Well, the weather people were right this time. While bobtailing across Montana I ran smack into a snow storm.

Loaded big trucks get very good traction on messy roads. All that weight is a huge advantage under these conditions. Unfortunately that same truck without a load or a trailer gets almost no traction at all on the same roads.

Between the snow and ice on the road and high cross winds I broke traction several times before I finally reached an exit with a hotel. I took the exit and more or less slid down the ramp even though I was going pretty slow. I did manage to get stopped at the end of the ramp but I wasn't sure I'd be able to do so.

I crept into the lot of the hotel and checked in. No more bobtailing for me today, it's just too dangerous. I would have preferred to make it to a truckstop and not spend the money for a hotel, but I just didn't want to risk going any further in this terrain and weather.

I'm safe and warm, there's a restaurant across the street and even a lounge if I feel like an adult beverage, and am not putting my life or anyone else's at risk. Right now that's the best I can do.

This storm is supposed to move on over night and the storm warning is due to end tomorrow morning. Hopefully they'll have the roads cleared and I can get going again. I'm still 5 or 6 hours from where I need to be tomorrow, but there's nothing I can do about that right now. It just wasn't worth the risk to push on.