Retirement Road Trips

[tseeb]

No adverse weather predicted in next week+ at Tahoe. Highs in upper 60s/very low 70s with lows in 40s. From Tahoe, it's a more interesting (and shorter and faster) drive to continue N from Reno on 395, then 139 to go to Lava Beds National Park before getting to Oregon where Crater Lake is not that far off 97 and also worth a stop.

 

[Sbooker]

No adverse weather predicted in next week+ at Tahoe. Highs in upper 60s/very low 70s with lows in 40s. From Tahoe, it's a more interesting (and shorter and faster) drive to continue N from Reno on 395, then 139 to go to Lava Beds National Park before getting to Oregon where Crater Lake is not that far off 97 and also worth a stop.

Thanks. I suggested they go to Crater Lake. Grant is 6 feet 5 inches and well over 300 pounds. He loves a beer and good food. I think they’ll have a great time on the way to and while at Bend.

 

[Sbooker]

My mate Grant is having a ball on his drive north.

He’s currently in Bend doing damage to the town’s beer stocks. The big fellow can put it away.

 

[jimk]

Mount Bachelor-Bend is one of the better ski destinations in the USA for a beer loving ski vacationer.

According to https://smartasset.com/data-studies/best-cities-for-beer-drinkers-2022-edition - Bend is the second best city in the USA for beer drinkers, even though it's much smaller than many other high ranking cities.

2. Bend, OR
Next to hold its rank was Bend, Oregon in the No. 2 spot. This city lost three breweries last year, bringing its total to roughly 22, which is down from 25 breweries in our previous study. Bend averages 110 beers per brewery and costs $4.00 on average per pint. In Bend, beer drinkers can visit the home of Deschutes for a Black Butte porter or Jubelale.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I had no idea about the #1 city:

1. Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh did it again with its second-consecutive No. 1 ranking in our best cities for beer drinkers study. It ranks No. 11 for the total number of breweries (33) and No. 18 for breweries per 100,000 residents (11). The city also records a lower-than-average price per pint of beer at $4.00, with the study average slightly higher at $4.68. Breweries in Pittsburgh run the gamut. Beer aficionados can visit everything from the German-style Penn Brewery to the buzzy Dancing Gnome or the lively, outdoor-centric Grist House Craft Brewery.

 

[Sbooker]

I had no idea about the #1 city:

1. Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh did it again with its second-consecutive No. 1 ranking in our best cities for beer drinkers study. It ranks No. 11 for the total number of breweries (33) and No. 18 for breweries per 100,000 residents (11). The city also records a lower-than-average price per pint of beer at $4.00, with the study average slightly higher at $4.68. Breweries in Pittsburgh run the gamut. Beer aficionados can visit everything from the German-style Penn Brewery to the buzzy Dancing Gnome or the lively, outdoor-centric Grist House Craft Brewery.

I had no idea either. I will add Pittsburgh to my itinerary for when I check out the New England area one fall. I really want to see those red and yellow leaves up close.

 

[jimk]

Probably going silent on here as I drive across the country over the next week. I'll report later on how it went with the polar vortex. Want to ski a few days in CO during the transit, we'll see.
Don't believe I'll be dealing with any heavy snow, unlike my crossings in Jan '23 and Jan '24.

 

[Harvey]

My plans:

It's Time to Ski New York

For several years my goal has been to ski every ski area in NY. After Jan 1, this will be a more realistic goal. By my count right now there are 26 lift served areas to be skied (in green). Master Map Updated (1/5/25) I don't like the idea of skiing multiple areas in one day, when skiing...

nyskiblog.com

 

[EMSC]

Want to ski a few days in CO during the transit, we'll see.

Where?

Though I'm probably tied to a computer the next two weeks with a couple projects now that my Canada swing is over.

 

[ChrisC]

I had no idea either. I will add Pittsburgh to my itinerary for when I check out the New England area one fall. I really want to see those red and yellow leaves up close.

A lot of my relatives live in NE Pennsylvania. I think Jim Thorpe is also a beautiful town in the Poconos and New Hope.

Pittsburg has transformed health, tech, and education center vs steel town. I thought downtown was interesting enough, but I forgot what company I was even presenting to. One of the more depressive places is Johnston, PA - and some of the strip mines outside of Pittsburg - another work trip. You can see the deindustrialization of the US. Rochester, too - one of the largest buildings is the Kodak Tower. I think only 20% of it was being used in the mid-2010s.

Many of my relatives live in northeastern Pennsylvania. I find Jim Thorpe to be a beautiful town in the Poconos, along with New Hope.

