.

6. Look for Alternative Routes
If a road looks unsafe, backtrack or take a detour—even if it means driving an extra 30 minutes. It’s better than getting stranded.

7. Maintain Tire Pressure
Underinflated tires are a liability in mud and snow. Check tire pressure frequently, especially before driving on rough roads.

8. Use Sand or Gravel for Traction
Carry a small bag of sand or gravel to pour under tires if you get stuck.

9. Know How to Rock Your Vehicle Free
If stuck in mud or snow, gently rock the vehicle back and forth by shifting between drive and reverse to gain traction.

10. Keep Momentum on Slippery Roads
Don’t stop suddenly on ice or snow. Maintain a steady pace to avoid losing traction.

11. Use Engine Braking on Descents
Let the engine slow the vehicle on downhill stretches instead of brakes to avoid skidding.

12. Keep Headlights and Taillights Clean
Visibility is everything during storms and dust clouds. Clean your lights regularly to be seen and see better.

13. Always Wear a Seatbelt
Simple, but often overlooked in emergency driving. It could save your life if you hit an obstacle.

14. Know How to Handle Hydroplaning
If you hydroplane, don’t slam on brakes. Ease off the accelerator and steer gently into the skid.

15. Communicate Your Location
Use a CB radio, GPS tracker, or satellite messenger to keep someone updated on your route and location.

DIY Survival Driving Hacks for Running Out of Gas

Now, what if disaster hits and you run out of fuel on these unforgiving roads? Here are three DIY survival driving hacks that have saved my skin more than once.

Hack #1: Use a Gravity-Fed Fuel Transfer
If you’re stuck near another vehicle or a fuel container, create a siphon with a clean hose or sturdy tubing. Start a slow flow of gas by sucking gently on the end until fuel begins to move through the tube, then place the hose end in your tank. Gravity will do the rest. Always be careful with fumes and avoid swallowing fuel.

Hack #2: Convert Your Vehicle to Run on Alternative Fuels (Temporary Measures)
Many vehicles can run on a mixture of gasoline and certain alcohol-based fuels (like ethanol or methanol) if gasoline runs out. If you can find small amounts of these alternative fuels at farms or remote stations, mixing them carefully can keep you moving. Research your vehicle’s tolerance ahead of time.

Hack #3: Use a Makeshift Hand-Push Starter
If your battery dies or you have no fuel to start the engine, you can sometimes push-start your vehicle. Get help from others to push the car uphill or on a flat surface, and then quickly engage second gear while releasing the clutch to start the engine. This works best on manual transmissions.

The Final Word

Driving North Dakota’s worst roads during a disaster demands respect, preparation, and calm nerves. The endless skies and wide-open spaces can lull you into a false sense of security—until a blizzard or flash flood changes the landscape overnight.

Survival on these roads means more than just brute driving skill. It’s about knowing the terrain, anticipating nature’s fury, and having the right survival driving skills up your sleeve. You have to be ready to switch gears—literally and figuratively—and keep a survival mindset through every mile.

Remember: If you don’t need to drive, don’t. Sometimes the best survival tactic is to stay put and wait out the storm. But when the road calls, let these tips guide you safely through North Dakota’s wildest roads.

Stay sharp, stay prepared, and above all—keep the rubber on the road.

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri Preppers, Missouri's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: Survivalist Guide to Driving Your Way Out

I’ve been around the globe and faced more than a few hairy situations where a vehicle was my lifeline. Whether it’s dense jungles, blistering deserts, or urban chaos, driving out of trouble requires more than just a license and a full tank. Missouri, with its diverse terrain and unpredictable weather, can become a battleground during a disaster. When roads deteriorate or nature turns hostile, only the prepared and skilled can make it through unscathed.

This isn’t just about knowing where the potholes are; it’s about understanding which routes can trap you, which roads will test your mettle, and how to handle your vehicle when everything is stacked against you.

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

Missouri may not have the reputation of coastal storm zones or mountain passes, but when disaster strikes — whether it’s floods, tornadoes, ice storms, or the aftermath of a man-made event — certain roads become death traps.

