Dozens of bus passengers stranded in Salt Lake

Winter weather is keeping some travelers from having an ideal holiday, especially those trying to get to their destinations by bus. Dozens of people were stranded today at the Intermodal Hub in Salt Lake.

Dozens of people are still waiting inside, hoping that road conditions improve so they can get to where they want to be.

The buses were ready to go. They just had no where to go to.

Greyhound Operations Supervisor Shane Hakala said, "Weather's hitting the northwest again. It's got things shut down."

Portland and Seattle are receiving the most snow they've had in decades. Then the storms move on to other states, as well. Greyhound has had to shut down six routes from Salt Lake.

High winds and drifting snow provoked highway patrol in Idaho to close roads there. That was bad news to these people trying to get to Oregon for the holidays.

Army Spc. Nathan Cancellieri said, "I haven't been home for Christmas in three years. So yeah, I'll get there eventually."

Cancellieri is on Christmas leave, traveling from Georgia, heading to Oregon and now stuck in Salt Lake City. "Over the years in the service I've learned to be patient. There's nothing I can do about it. Complaining and moaning won't get me anywhere," he said.

Passing the time is necessary, whether by sleeping, eating, reading, playing cards or just talking to people.

Another traveler, James Vanderhoop, said, "Talk about where you're coming from, what's going on. I've met some really good people. It's been fun. But there's nothing like family and friends."

Melissa Montgomery is trying to get home to see her daughter, where hopefully she can get a hot meal instead of cereal. She said she's having "Fruit Loops, dry Fruit Loops (for) breakfast, lunch and partial dinner."

In preparation for what looks like it will be another long night, the Red Cross and Salvation Army brought in another load of cots. Hakala explained, "We hate to inconvenience people, but we'd rather get them there safely than not get them there at all."

Some travelers tried to find humor in their predicament. James Vanderhoop of Ohio starts a new job tomorrow in Portland, if he can get there. "Doesn't look too good to the new boss that I can't make it on time," he said.

Greyhound told us it's hoping weather will improve in Reno and northern California so Oregon passengers can be re-routed that way.

E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com

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