It was cold this morning in Ft. Stockton, only 23 degrees and windy with just a skiff of snow on the ground. We got unhooked and on the road a little before nine and headed west on I10.

Shortly after we got on I10 and a few miles before it joins with I20 we came to a stand still in both lanes. We could see vehicles for miles just sitting and not moving. I turned on the CB radio and learned that a semi had spun out attempting to get up the grade (over the mountain) and was blocking both lanes. The amount of snow laying along the highway had been increasing and the pavement was wet and the bridges were beginning to get some slick spots, so driving was getting a bit dicey.

Before long a sand truck came along on the berm and up a ways he cut down over the side of the embankment and on to a frontage road and on up the hill to the next exit and came back and apparently they got the guy going again and things began to move, but only at a snails pace.

The sun had come out from under the clouds and was beginning to melt the snow and ice on the road. By the time we got closer to the hill the snow was much more evident and even after we got over the hill the traffic was moving at about 30mph for many miles and then things got back to normal. We only sat for about 45 minutes.

We stopped at Van Horn, TX for fuel and a Subway and then changed drivers and Evelyn drove about 90 miles to the next rest area while I took a quick nap or two. We changed drivers and headed for El Paso and took I10 through town rather than the Mountain Express, which we learned later had been closed by snow earlier in the day. Traffic was heavy but it moved pretty good without any big delays.

As we got near the west edge of town that the east bound traffic was backing up and finally stopped for some reason. Shortly after we got out of town we crossed into New Mexico and about 10 miles before Las Cruses there is an inspection station that is being refurbished and the right lane is closed for some road work as well. The traffic was backed up for 7 miles when we got in line and much farther back as we were in line for 1.5 hours before we finally got moving again. We finally made it to Deming, NM and the Dreamcatcher RV Park, our destination at 7:30. I had been behind the wheel for over 5 hours, not driving but just in the seat watching the semi in front of me.

The snow increased from the state line and it looks like there is 3 or 4 inches on the ground here.

I did hear on the CB that I10 had been closed this morning in New Mexico. Not sure just where but it could have been on most of the grades as there was still a lot of ice along the road and it appeared to have been plowed in some areas.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better, however it is 26 degrees as I write this. The sky was clear so maybe it will be sunny tomorrow and the roads clear.

Our photos are of some of the snow along the highway today. The antenna tower was most interesting as the frost was heaviest on the upper portion as you can see. The mountains were beautiful with the new fallen snow.