Pittsburgh has transformed from a steel town into a center for health, technology, and education. I thought downtown was interesting, but I forgot which company I was presenting to. One of the more depressing places is Johnstown, PA, as well as some of the strip mines outside of Pittsburgh—another work trip. You can really see the effects of deindustrialization in the U.S.

Personally, I would prefer to spend more time in New England, but that’s just my preference.

You might want to check out fall foliage calendars as well. Most of them are fairly accurate within a week or two. I know that the peak foliage in Vermont and New Hampshire typically occurs in mid-October, but often, the 4,000-foot mountains will have already lost their leaves. However, there are more conifer trees at that altitude.Many of my relatives live in northeastern Pennsylvania. I find Jim Thorpe to be a beautiful town in the Poconos, along with New Hope.

 

[ChrisC]

My plans:

It's Time to Ski New York

For several years my goal has been to ski every ski area in NY. After Jan 1, this will be a more realistic goal. By my count right now there are 26 lift served areas to be skied (in green). Master Map Updated (1/5/25) I don't like the idea of skiing multiple areas in one day, when skiing...

nyskiblog.com

The drive to Buffalo is long.

Thunder Ridge - spent many hours/days there. It's tiny.
West Point - didn't know West Point has a ski area
Holiday Mountain - One of its main lifts has about three poles, but it's nice to see it come back.

But you are publishing the NY Ski Blog - so it sounds like an appropriate goal.

Surprised you have not been to West Mountain yet. It's not far from Gore - just a detour. I went there to visit friends in Keene Valley, NY, but stopped at Gore, and almost all lifts were on wind hold, so we moved onto West Mountain. Nice local ski hill. Catamount seems like it has seen substantial investment too.

 

[Harvey]

The drive to Buffalo is long.

Peekn Peak is practically in Ohio.

Thunder Ridge - spent many hours/days there. It's tiny.
West Point - didn't know West Point has a ski area
Holiday Mountain - One of its main lifts has about three poles, but it's nice to see it come back.

But you are publishing the NY Ski Blog - so it sounds like an appropriate goal.

If I cared about ski area size, I probably wouldn't edit the NYSB for 16 years.

Surprised you have not been to West Mountain yet. It's not far from Gore - just a detour. I went there to visit friends in Keene Valley, NY, but stopped at Gore, and almost all lifts were on wind hold, so we moved onto West Mountain. Nice local ski hill. Catamount seems like it has seen substantial investment too.

West is 80% of the way to our cabin. Or 20% on the way home. Adding skiing in the middle of a travel day is tough. That's the only reason. I will get there.

 

[EMSC]

Adding skiing in the middle of a travel day is tough.

How many drive hours again for you? I'd think esp early March or so you'd be able to pull off a West day on the way home.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Adding skiing in the middle of a travel day is tough.

Nor a solar eclipse? Don't go on any ski trips with tseeb!

How many drive hours again for you?

I believe it's about 3. How many people daytrip to areas 1.5 hours from home? A lot would be my guess.

 

[ChrisC]

I used to drive from the city of Boston to the following:

Closeby (1-1.5 hrs) to Wachusetts, Sunapee or Gunstock
Medium (2-2.5 hrs) to Cannon, Loon, Waterville, Okemo, Killington
Far (3 - 3.25 hrs) to MRG, Sugarbush, Stowe .... that was doable since it's all interstate, or I would crash for the night at my brother's at UVM/Burlington. That was a long day trip, but often the snow was better.

Sunday River - rarely skied, back roads, and 3 hrs (and northern VT usually had better snow). Wildcat/Attitash/Cranmore - back roads.

I rarely went to Magic/Stratton/Mt. Snow because you could be at Killington more easily.

I did do two overnight trips to Sugarloaf (3-4 hours) for perfect mid-winter and spring conditions. If you want to ski its snowfields (above treeline area), spring is much better -coverage and softer conditions.

 

[EMSC]

Every ski day is a road trip of at least 1.5 hrs each way for the vast majority of front range skiers in Denver. Just under an hour for me to Eldora from my place.

Harvey would probably be surprised that back in the day I used to day trip from Greek Peak to Gore for ski races. At >3hrs drive each way. Does make for a long day though...

$$ vs time is an interesting equation depending on your various resources and tolerances.

 

[jasoncapecod]

My day trip limit is 2-2.5 hrs
Get there early leave early
I use the bell curve to know when to leave
Once I’m one tick past the apex , I’m gone

 

[Tony Crocker]

My day trip limit is 2-2.5 hrs

I think that would be the view of a majority of skiers. That's Big Bear for us. But qualitatively 10 hours total driving for 2 days at Mammoth is far more attractive than 4 hours in the car daytripping to Big Bear.

 

[Harvey]

Once I’m one tick past the apex , I’m gone

Very disciplined.