An embarrassment to my kids

[kings6]

Here in Western Oregon we got hit with a nasty combination of artic air meeting warm moist air from the south so the result was about an inch of solid of over everything! Even the gravel driveway down to our house had so much ice that the gravel was covered enough that it was a smooth ice sheet. Our personal driveway is paved but sloped so stepping out to get to the shop of the barn to take care of Copper was another busted bone just waiting to happen even with the trekking poles. It is times like this that the red neck in me really comes out. I have several rolls of adhesive backed sand paper in the shop so after carefully making my way down there I converted to Romeo slip-ons to ice shoes. dry off the bottom of the shoes in front of the big heater, wipe them off then apply a layer of the 150 grit paer and trip to shape and viola', Ice slippers! I sent a picture of the backwoods creations to my three kids just so they would have another think to talk about old dads goofiness this holiday season.

With these-

You can easily navigate this-

Flame on young folks, old folks have to make things work!

[contender]

"Rednecks,, the original inventors!"

[kings6]

Some folks should never move out of the city, like my neighbor! They wanted to go to their sons house in Eugene which is 70 miles to the south. “But it’s all clear in Eugene” was the wife’s comment as I’m trying to pull their little crap car back up into my driveway after it spun out, slid backwards doing a 180 then went through my three rail white vinyl fence!

45 minutes later and soaking wet and freezing I finally got them out of my fence, off my driveway and at least part way back up their section of driveway. I just shake my head and wonder if neither of them remembered walking across the solid sheet of ice to get to their car!

Luckily I have some spare vinyl rails put aside.

[Squatch]

We had a similar situation up here in Washington. I'll tell you, a pair of logging corks (caulk to some) sure make walking around on ice a snap. But funny enough, stores don't seem to like you walking in with them on. I like your solution for running to and from the house to the shop.

[bigbrowndog]

Ice slippers, probably not a good marketing name for your creation, if not slipping is your goal. Just sayin’

Merry Christmas
Trapr

[bula]

Hope those embarrassed kids are taking notes. Sold my full crampons and double boots when I gave up climbing. Ice creepers easy to find for sale here in the snow belt. Ice fishing has gotten a bit more popular over the last decade too, so the various kinda creepers easily found. Most like strap on snow chains. 

[buckheart]

Red neck ingenuity. My Illinois farm raised father said all it takes is duct tape,bailing wire, and spit. Fix it make it work.

[patdaddy]

i fell flat on my back friday, on the icy gravel driveway. then saturday my mom fell off the icy steps taking the dog out.

[kings6]

The wife’s dog is 13 so the ice slippers were used to carry her down the icy steps to go her jobs.