  1. Route 66 through the Ozarks: Once the iconic American highway, many stretches of Route 66 here are narrow, winding, and poorly maintained. During floods or heavy storms, these roads can wash out quickly or become slick and impassable.
  2. Highway 36 near Kirksville: This stretch can become a mud trap during heavy rains. It’s a vital east-west artery, but flooding often turns it into a quagmire.
  3. The Mark Twain National Forest backroads: These gravel and dirt roads are tricky in the best conditions. After storms or ice, they’re nearly impossible without proper off-road skills and vehicles.
  4. I-44 through St. Louis suburbs: The traffic congestion combined with the potential for multi-car pileups and flooding means this interstate can gridlock fast during emergencies.
  5. Highway 160 near the southern Missouri Ozarks: Known for steep inclines and sharp curves, the rain turns it into a slide zone.
  6. The Chain of Rocks Bridge approach: This bridge is a choke point during floods along the Mississippi River, with narrow shoulders and limited escape routes.
  7. Mississippi River floodplain roads: Low-lying and prone to rapid flooding, these rural routes can trap you miles from help.
  8. Highway 79 near Clarksville: This highway hugs the Mississippi and can become slick with ice or floodwaters.
  9. I-70 in rural eastern Missouri: Often neglected in winter storms, ice patches here have caused serious accidents.
  10. Highway 21 near Festus: Curvy and with poor lighting, this route can be treacherous after dark or in storm conditions.

Why Knowing These Roads Matters

If you’re trying to evacuate during a disaster, knowing the weak points in your planned route can save your life. Roads prone to flooding or landslides can leave you stranded or force you into dangerous detours. Traffic snarls on main arteries might push you to take secondary roads where your skills need to be sharp.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Drive Your Way Out of Disaster

If you want to come out alive and whole, here’s the survivalist driving skill set you need locked and loaded.

  1. Vehicle Control on Slippery Surfaces: Learn to modulate throttle and braking to avoid skidding on ice, mud, or wet leaves.
  2. Emergency Braking Techniques: Know the difference between ABS and non-ABS braking and how to use threshold braking if needed.
  3. Hill Climb and Descent Mastery: When dealing with steep or slick inclines, controlling your speed and braking without locking wheels is key.
  4. Tire Placement Precision: On narrow or rocky roads, knowing exactly where to place each tire can prevent rollovers or getting stuck.
  5. Mud and Sand Recovery: Recognize when you’re stuck and how to rock the vehicle out safely without digging yourself deeper.
  6. Water Crossing Assessment: Identify safe ford points in flooded areas—depth, current, and bottom composition.
  7. Basic Off-Road Navigation: Use natural landmarks and maps when GPS is dead or misleading.
  8. Driving Without Traction: Utilize low gears and momentum to power through loose gravel or snow.
  9. Quick Evasive Maneuvers: Swerving effectively without losing control can help avoid sudden obstacles or debris.
  10. Fuel Management and Conservation: Drive efficiently and reduce unnecessary fuel consumption in extended evacuation scenarios.
  11. Night Driving with Limited Visibility: Master low-beam use and avoid high beams in fog or heavy rain.
  12. Vehicle Inspection and Quick Repairs: Know how to check tire pressure, fluids, and basic repairs on the fly.
  13. Towing and Recovery: Use ropes or winches effectively if you or a convoy member gets stuck.
  14. Vehicle Communication: Use CB radios or walkie-talkies to coordinate if you’re traveling with others.
  15. Mental Resilience Under Stress: Staying calm and methodical prevents panic decisions that lead to accidents.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere is a classic survival headache. But a few hacks can keep you moving or get you out of tight spots.

1. Gravity-Fed Fuel Transfer Using Clear Hose

If you have a spare container of gas, use a clear plastic hose or tubing to siphon fuel into your tank. Insert one end into the container and the other into your tank’s fuel filler, then create suction carefully by mouth or use a small pump. The clear hose lets you see when fuel flows.

2. Use Cardboard or Cloth to Improve Traction

If you stall on a slick patch with no fuel to restart, place cardboard pieces or fabric under your tires to gain traction and try to push the vehicle to a safer, more accessible spot.

3. Convert Manual Transmission Push-Start Technique

If you’re driving a manual, you can sometimes push-start the vehicle. With a little push from people or gravity (rolling downhill), put the clutch in second gear and release it quickly to start the engine without fuel injection—this can work if residual fuel is in the system or to jump a dead battery.

