Deteriorating road conditions to and From Ski mountains and the treacherous roads You choose or "GPS" chooses for you!

[MidnightJester]

Anyone else drive the sketchy roads last night?
So in the past did alot of serious winter driving to ski mountains mostly in Vermont and New York. You can throw in some driving in Lake Tahoe, Maine and New Hampshire too. Been GPS'ed down some SCARY roads to get home. Last night coming back from Stratton in 2"-3" of new SNOW on roads going down 22 South from VT to NY (74 miles). Its Wide One lane each way with no open gas stations most the way. took nearly 3-hrs after Pizza dinner in Bennington VT (Ramuntos pizza) was rough and scary driving but great pizza. Took a nap and the roads were mostly unplowed when I woke up just packed down flat a inch thick (front wheel drive almost lost speed going up a mild incline down to 9-MPH with all kinds or tractions light activating and limiting pick up speed. Going 30-35 mph was a pulse raising ride for most cars or suvs. Desperately need my 4x4 back running not that more then 35-40 mph would of been possible last night but would of felt better on hills and inclines UP.

They didn't seem to have many main plows out last night before 12am-1am. Saw plows only coming up North bound on 22 south none heading south or many areas that I drove through that were plowed. I think they though they would get little to no snow and didn't bring in workers till late in the quick hitting storm

Techniques. There was almost nobody on this road 12am to 3am. Didn't see any other car or plow for over a hour I drove a lot in the middle straddling the rumble strips grabbing a little clean pavement occasionally or drive on the wrong side on the plowed side of the snowy road watching for headlights a mile down the road to move over for.

Did notice a new google map pop up Icon. A orange snowflake in a triangle for unplowed roads.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Sounds like you need snow tires.

 

[urungus]

Worst roads GPS has put me on:

1) Roxbury Gap, a shortcut so bad it has its own Facebook page

Roxbury GapStat

Roxbury GapStat. 4,235 likes · 177 talking about this. Hey, How's the gap?! Check in and see what the conditions are like on the Roxbury/Warren Mountain Rd

www.facebook.com

2) Higley Hill Road bypass of Wilmington on the way to Mount Snow

3) Near Stratton there are a couple sketchy back roads that GPS has tried to send me on too

 

[urungus]

BTW Waze has option to avoid unpaved roads. Google Maps and Apple Maps are both missing this vital feature.

 

[MidnightJester]

Sounds like you need snow tires.

Yea I would like to but this is not my regular go to for skiing and prefer my SUV to get me there. If I would of left the mountain and didn't go to diner and nap then would of been a more pleasant drive home.

 

[2Planker]

AWD w/ snow tires for 40+ years. Never had a problem.

 

[Smellytele]

Worst roads GPS has put me on:

1) Roxbury Gap, a shortcut so bad it has its own Facebook page

Roxbury GapStat

Roxbury GapStat. 4,235 likes · 177 talking about this. Hey, How's the gap?! Check in and see what the conditions are like on the Roxbury/Warren Mountain Rd

www.facebook.com

2) Higley Hill Road bypass of Wilmington on the way to Mount Snow

3) Near Stratton there are a couple sketchy back roads that GPS has tried to send me on too

Sometimes Roxbury Gap is fine in the winter. Never ever take it during mud season though.

 

[zyk]

Where I live we have minimum maintenance roads and seasonal roads. Both impassable in winter and most are tough the rest of the year. Google will send you down these roads. Have had to rescue more than one person. If it looks like rumble at sugarbush just don't.

Regarding rt22 I used to live along that corridor. At least it's a wide paved state highway.

 

[Hawk]

AWD w/ snow tires for 40+ years. Never had a problem.

Yup plus experience, common sense and good driving skills. I have never been stops by any weather condition or raod except for the great ice storm whatever year that was. Too many trees and wires on the road.

 

[Hawk]

Worst roads GPS has put me on:

1) Roxbury Gap, a shortcut so bad it has its own Facebook page

Roxbury GapStat

Roxbury GapStat. 4,235 likes · 177 talking about this. Hey, How's the gap?! Check in and see what the conditions are like on the Roxbury/Warren Mountain Rd

www.facebook.com

2) Higley Hill Road bypass of Wilmington on the way to Mount Snow

3) Near Stratton there are a couple sketchy back roads that GPS has tried to send me on too

Yup no need to do Roxbury. Stay away. ;-)

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

I used to only drive to sugarbush from wherever we stayed in the area. Last year drove from home, eastern ct. Maps took me off i89 onto an unpaved frozen rutted mud road, which probably cut off a mile because it merged into the route off the highway exit.

 

[NYDB]

Anyone else drive the sketchy roads last night?
So in the past did alot of serious winter driving to ski mountains mostly in Vermont and New York. You can throw in some driving in Lake Tahoe, Maine and New Hampshire too. Been GPS'ed down some SCARY roads to get home. Last night coming back from Stratton in 2"-3" of new SNOW on roads going down 22 South from VT to NY (74 miles). Its Wide One lane each way with no open gas stations most the way. took nearly 3-hrs after Pizza dinner in Bennington VT (Ramuntos pizza) was rough and scary driving but great pizza. Took a nap and the roads were mostly unplowed when I woke up just packed down flat a inch thick (front wheel drive almost lost speed going up a mild incline down to 9-MPH with all kinds or tractions light activating and limiting pick up speed. Going 30-35 mph was a pulse raising ride for most cars or suvs. Desperately need my 4x4 back running not that more then 35-40 mph would of been possible last night but would of felt better on hills and inclines UP.

