This week, Karen and I did two hikes totaling fifteen miles. We used micro-spikes. Newly fallen snow was beautiful.

Today on Karen's Volkswagon Jetta, the pink coolant kept draining out, causing the engine to overheat. After our beautiful, seven mile hike, she discovered all of the coolant had drained out again.

Karen wanted me to take her to buy more coolant, then drop her off back at Squilchuck State Park in the mountains where her car was.

"I'm not leaving you alone in the mountains in the cold and dark, with a car you can't depend upon for heat and shelter that has to sit for a long time for the engine to cool down," I said firmly. "Everyone else goes home before dark. You would be all alone with no cell phone service."

Unlike me, Karen doesn't carry a headlamp, down jacket or reflective survival blanket.

So instead, I took Karen to an auto parts store where she bought two jugs of the correct coolant. Then I dropped her off at the hospital where her husband Jeff, MD, works. There she has heat, restrooms, water fountain and a cafeteria. And Jeff got off soon.

Sometimes you have to put your foot down.