When there's a blizzard in Calgary, I usually count the cars that get stuck while I'm driving home. It always seems there's about two 4WD or pickup trucks spinning their wheels for every sedan or station wagon. (I drive a Mazda MX-3 and I haven't been stuck so far - touch wood - <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> , except in the parking lot of my apartment building.)

Too many people seem to think that a 4WD is a magic carpet. I've heard stories (possibly urban legends, I admit) of people taking their brand new 4WD back to the dealer and complaining "it doesn't stop on black ice any better than any other car". (Well, DUH!) Some people just don't understand basic physics, I guess.

I hope the second couple had the decency to pay for the broken lock and the supplies they used, regardless of what the cabin owner said.

aardwolfe