"That is the one thing that worries me the most. I like cold weather. I got the honor of driving one during a blizard in Virginia - not my idea of fun."

It's wise to be concerned. Now go figure out what you can do to help yourself equipment and skillwise. Then get the equipment and learn the skills.

I commute 100 miles per day. Have been doing so for 3 years. A few days each winter I leave early to beat the stupidity,er, traffic. But it hasn't been as much of a problem as I thought it would be when I started this job. But I DO manipulate my working hours so as to not be driving in the peak of the rush.

It's like combat in a way and they ARE trying to kill me (but they'll make it look like an accident).
If you have the ETS mindset you'll be fine. Observe, think, plan, execute and continue to refine your skills and equipment.

If you want to continue this offline shoot me a private message and we can talk some more. I've been here 23 years and Colorado hasn't killed me yet.....

unimogbert