Final Thoughts

Missouri’s roads might not look like the wildest terrain on a map, but disaster reveals their true danger. If you’ve studied these routes, sharpened your survival driving skills, and learned a few hacks for when things go sideways, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of getting out alive.

Don’t underestimate the power of preparation and practice. Disaster driving isn’t just about speed or power—it’s about control, patience, and knowing your environment like the back of your hand. Take care, stay sharp, and keep those wheels turning.

Vermont’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Vermont, Vermont's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Vermont’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster — And How to Survive Them Behind the Wheel

By: A Well-Traveled Survivalist

Let me be clear—when disaster strikes, roads become more than routes. They become lifelines, battlegrounds, and bottlenecks. I’ve driven through hurricanes in Florida, wildfire evacuations in California, and flash floods in Texas. But Vermont? Vermont’s got a whole different beast when it comes to bad roads during bad times.

Between its winding mountain passes, frost-heaved asphalt, and dense tree cover, the Green Mountain State turns into a trap when the lights go out or the weather gets mean. Whether it’s a Nor’easter burying Route 100 under three feet of snow or a flash flood taking out bridges in Windham County, if you’re not prepared to drive like your life depends on it—you’re already a victim.

Let me walk you through the worst roads to avoid (or conquer) and then arm you with 15 crucial survival driving skills. And for those who really find themselves neck-deep in trouble, I’ve got three DIY hacks to keep you moving even when the tank runs dry.

Vermont’s Worst Roads During a Disaster

Here’s a short list of Vermont roads that’ll break your spirit (or your axle) in a disaster:

  1. Route 100 (from Killington to Waterbury) – Winding, narrow, and one rockslide away from being impassable. Gorgeous in fall, deathtrap in winter.
  2. Route 9 (Bennington to Brattleboro) – Prone to flooding, steep inclines, and black ice. This one gets shut down regularly in Nor’easters.
  3. Interstate 89 (Montpelier to Burlington) – The main artery in and out of Central Vermont. In a mass exodus, this becomes a clogged mess.
  4. Route 107 (Stockbridge area) – Mountain passes and not enough guardrails. One good rainstorm and you’re on mud.
  5. Route 17 (App Gap) – Twists like a snake and climbs fast. A driver’s nightmare in snow or fog.
  6. Kelly Stand Road (Searsburg) – Dirt and isolation. You’ll lose cell service and possibly your undercarriage.
  7. Route 108 (Smugglers’ Notch) – Seasonally closed, but people still try to push through. Don’t be one of them.
  8. Lincoln Gap Road – Just avoid it. It’s basically a hiking trail someone paved.
  9. Route 15 (Hardwick to Morristown) – Flooding danger, especially during late spring thaw.
  10. Danby Mountain Road – Off-grid and often washed out. The sort of place AAA won’t find you.

15 Survival Driving Skills for Disaster Conditions

You can have the best 4×4 on the market, but without the skills to match, you’re still a target. Here’s what every survivalist driver needs to master:

  1. Off-Road Navigation – Learn to read terrain and use topographic maps. GPS is unreliable in power outages or remote terrain.
  2. Throttle Feathering – Control your gas pedal in slippery conditions. Over-acceleration leads to spinning out or getting stuck.
  3. Tire Patching and Plugging – Know how to plug a tire on the fly. Keep a kit in your glove box, and practice before it matters.
  4. Field Tire Inflation – A hand pump or portable compressor can save your ride. Drop PSI on snow; boost it back for gravel.
  5. Braking in Skid Conditions – Don’t slam the brakes. Learn threshold braking and cadence braking for older vehicles without ABS.
  6. River and Flood Crossing Judgment – Never guess depth. A 12-inch current can float most vehicles. Know when to turn back.
  7. Spotting Hazards Ahead – Train your eyes to read the road 15 seconds ahead. It buys you time to react or reroute.
  8. Driving in Reverse at Speed – Sounds crazy? Try navigating a narrow escape route in reverse without stalling or crashing.
  9. Using Mirrors Like a Pro – Your mirrors are your sixth sense. Check every 10 seconds. Blind spots kill in disasters.
  10. Utilizing Low Gears – Downshift for better control in snow, mud, or downhill slopes. Don’t burn your brakes.
  11. Driving in Convoy Formation – Stick to 3-second gaps, signal intentions, and never bunch up. Panic leads to pileups.
  12. Navigating Without Lights – Cover tail lights with tape if you’re bugging out at night. Stay under the radar.
  13. Knowing When to Ditch – If your car’s stuck and burning gas, abandon it and hike. Your life is worth more than your ride.
  14. Distraction-Free Driving – Silence the phone. Every second counts. Your focus is your strongest survival tool.
  15. Fuel Conservation Techniques – Coast when you can. Idle as little as possible. Draft behind large vehicles (safely) to reduce drag.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

