Jan 7, 2004

I arrived at the Des Moines IA OC, I-80 Exit 136, at 0130 and departed at 0215 after fueling and getting a trailer marker light replaced. I did not stop until the Bosselman Travel Center in Grand Island NE, I-80 Exit 312 north. Along the way, I saw three big rigs off the road from the previous day's snow, only one of which was still upright.

I backed into a spot. Lori woke up, got dressed, and we went inside for breakfast.

I went to bed at 0800 and woke up outside Rawlins WY, where we stopped at the Rip Griffen, I-80 Exit 214.

I drove out at 1715EST... and immediately hit snow. 45 minutes later, I pulled in to the Loves at Exit 173 in Wamsutter. I took another break in Fort Bridger WY and delivered the load to Overnite in Salt Lake City UT at 2315. 

Against better judgement, I decided to save 15 miles by taking I-80 over Parley's Summit instead of the more level I-84 toward Ogden and US-89 south to I-15. Of course, it was snowing over the summit and down the extremely steep and long downgrade into Salt Lake, but I drive safely and made it without incident.

By the time I completed my paperwork and hooked up to our empty trailer, it was midnight and I could not see my own tracks through the freshly fallen snow.