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How do you handle all the driving???

tirolerpeter

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Driving?

how do you people like me that don't live very close to good skiing deal with all the driving to get to the good resorts? Do you stay overnight? do you just drink a lot of coffee or what?
I'd like to do more skiing this year, but it's usually the long drive times more than anything else that end up keeping me away, with skiing as expensive as it is, it's usually not in the budget to pay for a place to stay
people here seem to put in a ton of days and I'm just curious and looking for points of view.

by the way, by long drive times, I"m talking 2-3 hours for me to places like Mount snow, wildcat, sunday, etc.


I guess it is a matter of perception if you consider "2-3 hours" as a "long drive." When I lived in Suffolk County (LI) NY three hours one way was pretty much a minimum for a "day trip." Of course, a co-driver was the best "solution" for those "short" trips. If I had to do it alone, then going to the slopes was never an issue; but driving home was tough at times. I would drive about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way home, and then I would park in a safe place, heat the car up as much as possible, and then (with the motor off) I would schedule myself for a 30-45 minute "power nap." I would be awakened either by my watch alarm, or feeling chilled in the rapidly cooling car. At that point I would get some food, some coffee (or other caffein drink) and finish the run home.

Long trips (4-5 hours) were best done with a co-driver, but even then, I was able to use the "power nap" stratagy. Of course, for those, going and returning was usually done on two different days.

It is amazing how hard we are willing to work to get in even a few hours "quality time" on the slopes!
 

WWF-VT

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I don’t mind driving and 90% of the time I am behind the wheel on our 3+ hour drive from Boston area to Sugarbush most every Friday night. Avoid traffic by either leaving early or after dinner. Cup of strong coffee for the road is required! Good family time on the drive to VT. Stretch, fresh air and bio break along the way- like to keep it under 10 minutes and back on the road. Typical return trip is after 4 PM on Sunday. Another big road coffee and tunes required. Always look forward to late season when it is still light out on the drive home.
 

cbcbd

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I would drive about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way home, and then I would park in a safe place, heat the car up as much as possible, and then (with the motor off) I would schedule myself for a 30-45 minute "power nap." I would be awakened either by my watch alarm, or feeling chilled in the rapidly cooling car.
Great tip, I use the "cooling car" alarm a lot - gives enough time for a nap and guarantees you won't wake up hours later and now will have to fight morning rush hour traffic :)
 

Brettski

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yes but if you live in salem, just take advantage of the river's ski and stay package go Friday night, ski, satuerday and sunday, then drive home

I traditionally do 2 1/2 hour drive up to the skills for day trips

further than that, I try to make it a long weekend
 

MRGisevil

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Getting an MP3 adapter for my car has made it more enjoyable, but 2-3 is the norm for the places I like to go, and it doesn't bug me. 4.5-5+ typically requires an overnight trip, or a bus trip through the ski club because I'd just be too tired after a full day of skiing to drive 5 hours home.
 

nelsapbm

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When I was down in Boston for my 6-year stint, I would think nothing of hopping the car 2-3 hours to go ski. Now that I'm back home, the 25 minutes to MRG seems to far LOL. I must be getting spoiled. I don't know how all of you do it ;)
 

skiadikt

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damn 2-3 hrs is a walk in the park. but yeah after a while the driving gets tiresome. by the end of the season i'm usually burnt out on driving. i'm waiting for them to perfect "beaming". my drive is usually 4 1/2-5 hrs. but being in a ski house helps. don't really do much day tripping.
 

Dr Skimeister

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I don't mind driving. I'll often leave my office on a Monday night at 7, drive 3-4 hours to VT or the 'dacks, stay in relatively inexpensive lodging. Ski the next day than drive home. Good music makes the trip bearable. Longer trips on Saturday (5-6 hr) to ski Sunday usually taken with a compadre. Not necessarily share the driving, but the companionship is good.
 

SIKSKIER

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I don't mind driving distances at all.What I do mind is driving with all the M...holes who won't get out of the passing lane on I-93.Makes others get road rage to try and get around these people who think that lane was created for them.Ok,I feel better now.
 

PA Ridge Racer

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I don't mind driving but when I'm doing it I'm definitely apprieciating the smaller hills minutes from home. A good stack of CD's is mandatory and 5 hours is probably my max. I can make it to N. VT or the High Peaks in about that time, maybe a bit more.
 
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Driving is cake compared to a plane trip...When I fly to Jackson Hole each winter it's a real PITA(Pain In the Ass)...

Wake up at 4:00AM..Drive to the Philly Airport..park in economy..take the shuttle bus..get my ticket at the electronic kiosk..wait in line at security..wait around to board..wait around in the plane..change planes in Chicago..land in Jackson Hole..wait 30 minutes for Baggage..wait more for the shuttle bus to round up the passengers..and arrive at my hotel around 2:00PM Mountain Time totally drained..I'll take the 7 hour drive to Stowe anyday..
 

sledhaulingmedic

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Well, I like to drive. 4 hours each way is about my limit. Lots of music and caffine. Coffee. I'm too old school for those new fangled "engery drinks" with names like "Full Throttle", "Red Bull" and "Porn Star". Coffee and a startegicly timed stop to return it (you can't buy coffee, you can only rent it) and I'm good for the ride.
 

SkiDork

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the wife and I share the driving. When she's driving I'm sleeping in the back, and vice versa
 

SKIQUATTRO

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We put over 35K miles on our car last year, so driving for us is nothing.....

2-3 hours are easy day trips (even with kids--we do it)

I'll do 4-5 hr day trips with my buddies, but with the wife and/or kids in tow, anything over 4hrs we stay

We do Smuggs every year (6-7hrs) but we stay for 4-5 days with kids
 
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