Booting up: Parking Lot v. Lodge

[jaywbigred]

I've never understood people that enjoy booting up in the parking lot, or who think it is somehow superior to booting up in the lodge.

Maybe someone could explain this phenom to me?

Imho

Booting up in parking lot -
Pros = quicker (maybe?) to lifts.
Cons = uncomfortable, no great place to sit, could be cold, have to leave your lunch/other stuff in the car (unless you make a trip inside anyway, which seems pointless).

Booting up in the lodge -
Pros = comfortable seating, chance to use the bathroom before going out, your shoes are in the lodge if you need to drop a deuce sometime during the ski day (note: I cannot stand doing this in ski boots! worst. experience. ever.), warm.
Cons = takes longer?

 

[severine]

Before this season, most of my skiing was for short night sessions (3-4 hours). I usually booted up at the car. Part of this was I felt it was easier than lugging everything to the lodge. The other part was I felt it was quicker than having to drop my skis at the rack, lock them up, go inside, come back out, unlock, etc.

Then I bought a Transpack at the end of last season for my trip. Now I have a convenient way to carry everything. And I started skiing during the day. And I no longer have heat in my car. So by the time I get to Sundown, I'm pretty cold and looking forward to going inside to warm up a bit before skiing. Somehow, it doesn't seem as inconvenient now.

You have to realize that when I was booting up at the car, I wasn't walking very far anyway. If it were somewhere like Okemo or Mt. Snow where there's an actual distance to travel, I never would consider booting at the car.

 

[gmcunni]

i'm a lodge booter. most of my trips are day trips involving driving and i hate driving in my ski cloths. i go in, casually get dressed and booted then hit the slopes.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Strictly a Lodge Lizzard here !!! Used to boot up in the car but like Carrie said----------- My Transpack makes short work of it I also have a Bowtie Magnum sling carrier $16.95from ( AlpineAccessories .com)for my friggin HEAVY Atomic 's

So got no issues lugging gear . Skis and poles go into that> It 's a strap like device that easily fits in your pocket or transpack when done

 

[thorski]

I've never understood people that enjoy booting up in the parking lot, or who think it is somehow superior to booting up in the lodge.

Maybe someone could explain this phenom to me?

Imho

Booting up in parking lot -
Pros = quicker (maybe?) to lifts.
Cons = uncomfortable, no great place to sit, could be cold, have to leave your lunch/other stuff in the car (unless you make a trip inside anyway, which seems pointless).

Booting up in the lodge -
Pros = comfortable seating, chance to use the bathroom before going out, your shoes are in the lodge if you need to drop a deuce sometime during the ski day (note: I cannot stand doing this in ski boots! worst. experience. ever.), warm.
Cons = takes longer?

Let me get this stright- you change into your normal shoes in the middle of the day to drop a deuce?? Is that so you can play footsies with the guy next to you in the stall?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Always the parking lot..the only time I boot up indoors is if I'm staying slopeside or in the hotel room before taking a shuttle bus. The thought of getting warm in the lodge before going back outside does not appeal to me..plus I like keeping all my stuff in my trunk as opposed to getting a locker or leaving my stuff unattended and risk getting it stolen..it takes me 2 minutes tops to boot up so I don't mind it even on the coldest days..

I don't see booting up at the car as uncomfortable..you can sit on the tailgate and it's not necassary to sit down to put on skiboots..some don't like wearing the bottoms of their ski boots..my old Langes had 4 seasons on them(300+ days) of walking around in parking lot grit..as for using the bathroom..the whole mountain is my bathroom..if I have to pee when I arrive at the ski area..I just duck into the woods my first run..At Blue I park about 100 yards from the snow tops..places like Mount Snow and Okemo suck because even if you arrive early it's quite a walk in ski boots..oh well..

If the drive is under 3.5 hours(Catskills) I drive in my ski clothes..longer drives and I find a mini-mart bathroom to change into on the way or change at a parking area on the side of the road..

 

[Hawkshot99]

Parking lots destroy the soles of your boots!

 

[thorski]

Always the parking lot..the only time I boot up indoors is if I'm staying slopeside or in the hotel room before taking a shuttle bus. The thought of getting warm in the lodge before going back outside does not appeal to me..plus I like keeping all my stuff in my trunk as opposed to getting a locker or leaving my stuff unattended and risk getting it stolen..it takes me 2 minutes tops to boot up so I don't mind it even on the coldest days..

I don't see booting up at the car as uncomfortable..you can sit on the tailgate and it's not necassary to sit down to put on skiboots..some don't like wearing the bottoms of their ski boots..my old Langes had 4 seasons on them(300+ days) of walking around in parking lot grit..as for using the bathroom..the whole mountain is my bathroom..if I have to pee when I arrive at the ski area..I just duck into the woods my first run..At Blue I park about 100 yards from the snow tops..places like Mount Snow and Okemo suck because even if you arrive early it's quite a walk in ski boots..oh well..