They didn't seem to have many main plows out last night before 12am-1am. Saw plows only coming up North bound on 22 south none heading south or many areas that I drove through that were plowed. I think they though they would get little to no snow and didn't bring in workers till late in the quick hitting storm

Techniques. There was almost nobody on this road 12am to 3am. Didn't see any other car or plow for over a hour I drove a lot in the middle straddling the rumble strips grabbing a little clean pavement occasionally or drive on the wrong side on the plowed side of the snowy road watching for headlights a mile down the road to move over for.

Did notice a new google map pop up Icon. A orange snowflake in a triangle for unplowed roads.

If its snowing / poor travel conditions continue to troy and get on the thruway. Its going to see more plows and its a straighter multi lane road

22 or 22 to the taconic isnt the best route in snowy conditions.

Also, yes, get better tires if you want to drive in the middle of the night in a snowstorm.

Also, when did GPS absolve you of not knowing where you are going +/- or researching the route before hand? especially if travelling in poor weather?

 

[DrPeteG]

A few years ago someone drove off a pier in Burlington following The GPS directions.

 

[2Planker]

We had a Mercedes wagon driving up the Sundance trail above the Condos.

I was doing early morning trail check, prob around 7:30am

 

[tumbler]

Yup no need to do Roxbury. Stay away. ;-)

Agreed, this is for experts only.

 

[tumbler]

I used to only drive to sugarbush from wherever we stayed in the area. Last year drove from home, eastern ct. Maps took me off i89 onto an unpaved frozen rutted mud road, which probably cut off a mile because it merged into the route off the highway exit.

Lovers Lane

 

[4aprice]

Out in Colorado we were traveling between Aspen and Granby. My son and I had to go via Keystone where he needed to pick up something but my wife and her brother were going straight there. There is a paved highway route that goes from Wolcott to Kremmling but they were following whatever directions they had. I don't know what app they were using but they ended up on this dirt road basically paralleling the Colorado River. She said they were literally in the middle of nowhere, saw no cars traveling in either direction for like 40 miles. Needless to say they were a little frazzeled when they got to Granby.

Also if you ever drive between Denver and Salt Lake City on US 40, once past Craig Colorado you get into some really rural land. It is posted quiet clearly that if its snowing no one will be touching the roads between sunset and sunrise

 

[KustyTheKlown]

If its snowing / poor travel conditions continue to troy and get on the thruway. Its going to see more plows and its a straighter multi lane road

22 or 22 to the taconic isnt the best route in snowy conditions.

Also, yes, get better tires if you want to drive in the middle of the night in a snowstorm.

Also, when did GPS absolve you of not knowing where you are going +/- or researching the route before hand? especially if travelling in poor weather?

For real, OP is irresponsible and dangerous and it’s annoying. People like him make this more dangerous for all of us.

 

[Smellytele]

Drove between pagosa springs and Taos. The road went up and over this mountain pass. Switchbacks. Sign at the bottom said no plowing between sunset and sunrise. Well got there about sunrise and one lane was “plowed” at some point but still had a few inches on it. The other side had over a foot on it. Started up and only saw one other vehicle. An old ford bronco cop coming down. We had to drive 2 wheels in the deep snow 2 in the couple of inches as did he. Was very uncomfortable. Got to the top and just as we started down a truck towing a boat was coming over. The other side down was plowed but that guy was in for a ride down the unplowed side.

 

[millerm277]

Anyone else drive the sketchy roads last night?
So in the past did alot of serious winter driving to ski mountains mostly in Vermont and New York. You can throw in some driving in Lake Tahoe, Maine and New Hampshire too. Been GPS'ed down some SCARY roads to get home. Last night coming back from Stratton in 2"-3" of new SNOW on roads going down 22 South from VT to NY (74 miles). Its Wide One lane each way with no open gas stations most the way. took nearly 3-hrs after Pizza dinner in Bennington VT (Ramuntos pizza) was rough and scary driving but great pizza. Took a nap and the roads were mostly unplowed when I woke up just packed down flat a inch thick (front wheel drive almost lost speed going up a mild incline down to 9-MPH with all kinds or tractions light activating and limiting pick up speed. Going 30-35 mph was a pulse raising ride for most cars or suvs. Desperately need my 4x4 back running not that more then 35-40 mph would of been possible last night but would of felt better on hills and inclines UP.

They didn't seem to have many main plows out last night before 12am-1am. Saw plows only coming up North bound on 22 south none heading south or many areas that I drove through that were plowed. I think they though they would get little to no snow and didn't bring in workers till late in the quick hitting storm

Techniques. There was almost nobody on this road 12am to 3am. Didn't see any other car or plow for over a hour I drove a lot in the middle straddling the rumble strips grabbing a little clean pavement occasionally or drive on the wrong side on the plowed side of the snowy road watching for headlights a mile down the road to move over for.

Did notice a new google map pop up Icon. A orange snowflake in a triangle for unplowed roads.

Went Boston to the VT state line on 93/89 around 9-11pm. Snow covered roads above Manch, but pretty grippy, the (very light) other traffic present was generally doing normal enough speeds, slowed down a little bit on the curves. Keep the windshield cold and cruise along in the little winter wonderland. Pretty pleasant drive. Of course, I have AWD, Nokians, and experience.

Anyway, agreed with most of the other postings - I wouldn't really recommend a lightly traveled route late at night in a snowstorm if you're uncomfortable with winter driving.

Also, while I don't think NY publishes anything as consistent/straightforward - I would recommend familiarizing yourself with VT's snow control plan here, particularly the map on page 10: https://vtrans.vermont.gov/sites/aot/files/documents/Snow and Ice Control Plan.pdf - VT has a plan for prioritization of different state roads and how well they keep up/how quickly they're cleared will mostly follow that plan. If you're trying to take a road in green or yellow on that map - it's likely to still be pretty messy even many hours or even a full day after the storm ends, especially for larger storms.