Despite an overturned vehicle with a dead engine and overnight temperatures well below zero, the two adults with four young children survived by staying with their vehicle and burning the spare tire for warmth.
Others have endured much longer periods of time in their car and still survived frigid temperatures. Her husband, Earl, who had gone for help in temperatures at nearly 30 below zero, had died in his quest.
One of the most remarkable stories that I have read regarding survival in cold temperatures with little food occurred last winter in Sweden, when snowmobilers pulled year-old Peter Skyllberg from his snowbound vehicle.
He had survived subzero temperatures and subsisted solely on snowmelt for two months. Doctors suspect that Skyllberg had entered into a dormant state that slowed his metabolism, similar to a bear in hibernation. One of the most memorable incidents of survival in our region is the story of the Stolpa family. In November , after years of drought, Tahoe-Truckee residents were praying fervently for snow. Lake Tahoe was on its way down to 6, On Dec.
Ironically, 48 hours after the forecast was released, the first in a series of powerful cold fronts began assaulting the Tahoe-Sierra. Rangers at Echo Summit recorded nearly 17 feet of snow that month. It was the wettest start to a winter in 10 years. Hotels in Truckee and Tahoe City were overwhelmed. Blinding snow shut down 80 percent of flights at the Reno airport, stranding 3, passengers. Trains were delayed and most major highways were closed. Avalanches cut electric power to 15, people.