When the needle’s on E and there’s no gas station for 50 miles, ingenuity keeps you moving. Here are three tricks I’ve used or witnessed in the field:

  1. Siphon and Filter
    If you’re in a pinch and spot an abandoned vehicle, you can siphon gas with a tube and gravity. Just make sure to filter it through a shirt, coffee filter, or even moss to catch debris before pouring it into your tank.
  2. Alcohol-Based Emergency Burn
    In a gasoline shortfall, denatured alcohol or isopropyl (91% or higher) can be used sparingly in older engines. This is for carbureted engines only—fuel-injected systems may not tolerate it well. It’s risky, but it can get you a few extra miles.
  3. Pressurized Bottle Fuel Pump
    Repurpose a soda bottle with a tire valve stem and a bit of hose. Pressurize the bottle with a bike pump and gravity-feed fuel into your engine. This works best with lawn equipment fuel tanks but can keep an old ATV alive in a pinch.

Final Thoughts From the Road

Survival is about preparation, skill, and knowing when to go and when to stay put. Vermont’s roads don’t forgive ignorance or indecision. In a disaster, they get slick, jammed, or vanish altogether. I’ve seen Subarus stranded and lifted trucks washed out. It’s not about what you drive—it’s how you drive it.

Know your routes. Scout secondary options. Keep maps printed and waterproofed. Fuel up before a storm, not after. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t trust your GPS when the sky’s falling—it doesn’t know that the bridge on Route 9 washed out last night.

Disasters favor the prepared and punish the reckless. Be the first, not the second.

Iowa’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Iowa, Iowa survival prepper, Iowa's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Iowa’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster
By a Well-Traveled Survivalist

There’s a reason most folks underestimate the land between the coasts. From a bird’s-eye view, Iowa looks like a patchwork of cornfields and gravel roads. But when a disaster strikes—be it flood, blizzard, tornado, or grid-down scenario—those roads can turn into a gauntlet. I’ve spent decades traveling through all kinds of terrain, from the jungles of Colombia to the mountain passes of Afghanistan. Let me tell you, Iowa’s backroads in the middle of a Midwestern thunderstorm? Just as dangerous as any warzone.

Disaster has a way of peeling back comfort like bark off a tree. When the sirens start, cell towers fail, and gas stations shut down, your best chance of survival might come down to your wheels and your wits. Below, I’ll lay out 15 survival driving skills every Iowan—or any prepared soul—needs to master, plus 3 DIY hacks to keep moving when your gas tank’s dry. But first, let’s talk about the battleground: Iowa’s most treacherous roads when the world goes sideways.

The Most Treacherous Roads in Iowa During a Disaster

  1. Highway 20 (Western Segment)
    Western Iowa’s stretch of Highway 20 often floods after heavy rains. During a flash flood, this corridor turns into a watery grave. Flatland runoff builds fast, and without elevation to carry it away, you’re driving blind through standing water.
  2. I-80 Between Des Moines and Iowa City
    While it’s one of the busiest interstates in Iowa, in a disaster, that’s exactly the problem. It bottlenecks fast, especially in snowstorms or mass evacuations. Don’t count on cruising this route during chaos.
  3. County Road F62 (Marion to Knoxville)
    Twisting hills and tree-lined curves make this rural gem beautiful—but deadly. In winter, it becomes a skating rink; in rain, a mudslide risk. No plows, no lights, no help.
  4. Highway 2 (Southern Iowa)
    A frequent victim of Missouri River flooding. Entire stretches of this road have been wiped out in past storms. In a bug-out situation, avoid this path unless you’ve recon’d it yourself.
  5. IA-330 Northeast of Des Moines
    Tornado alley, plain and simple. The road is exposed, isolated, and flanked by ditches—not where you want to be when twisters tear through.
  6. Gravel Roads in Tama and Poweshiek Counties
    During a disaster, GPS will push you onto these gravel roads to “save time.” Don’t fall for it. One storm and they’re impassable. Get stuck here, and you’re a sitting duck.

