This is not an exaggeration – I’m super scared to drive in snow.
Let me preface this story with the fact that I’m an avid driver, rarely scared on the road and have driven with a clean record for over 35 years now. On with the story…
I would almost say terrified. Like stomach-flip, white-knuckle, slow-motion panic kind of scared.
I’ve lived most of my life in California then in Arizona, where my winters basically meant maybe putting on a hoodie in the evening.
Driving in snow? Nope. Not on my life list. Yet here I am in New York… in winter… and apparently this is just what we do now.
The snow started early in the morning and just kept going. Fluffy, beautiful, cold. By 3PM it still hadn’t stopped, and at one point I found myself outside shoveling the driveway, something I watched people in the Midwest do on the news and I had literally never done before.
I had my work gloves on, boots, and my body was still sore from a workout I did earlier that morning. If I knew I’d be shoveling snow later, I might’ve skipped leg day. Just saying.
Also read : Moving to a New Place in Your 50s: Finding Home Again in New York
Scared to Drive But Facing My Fear Anyway
But the real challenge? Getting in my van and actually driving in it.
The ground was slick, the windshield fogged, traction felt questionable at best, and my van is not all-wheel drive. I sat there outside Walmart, heart pounding, trying to find every excuse to wait it out but I had to go. So I turned the key, waited for the windows to defrost, and eased out of the parking spot.
And holy wow… every tiny slide felt like the world was about to end.
If you’ve ever been scared to drive in snow, you know exactly what I mean. My hands were glued to the wheel, I stayed way under the speed limit, and every turn felt like a trust fall with mother nature. But guess what?
I made it.
I freaking made it home!
Experiencing Extreme Winter in My 50s
That’s the thing about trying something new – it’s uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and kind of terrifying. But there’s beauty in it too. The snow was piling on every branch like powdered sugar. The world was calm, quiet, magical. I felt alive in that scary-excited way. Like life was reminding me, “Hey, you’re still learning. You’re still growing. Even in your 50s.”
Moving to a colder climate is teaching me things I never thought about like tire traction in the snow, making sure I wear my mittens (not gloves), scraping windshields, shoveling snow, lots of layering, heating the van 20 minutes before you need to leave, and yes… driving in snow when you’re scared out of your mind. But moment by moment, I’m figuring it out.
I’m sure one day snow driving will be normal to me. Maybe I won’t even think twice about it. But today? Today was a win. A small, snowy victory that reminded me how capable I actually am.
Have you ever driven in snow? Were you nervous the first time?
Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your stories! ❄️
Thank You for Stopping By!
Hi, I’m Allie, obsessed hiker, explorer of our world and reinventor of my life in my 50s.
Here at AllieRambles I explore what it means to rebuild and chase freedom in your 50s and beyond—because life doesn’t end at midlife, it begins.
I also write A LOT about being outdoors hiking, biking and paddling as much as I can – all over the United States and beyond.
Let’s wander, grow, and figure it out together.
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