Hitch hiking at ski resorts

[skibum1321]

After skiing the backcountry and coming out way down the road, do you hitch hike back to the resort, try to hoof it, plan ahead and park a car or wait for public transportation (if available)?
I've only done it twice before. The first time was at the Bush when we came out on German Flats. We were waiting for the bus when a snowmaker came by in a pickup truck and offered us a ride back to south. Every other time at the Bush we just take the bus back.
The other time was after skiing the 20th Hole at MRG. We missed the cat track and ended up 2 miles down the road. We started to walk back but when cars drove by we would flag them down. Finally got picked up by a guy who skied Mad River on the day it opened back in '48.

 

[meat]

I usually always hitch, and sometimes drop a car after a long BC trip when your worn and sweaty and don't want to wait in the cold. I've never waited more than 20-30 mins and usually I get picked up a lot quicker than that. I always try to return the favor to keep good karma.

 

[riverc0il]

i've only hitched once. it was earlier this season dropping into bruce at stowe before the lower double was running. probably wouldn't have dropped in had we known. but we were able to flag down the second car that passed and hitched back to the base. gave the dude some beer money for his help.

i would never count on a ride so i would never intentionally put myself more than say a 20 minute walk from a lift. but i think if you end on a main road that skiers drive to get to the mountain, chances are likely of catching a hitch from a noble spirit. you could end up walking over an hour to get back some place, so i wouldn't count on it.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I don't ski BC, so I've never had the opportunity. But I picked up a few hitchers on my way to the mountain. Growing up in NY, where one typically doesn't do that for fear of one's saftey, it's always a refreshing thing to do on the way to the mountain.

 

[NHpowderhound]

Locals will almost always pick up skiers they see hitching because they want to know how it was. I've never had to wait more than a few cars for a ride. In fact I've been walking back to Jay not hitching with the mindset of "i'll just walk back" but could only get about a hundred yards when a local stopped and offered me a ride. And they all want to know "how was it?"
Like meat said

I always try to return the favor to keep good karma.

((*
*))NHPH

 

[ski the trees]

ended up a few miles down rt. 9 one time going off the side of pico. hitching was no problem and it was an awesome experience, but something I was VERY STUPID to do not having the appropriate gear or familiarity with the mountain.

 

[haines]

I had a few (God must be Watching) skking moments. One time I went up teton pass and mindlessly telemarked down the fall line then it took three hours of non-stop trekking to finally reach a back road.