15 Survival Driving Skills for Disaster Scenarios

  1. Reading the Road
    If the surface looks darker than usual during rain, it’s probably deeper than you think. Water distorts depth. Know how to read the color and ripple.
  2. Driving Without GPS
    Memorize paper maps. Practice navigating with a compass and dead reckoning. Satellites fail. Your brain can’t.
  3. Off-Road Maneuvering
    Know how to use low gear, lock differentials, and feather the throttle. A field may be your only way out.
  4. Evasive Driving
    Practice J-turns and emergency braking in empty lots. If you’re chased or boxed in during civil unrest, you’ll be glad you did.
  5. Tire Change Under Pressure
    Be able to change a tire in under 5 minutes with limited visibility. Bonus points if you can do it with a busted jack.
  6. Escape Routines
    Know how to escape from a submerged vehicle, including kicking out side windows and cutting seatbelts. Timing is life.
  7. Fuel Conservation Tactics
    Learn to coast, hypermile, and minimize gear shifting. Every drop of fuel matters when there’s no refuel in sight.
  8. Navigating by Landmarks
    Learn to recognize silos, barns, water towers, and wind turbines as navigational aids. Nature and man-made markers never need batteries.
  9. Communication on the Go
    Equip your vehicle with CB radio or GMRS. When cell towers go down, this is your only lifeline.
  10. Driving in Blackout Conditions
    Practice using night vision (if you’ve got it) or driving with no lights using only moonlight and memory. Useful when stealth matters.
  11. Handling Panic Situations
    Develop muscle memory for when adrenaline spikes. Whether avoiding a downed power line or maneuvering through looters, cool heads drive better.
  12. Improvised Towing
    Use ratchet straps, tow ropes, or even paracord to pull another vehicle or debris. Just know the knots and tension limits.
  13. Winter Ice Control
    Carry sand, kitty litter, and traction boards. Learn how to rock the car back and forth to break ice grip.
  14. Engine Maintenance
    Know how to clean filters, check fluids, and jump a battery with spare wire if you don’t have jumper cables.
  15. Brake Failure Protocol
    If your brakes go, pump fast, downshift, and use the emergency brake in pulses—not one hard yank. That saves lives.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

  1. The Ethanol Hack
    Iowa’s got corn. Lots of it. In an absolute emergency, you can distill ethanol from fermented corn mash. It’s not easy, but with copper tubing, a pressure cooker, and some time, it’s possible. Ethanol burns lean—filter it well or risk engine damage.
  2. The Lawn Mower Siphon Trick
    That old lawn mower or ATV in someone’s abandoned shed? Many of them have gas. Carry a siphon hose and a catch can. Be respectful—if it’s not yours, it might be someone else’s lifeline.
  3. Wood Gasifier Retrofit
    Advanced, but doable. With steel barrels, wood chips, and basic welding, you can create a wood gasifier to power an older carbureted engine. Think WWII truck tech. It ain’t pretty, but it rolls.

Tips for Staying Alive on Iowa Roads

  • Always carry a 72-hour car kit: water, food, wool blanket, trauma gear, jumper cables, flares.
  • Keep your gas tank no lower than half full. In a grid-down event, the line at Casey’s stretches to forever—and might never move.
  • Scout backroads now—while you still can. Drive them in daylight, mark danger spots on your maps, and cache supplies if you’re bold enough.

When the skies go black and the sirens wail, you won’t rise to the occasion. You’ll fall to the level of your training. So train hard. Know your routes. And never let your tank run dry.

The cornfields of Iowa might look peaceful, but when the world turns upside down, they’ll show you their teeth.

