Another Army/Navy game question.

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ProudDad2022

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Has the snow ever been so bad that chains are required? I ask because our plans changed and we will now be renting a car and driving back and forth to Annapolis to pick up/drop off our mid. Being a west-coaster and totally unfamiliar with bad weather, I'm paranoid that snow will close down the roads.
 
Unless there is a really big storm, the main roads will be fine. And that almost never happens in early December.
 
ProudDad2022 said:
Has the snow ever been so bad that chains are required? I ask because our plans changed and we will now be renting a car and driving back and forth to Annapolis to pick up/drop off our mid. Being a west-coaster and totally unfamiliar with bad weather, I'm paranoid that snow will close down the roads.
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On the East Coast, particularly in the DC to NYC zone it is extremely rare to see passenger cars using chains. I've been on the West Coast when the state announces that "chains are required above xxxx feet", etc but have never seen/heard that on the East Coast and I've lived in Western Mass (mountains), Southern New Hampshire and Western New York all of which have definite snow challenges much more so than the Philly area.

Edited to add: I actually don't know anyone on the East Coast who even has chains now in 2022 and I was probably one of the last people that I knew who had them until I divested them 5 or so yrs ago.
 
ProudDad2022 said:
Has the snow ever been so bad that chains are required? I ask because our plans changed and we will now be renting a car and driving back and forth to Annapolis to pick up/drop off our mid. Being a west-coaster and totally unfamiliar with bad weather, I'm paranoid that snow will close down the roads.
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With an eye to Murphy and knocking on wood simultaneously, A-N game in Dec is too early in winter for snow-accumulation type snowstorms of the type to close roads.

I have lived near Annapolis since 1996. If we get a bad snowstorm, it’s Jan-Feb, rarely early Mar or Dec. Might be some light snow in Dec. Some years we have no snow that sticks or no snow at all that year. The Bay tempers snowfall.

Now, Philadelphia is just that bit farther north that they tend to see more snow - but again, they tend to not see it until after A-N game. Cold nasty rain for hours, oh yes.

What we might see in Nov or Dec is the annoying “wintry mix,” a sleety rain. Or if the temps have been low enough for several days to freeze road surfaces, and liquid rain hits it, that is not a good road surface effect. Research “black ice.”

The state and county have armies of road treatment trucks to treat major road surfaces, and close eyes are kept on weather and road conditions.

I like an AWD vehicle, so that’s something to think about.

If the roads are slick, you adjust stopping distances generously, and slow down your turns, into smooth, coordinated approaches.

Consider adopting East Coast travel savvy, tell your mid to Uber to the BWI Airport Amtrak Station, buy his active duty discount military ticket in advance via phone app, take the Northeast Regional from BWI Baltimore Station (NOT the downtown Baltimore Station) to Philadelphia. WiFi, snack/club car, more room, easy ride to Philadelphia Main Station. If you’re staying in Centre City, it’s about 1.4 miles to Reading Terminal Market/Convention Center in the heart of Philly. Send him back to Annapolis same way. Just another option.

We usually park at the garage at the BWI Amtrak station, have our vet discount tix via Amtrak app, sometimes treat ourselves to the Accela high-speed train, read or chat with others going up to the game, take the subway (SEPTA) over to Centre City to our hotel (Kimpton or Marriott), and SEPTA to and from game. Skip the car completely. Centre City is very walkable. Catch a midday train home on Sunday.

It’s a fun way to do it.

Overall, though, snow is not a worry, never had chains here, there could be icy rain.
 
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ProudDad2022 said:
Has the snow ever been so bad that chains are required? I ask because our plans changed and we will now be renting a car and driving back and forth to Annapolis to pick up/drop off our mid. Being a west-coaster and totally unfamiliar with bad weather, I'm paranoid that snow will close down the roads.
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Lol you aren’t talking about the football field being so covered in snow that they have to use the ball chains 😂😂 BC that’s a possibility for sure!!

