Shorter alternate take: Don't check your NYC metro area street smarts when you get in the car, drive defensively, be prepared for winter storms and possibly get

Shorter alternate take: Don't check your NYC metro area street smarts when you get in the car, drive defensively, be prepared for winter storms and possibly getting stuck in the car for a couple of days in a worst case scenario, and you should be fine. I also found it helpful to have two cell phones on completely different mobile networks (VZ and AT&T) as coverage gets spotty in the rural parts of NE, WY, UT and NV.