Montana’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Montana, Montana Survival Preppers, Montana's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Montana’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: Lessons from a Well-Traveled Survivalist

I’ve driven through nearly every rugged corner of the continental United States, from Arizona’s sunbaked deserts to Alaska’s icebound highways. But when it comes to raw, untamed terrain—and unpredictable weather—Montana takes a special kind of grit. Under normal conditions, Big Sky Country already challenges most drivers. Add a disaster scenario, and you’ve got yourself a real test of survival skills.

Whether it’s a wildfire racing down a valley, a blizzard burying entire routes, or infrastructure collapse from earthquakes or floods, your vehicle becomes your lifeline. Knowing how—and where—to drive during a crisis in Montana is the kind of knowledge that can mean the difference between escape and entrapment.

Let me take you through Montana’s worst roads during a disaster, then arm you with 15 critical survival driving skills and 3 DIY hacks for when you’ve run out of gas, but not out of options.

The Worst Montana Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

  1. Beartooth Highway (US-212)
    Beautiful? Yes. Deadly in a disaster? Absolutely. This high-altitude road climbs over 10,000 feet, with steep switchbacks and few guardrails. In a snowstorm or wildfire, it’s a death trap. Rockslides and zero visibility make it one of the first roads to avoid.
  2. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier National Park)
    Spectacular views, but it hugs cliff edges like a drunken mountain goat. It’s often closed by landslides or snow, and it’s far too narrow for panicked evacuations. In any kind of emergency, steer clear.
  3. Montana Highway 200
    This is the state’s longest road, stretching over 700 miles through isolated terrain. Flooding, forest fires, or infrastructure failure out here could strand you hours from help. Not a place to get caught without a backup plan.
  4. I-90 Through Homestake Pass
    One of the busiest and most mountainous sections of I-90, this pass near Butte is treacherous in winter. Pileups, black ice, and poor visibility are common. During a mass evacuation, this would quickly bottleneck.
  5. MT-38 (Skalkaho Highway)
    This dirt-and-gravel back road over the Sapphire Mountains is gorgeous in summer but closed in winter. In an emergency, it can easily become impassable from downed trees or mudslides.
  6. US-93 Through the Bitterroot Valley
    Often the only north-south option in western Montana. In a regional disaster, this could become a traffic-clogged artery with few alternative routes.
  7. US-191 in the Gallatin Canyon
    Between Bozeman and West Yellowstone, this road runs alongside a river and between cliffs. Avalanches, falling rocks, and flooding are all hazards, especially in spring.
  8. Montana Highway 35 Around Flathead Lake
    This narrow, curvy route hugs the eastern edge of Flathead Lake. Accidents and landslides are common, and there are few escape routes.
  9. US-287 Between Three Forks and Helena
    Wind-swept plains and long, empty stretches. In a fuel shortage or snowstorm, you’re very exposed here.
  10. Pintler Scenic Route (MT-1)
    This detour from I-90 between Anaconda and Drummond winds through thick forests—prime wildfire country. It’s beautiful but risky in fire season with limited cell coverage and few exits.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Could Save Your Life in Montana

  1. Off-Road Navigation
    Know how to read a topographic map and drive without GPS. Trust me, satellites fail in disasters.
  2. Manual Transmission Mastery
    Stick-shift vehicles offer more control on slick, steep, or icy terrain.
  3. Engine Braking
    On Montana’s mountain roads, knowing how to downshift to slow down saves brakes and control.
  4. Water Crossing Techniques
    Learn how to assess depth and current before attempting to drive through floodwaters. Most vehicles float—and stall—after just 6 inches of water.
  5. Tire Patching on the Fly
    Sharp shale, debris, or fire-damaged roads can chew tires. Know how to plug a leak quickly.
  6. Understanding Your Drive System
    Know if you’ve got AWD, 4WD, or 2WD. Use it properly—or risk getting stuck.
  7. Fuel Efficiency Driving
    In a crisis, every drop counts. Ease off the gas, coast downhill, and avoid idling.
  8. Driving Without Headlights
    In certain disaster zones, stealth is key. Practice low-visibility or night-vision-compatible driving.
  9. Quick Egress Techniques
    Practice getting your vehicle turned around fast—without a 3-point turn.
  10. Emergency Repairs
    Jury-rigging a fan belt with paracord, fixing a coolant leak with epoxy—small tricks, big payoff.
  11. High-Centered Recovery
    Know how to get unstuck when you bottom out in deep ruts or snow.
  12. Defensive Maneuvering
    Avoid panicked drivers, animals, or debris. Quick reflexes and awareness save lives.
  13. Winch and Tow Strap Use
    Even a compact SUV can haul itself free with the right gear and technique.
  14. Driving in Whiteout Conditions
    Slow, steady, and watch for snowbanks. Follow reflective markers or natural road edges.
  15. Reading the Road Ahead
    From flash flood signs to frost heaves, learn to scan for danger like a hawk.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