No tire chains. But I would advise to check the tires of your rental. Make sure they are good. Being a west coaster, lacking winter driving experience, tires with good traction would be helpful. Maybe even an SUV with 4WD or AWD auto, if you are concerned about it.

Roads will be plowed and/or salted and/or sanded it there is a storm. And if it’s bad enough? No one should be traveling until they are passable. Been there, done that. Better to just stay out for a bit.

Edit: what was the big storm last year that shut down an interstate out east, stranding drivers on the road for days? Was that I95? Wow that was a mess….

Looked it up. January 2022. This year. 30 hours, West VA to DC area.
 
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OldRetSWO said:
On the East Coast, particularly in the DC to NYC zone it is extremely rare to see passenger cars using chains. I've been on the West Coast when the state announces that "chains are required above xxxx feet", etc but have never seen/heard that on the East Coast and I've lived in Western Mass (mountains), Southern New Hampshire and Western New York all of which have definite snow challenges much more so than the Philly area.

Edited to add: I actually don't know anyone on the East Coast who even has chains now in 2022 and I was probably one of the last people that I knew who had them until I divested them 5 or so yrs ago.
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LOL I have lived in upstate NY most of my life. I never used chains nor knew anyone outside of school busses that did … but my father told me to put spikes in my tires back in the 80s on my 75 Ford Granada. That boat never slipped with those things in my tires.
 
Agree with all posts above. Overall, Maryland does not have the plowing infrastructure of a Buffalo for example, who can clear 7 feet of lake-effect snow in a day, but main roads between and at Annapolis and Philly are typically cleared in a reasonable timeframe, like highways (50, 97, 95 et al.) Just keep a caution for black ice even if the roads are overall clear. Challenges are for the smaller Maryland streets though - in Feb 2003, we waited 5 days in the Annapolis area at home to get dug out when that area was hit with I think just under 2 feet of heavy snow. This of course happened 3 months after I sold my 4wd Jeep w Orvis off-road package in favor of a 2wd sedan. Smooth:) We were 300 yards from clear roads! The timing of life is funny sometimes. Agree with recommendation to book a 4wd upgrade rental if you can swing it or pursue your son taking the train as solid mitigating options. If it were my DS I'd go the Amtrak route, and enjoy a stress-free ride and schedule. And, book hotels on not off the beaten path, even by a mile if you can. Enjoy the game- my favorite part are the mock recruitment commercials each SA does for each other - like Army did a "Navy of 1" commercial during their Army of 1 ad campaign which was a dude playing with a plastic sub in the tub:)
 
Okay, OP - if it’s a “cold” year at the game, remember the cold here is raw, damp, humid cold, which penetrates your bones. Not the dry cold of the West.

Prepare your gameday wardrobe accordingly. It can be a long, cold day, and your feet resting on concrete will speak up first. Layer up! I have short boots with a Sherpa lining, wear hiking socks. Wool slacks, Under Armour performance layer for top (and occasionally bottom), turtleneck, alpaca pullover, knee-length hooded waterproof lined parka (have a mid-calf length if it’s gonna be bad), cashmere scarf, serious gloves, fleece lined wool beanie which covers ears. Navy colors, naturally.

Usually have some of those chem packet hand and foot warmers stowed in pockets if needed. Also have plastic rain parka packets stowed in a pocket, to manage rainfall runoff. Soaked icy knees one year were not fun.
 
I grew up - and still live in - Cleveland, Ohio. We don't have mountains, but we do get a lot of snow here courtesy of Lake Erie. (An "average" Cleveland winter on my town is 60" of snow, where my office is located averages 70" and the far east side can average 100-120".) I believe chains and studs are illegal here. You probably won't have any say given it's a rental car, but if you can get a rental with winter tires, they are absolutely worth it. In terms of what's normal here and what you're most likely to encounter along major interstates and bigger secondary roads (plowed snow roads, slushy roads, icy spots, wet roads around the freezing point - can you tell we get a lot of winter weather here?!?), my little Mazda3 equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak tires outperforms my parents' AWD Subaru Forrester with all-seasons.

