The Prius wouldn't climb my hill this afternoon.

We'd been out just once before since the snowfall - just enough to compact the snow a little. Too cold for ice. Our hill is steep, but not THAT steep - around 15%.

I couldn't make a hard run because there was a stray dog in the lane. I got halfway up and the wheels started spinning. The little traction control icon on the dashboard was cute. Got my husband to shoo the dog away, backed down to the bottom of the hill, got a good run, tried again ... wheels started spinning halfway up.

My husband tried (he of the excellent slick surface driving skills). No joy. He tried pushing while I drove. No joy. I dug up an old sand pile and put some under the front wheels. They still spun. Finally I put a good amount of sand over about a 20-foot length of the wheel tracks, he backed down the hill and got another good run, finally made it up.

If we were staying here much longer, we'd get another Subaru.