1. The Alcohol Trick
If you’ve stored isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) or even certain spirits like Everclear in your survival kit, a small amount can be mixed with gas or used in portable alcohol-burning stoves for cooking—and very carefully, even to heat an engine block in winter. Don’t run your engine on it, but it can help warm components or clear fuel lines frozen in deep winter.

2. Gravity Siphon from Abandoned Vehicles
Carry a siphon pump and hose in your kit. In a grid-down disaster, siphoning fuel from other vehicles might be your only option. Choose trucks, RVs, or old farm vehicles—they’re less likely to be tamper-proof.

3. DIY Solar Still for Emergency Fuel
If you have small amounts of contaminated gas, a makeshift solar still using clear plastic sheeting, a container, and sunlight can help you distill usable vapors back into liquid. It’s slow, but when you’re desperate, it’s better than hoofing it 50 miles.

Final Word From the Road

Montana doesn’t mess around. Its breathtaking beauty hides real danger, and the state’s remoteness can turn minor problems into life-threatening crises fast. You can’t count on cell towers, gas stations, or AAA. What you can count on is your preparedness, your skills, and your attitude.

The old-timers and ranchers out here know the truth: if you don’t bring it, you won’t have it. If you don’t learn it, you can’t use it. Every time I set out into Montana’s backcountry—whether it’s for a weekend or to test a new bug-out route—I remind myself: Plan like everything will go wrong. Drive like your life depends on it. Because one day, it just might.

Colorado’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, Colorado Survivalists, Colorado's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Colorado’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster — and How to Survive Them

By someone who’s lived more out of a bug-out bag than most folks live in their own homes…

I’ve driven everything from the salt flats of Bolivia to the frozen mud tracks in Siberia. But there’s something uniquely challenging about Colorado’s roads—especially when the sky turns black, the cell towers go down, and panic is in the air. Beautiful as this state is, it’s got some of the worst roads to navigate in a crisis. Whether you’re dealing with wildfire, blizzard, flood, or mass evacuation, knowing which roads to avoid—and how to drive like your life depends on it—can make all the difference.

Let’s start with Colorado’s danger zones.

Top Colorado Roads to Avoid During a Disaster

  1. I-70 Through the Rockies (especially near Vail Pass and Eisenhower Tunnel)
    When the weather shifts, this artery becomes an icy death trap. Avalanches, blinding snow, or even mass pileups can shut it down within minutes. It’s steep, curvy, and often jammed.
  2. US-550 (The Million Dollar Highway)
    This stretch from Ouray to Silverton offers breathtaking views and terrifying cliff-edge driving. Zero guardrails. One mistake in snow, rain, or panic traffic, and you’re tumbling hundreds of feet.
  3. CO-93 Between Boulder and Golden
    Wind-prone and narrow, this road gets overwhelmed during wildfires or evacuations. The winds here can blow cars sideways.
  4. I-25 Between Colorado Springs and Denver
    Flat, yes—but completely paralyzed during emergencies. One disabled car and you’re gridlocked for hours. It’s also prime territory for sudden hailstorms and tornado threats.
  5. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
    When open, it’s the highest paved road in the U.S. But during a disaster, altitude sickness, unpredictable weather, and exposure make it a gamble not worth taking.
  6. CO-14 Through Poudre Canyon
    Flash floods love this area. Roads erode quickly, and landslides are common. Once blocked, help is miles away.
  7. Highway 36 to Estes Park
    Heavily trafficked by tourists, with limited escape routes. Wildfire or road collapse here turns the whole area into a trap.
  8. Wolf Creek Pass on US-160
    Fog, black ice, and steep grades make this one of the most lethal mountain passes. Tractor-trailers tip here regularly, even on good days.
  9. US-24 Near Leadville
    High elevation means thinner air, unpredictable storms, and increased vehicle stress. Don’t count on your engine loving this one under pressure.
  10. County Roads Near Durango and Telluride
    Scenic but narrow, many are unpaved with sheer drops and no shoulders. GPS often gets it wrong, too.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Could Save Your Life