Just do keep in mind that even with AWD and/or wnter tires, you still have to be careful and you can't assume you can drive like normal. I drove through Maryland and Pennsylvania during a snowstorm on St. Patrick's Day (2007, I think?), and nearly all the vehicles spun out and sitting in the ditch/median alongside US-15 were pickups and SUVs.
 
Trying not to sound too much like "when I was a plebe..." but the 1981 game at the old Veterans Stadium was brutally cold. Even worse was the 3-3 tie!
 
ProudDad2022 said:
Has the snow ever been so bad that chains are required? I ask because our plans changed and we will now be renting a car and driving back and forth to Annapolis to pick up/drop off our mid. Being a west-coaster and totally unfamiliar with bad weather, I'm paranoid that snow will close down the roads.
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I'm a Philly native and have never needed chains in my 35+years of driving SE PA. Even when we get the rare 2'+ storms, the city & state do a good job with the main roads. The city side streets is another story. For mid Dec it is rare that we get accumulating snow, it happens but not typical.

Hoping for weather like this past weekend was for the Navy game. Perfect although I got a good sunburn. DS is a Plebe and since this is the only Philly game in his 4 yrs we have a big group of 20 attending. Planning on big tailgate as long as weather is decent.

I'd much prefer some snow at the Linc than my last Army v Navy game at the Vet in 1996 on date w/ now DW. 40 degrees and pouring rain.
 
To OP: Just be forewarned about the nightmare that I95 travel can be especially in the Washington-Baltimore corrider. Capt MJ provides probably the smoothest and safest suggestion. If you do proceed with driving, you may also want to prepare to exit 95 to go up Route 1 for a while if things get ugly.
 
I'm a Philly native and have never needed chains in my 35+years of driving SE PA. Even when we get the rare 2'+ storms, the city & state do a good job with the main roads. The city side streets is another story. For mid Dec it is rare that we get accumulating snow, it happens but not typical.
JudgeGuy said:
Hoping for weather like this past weekend was for the Navy game. Perfect although I got a good sunburn. DS is a Plebe and since this is the only Philly game in his 4 yrs we have a big group of 20 attending. Planning on big tailgate as long as weather is decent.

I'd much prefer some snow at the Linc than my last Army v Navy game at the Vet in 1996 on date w/ now DW. 40 degrees and pouring rain.
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I was at that 1996 game in the 40 deg pouring rain all day. My bridge coat felt like 100 lbs of smelly sodden wool. The blue lining of my service dress blues ran into my white uniform shirt collar and stained my neck blue. My ribbons leaked color. My leather shoes squished. I couldn’t feel my feet.

You cannot imagine the smell of 4000+ wool bridge oats draped everywhere to dry in Bancroft Hall in the days after the game. The Commandant’s Supply Corps Officer had to arrange for a special cleaning.

DH is a Philly native too. He enjoys demonstrating his prowess in Centre City and getting around. Attended St. Peter’s then Germantown Friends. Rolls his eyes in sheer bliss with the first real cheesesteak wit’ on an Amoroso Bakery roll.
 
That is awesome. I lived in South Philly with my mother and I was a cab driver for a summer in the 80s. So I know Philly quite well.

Worst football game I ever attended was in philly. My Vikings were playing the Eagles on perhaps the coldest day ever. Wet and freezing. I have never been that miserable in my life. Straight to the bone.
 
A1Janitor said:
That is awesome. I lived in South Philly with my mother and I was a cab driver for a summer in the 80s. So I know Philly quite well.

Worst football game I ever attended was in philly. My Vikings were playing the Eagles on perhaps the coldest day ever. Wet and freezing. I have never been that miserable in my life. Straight to the bone.
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Yes, it’s that damp bone-chilling cold, the raw kind that penetrates. I’ll take 10 degrees in CO anytime over 29 in the mid-Atlantic in the humid cold. How did the Continental Army winter over in Valley Forge outside Philly…
 
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