If the drive is under 3.5 hours(Catskills) I drive in my ski clothes..longer drives and I find a mini-mart bathroom to change into on the way or change at a parking area on the side of the road..

+1

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Severine you have no heat in your car??? How did it pass inspection?

 

[severine]

Parking lots destroy the soles of your boots!

Isn't there a product called Cat Tracks or something like that to prevent that destruction?

 

[severine]

Severine you have no heat in your car??? How did it pass inspection?

We don't have annual inspections here. Just emissions every 2 years. I had intermittent heat at the beginning of the winter (sometimes it would work, but usually for no longer than 20 minutes of a drive). In the last month, it died entirely. Driving up to Okemo and back really sucked.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Isn't there a product called Cat Tracks or something like that to prevent that destruction?

they stink and then you have to carry them in your pocket when they're all wet and gritty..unless you are walking 500 yards on pavement every single day..I don't see a problem walking in ski boots on pavement..little kids of a tendancy to drag their feet..

 

[vcunning]

places like Mount Snow and Okemo suck because even if you arrive early it's quite a walk in ski boots

Here's a secret . . . don't tell anyone . . . An 8:30 arrival at the Carinthia lodge at Mount Snow puts you about 100 yards from a high speed quad (Nitro - lift #2). I do it every weekend.

 

[Eski]

for me it's a no brainer:
from home to boots on in lot, to lift = 10-15 min
tack on at least an extra 20 if I went the lodge route
also, not a fan of walking around in boots
if a break is needed, it's usually a quick stop in the summit
any deucage is done in the comfort of home immediately prior to showering

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Here's a secret . . . don't tell anyone . . . An 8:30 arrival at the Carinthia lodge at Mount Snow puts you about 100 yards from a high speed quad (Nitro - lift #2). I do it every weekend.

The only time I skied there was opening day 2007...so it was just the main lodge..but thanks for the suggestion..does the Nitro lift #2 open as early as the others? As for dropping a Deuce on the ski slopes..shitting in ski boots sucks. At Jackson Hole I had the all too familiar rumble when I was skiing the woods a little bit after consuming some chili. I high tailed it to the Casper lodge..trudged down the steps two at a time and luckily there was an empty stall..otherwise I would have gone in the broom closet..lol...

I can honestly say I never dropped a #2 at Blue..and I have several hundred days there..

 

[2knees]

i boot in the lot at sundown. if i'm in a rush. i prefer the lodge route but i never really gave it much thought.

 

[2knees]

Parking lots destroy the soles of your boots!

i skied all the way back to my car last night. didnt want to mess up my boots. :lol:

 

[prisnah]

I always boot up in the parking lot. It's not uncomfortable at all.....just open the car door, put your boots on the ground, pop your feet in and you're good to go. No lugging anything into the lodge and finding a locker or table space, etc just keep it in the car, then you don't have to go back to that specific lodge at the end of the day to gather all your stuff, just pop outta your skis, pick em up and either head home or toss em on a rack and hit the bar for a bit, if I really want my street shoes, I just grab em from the car. Plus you can get your smoke/drink on while you're changing over at the end of the day and listen to music while you're getting ready in the AM.

Only time I go near a lodge is for food or beer if I'm not carrying a pack.

Lodges are just waaaaay too hot to be going in and messing around with boots, unpacking, suiting up, etc. Plus then you gotta wait for the person you're with to get ready and get a nice sheen of sweat going before you even get outside, yay for starting the day in a deficit.

Also, I despise crowds and do my best to stay as far away from the masses as possible.

And if you're boots are destroyed by the parking lot, it's probably time for a new pair anyway since it would take years to do any major damage. Either that or pick up your feet and stop scuffing around. Maybe even get some boots with vibram soles if you're really worried about it. Never been an issue for me, my last pair of boots still have tons of life in em and have well over 200 days on em. My new boots have 20+ days on 'em this year and there is absolutely no visible damage to the soles, and as I just noted....I hang out in parking lots. Most of the season the lot is covered in a layer of snow anyway. Equipment is made to be used, not to look good.

 

[bvibert]

I boot up in the lodge when I'm traveling, mostly because there usually a longer walk to the lifts at the bigger mountains. At Sundown I boot up at the car 95% of the time, mostly because it's quicker, and partially because I don't like dealing with the lodge crowds that are usually present when I get there at night (I don't really like people all that much). The only times I don't boot up at the car at Sundown is if it's raining or snowing, or if I'm with my wife and/or kids.

EDIT: As far as the comfort goes, it's a non-issue with my car. I sit in the tailgate opening. Sometimes my fingers get a little cold, but that's it.

i skied all the way back to my car last night. didnt want to mess up my boots. :lol:

Good thinking!

 

[frozencorn]

Spring: Lot.

Other times: Lodge