When disaster hits and you’re behind the wheel, raw experience matters. Here are 15 survival driving skills that have kept me breathing:

  1. Off-Road Recovery
    Know how to rock your vehicle out of mud or snow without digging yourself deeper. Lower tire pressure, dig out clearance, and use floor mats for traction.
  2. Engine Braking on Steep Descents
    Don’t ride your brakes. Use low gear to control speed on declines, especially with heavy loads or towing.
  3. Driving Without GPS
    Memorize the terrain. Print maps. In a disaster, cell service and navigation apps will likely fail.
  4. Navigating Smoke or Fog
    Use low beams, avoid high beams which reflect back, and crack windows to listen for vehicles or danger.
  5. River and Flood Navigation
    Never cross a flooded road you can’t see the bottom of—but if you must, unbuckle, roll windows down, and go slow in low gear to avoid water entering your exhaust.
  6. Driving in Whiteout Conditions
    Stay within tire tracks if visible. Keep eyes on road edges. Slow down. No sudden moves.
  7. Pushing a Disabled Vehicle Alone
    Learn how to use gravity, terrain, or leverage tools like a Hi-Lift jack to move your car when solo.
  8. Handling Panic Traffic
    Avoid main arteries. Know side streets and utility roads. Timing is everything—leave early or don’t leave at all.
  9. Night Driving Without Headlights
    Practice it. Keep a red-light flashlight to preserve night vision. It’s sometimes needed in stealth scenarios.
  10. Hotwiring Older Vehicles (pre-2000s)
    Not for criminal use—but when SHTF, and your car dies, knowing how to jumpstart an old truck can save lives.
  11. Manual Navigation Using Topography
    Read the land. Ridges, valleys, river systems—all help you reorient when your compass is shot or you’re lost.
  12. Fuel Scavenging Etiquette
    Always keep a siphon kit. Know which vehicles have anti-siphon valves and how to work around them.
  13. Reading Vehicle Temp and Warning Signs
    Know when to stop. An overheating engine or failing brakes in the mountains = death sentence.
  14. Driving with One Tire Flat or Busted
    Yes, it’s ugly. But you can limp 2–5 miles if you have to. Cut speed, balance load.
  15. DIY Traction Mods
    Carry sand, kitty litter, or traction boards. Also, you can chain up with rope or even zip ties in a pinch (short-term only).

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

Out of fuel in the Colorado high country? Here’s what I’ve done when my tank hit E in the worst places imaginable:

  1. Alcohol-Based Fire Starter Fuel
    If you’ve got high-proof alcohol or even some antiseptic (over 70% isopropyl), you can mix it with fuel residue in the tank and get just enough volatility to sputter down a hill or to safety. Only use in emergencies. It’s hard on the engine—but better than freezing to death.
  2. Gravity Glide from High Elevation
    Lost fuel at altitude? Put your rig in neutral or low gear and use gravity to coast downhill for miles. You’d be amazed how far a heavy vehicle will roll if you plan your escape route wisely. Don’t forget brakes still need vacuum power—use it wisely.
  3. Scavenge Gas from Lawn Equipment and ATVs
    Cabins, shacks, and garages often have old fuel cans for chainsaws or snowmobiles. It’s dirty fuel—but a coffee filter and a funnel can get you enough clean stuff to make it to town.

Final Thoughts from a Road-Worn Survivor

Driving during a disaster is not just about getting from Point A to B—it’s about keeping calm under pressure, improvising when the odds are against you, and knowing when to ditch the vehicle altogether. Trust your instincts. Carry extra of everything. And never underestimate Colorado’s terrain—she’s got a way of testing your resolve when you least expect it.

I’ve seen wildfires outrun semis, hail the size of fists break windshields, and snow traps that sealed people into their trucks for 48 hours. Respect the land, prep like your life depends on it—because out here, it does.