Tips from Palmer Gulch Resort on How to Pack a Proper Winter Travel Kit

Oct. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Hill City, S.D – In a previous article, we mentioned the necessity of including a winter travel kit in your plans when road tripping in the snowy months between November and May. If you find yourself caught in a storm, whirling in a cyclone of ice and snow, don’t find yourself caught without emergency materials that might make the difference between a life and death situation.

Some travelers choose to purchase a pre-made winter travel kit from the store when packing the car with safety in mind. This is the best option for those who don’t know how to pack a good winter travel kit. However, these pre-packed kits can get pricy, and after all, many of the items inside can be found in and around your home. In fact, you already possess most of those winter emergency necessities—now, you just need to get them all together and make sure they’re located within easy access in your vehicle.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to compile:

Blankets or Sleeping Bags: a “space blanket” is a good option, because it traps in heat the way a bulky blanket would without taking up the same amount of space.
Flashlights: pack one or two, and make sure that you’ve included extra batteries. Test your flashlights before you stow them away in your trunk. Make sure they’re still working.
First-Aid: this is a must. In this kit-within-a-kit, you’ll want to include bandages, antiseptics, painkillers, butterfly closures, and a pair of scissors.
A Knife: these are always good to have and can come in handy in any number of situations.
High-Calorie, Non-Perishable Food: canned food is always a good choice, preferably something with a pop-top (however, without pop-tops, this is where that knife comes in handy).
Iodine Tablets: in the absence of fresh drinking water, snow can be melted and sterilized with iodine. It won’t taste good, but it could save your life in a perilous situation.
Matches: for melting drinking water, heating canned food—or for anything else that requires heat at the strike of a match. Keep this in a water-tight tin along with tissues and paper towels for sanitary reasons.
A Sack of Sand: this may seem like a strange suggestion; however, sand can provide traction for your tires on an icy or snowy surface. Sand can get you out of a slippery jam!
A Tow Rope: to work in conjunction with the sack of sand. A variety of rope sizes and strengths can turn up as beneficial in varying situations.
Extra Windshield Wipers: a serious winter storm can strip your wipers in no time. Having an extra set in the trunk can get you home safely and prevent a night spent on the roadside in your car.
Jumper Cables: these should be in your car at all times, during all seasons of the year. However, winter is the time that needs them most. Don’t get caught without a way to jumpstart your car’s battery.
Extra Clothing: bring an extra pair of everything for each and every person you’re travelling with. This pertains especially to socks, long underwear, hats, and gloves—anything intended to keep you warm!

It can be tricky and time-consuming to anticipate and prepare yourself for all potential hazards or mishaps that might befall you as you’re traveling on winter roads. However, the inclusion of a winter travel kit with your packed luggage is entirely necessary. On top of the items we’ve mentioned here, consider bringing a winter survival book that can offer even more solutions for dire situations.

At the Palmer Gulch Resort, we want to make sure that you arrive safely at the destination of your winter holiday, gathering, or celebration. Our suggestions for a winter travel kit are offered as supplemental tips for safe travel—your greatest defense against inclement weather is safe and careful driving and observance of dangerous weather conditions. Happy travels!

About the Palmer Gulch Resort

The Black Hills provide ample opportunities for wintertime adventure, and the executive lodges, open all year round, at the Palmer Gulch Resort are here to serve as your snowy home away from home. To learn more about Palmer Gulch Resort, or to make a reservation, visit our website at www.palmergulch.com or call 1-800-562-8503. Information packets are available for group gatherings, as well as GPS directions and maps of the area.