Driving from Alta to Heavenly

"AH" wrote

Thanks for the advice.. I'll certainly be really careful.. I'm not a crazy driver on normal roads, so if I'm in the snow I will
certainly be taking my time..

You're welcome.

Forgot one other thing. Just in case: do you realize that
the car you'll be getting is an automatic? I was stumped
when they told me I'll have to drive an automatic and there's
no way they can get me a stick shift car the first time I did
that.. So I had to learn to drive on totally different roads
with different traffic sighns and rules, and above that on a
type of car I've never tried had before..

"Dmitry" wrote in message
news:l2Hfd.533765$8_6.324504@attbi_s04...

"AH" wrote

Thanks for the advice.. I'll certainly be really careful.. I'm not a
crazy driver on normal roads, so if I'm in the snow I will
certainly be taking my time..

You're welcome.

Forgot one other thing. Just in case: do you realize that
the car you'll be getting is an automatic? I was stumped
when they told me I'll have to drive an automatic and there's
no way they can get me a stick shift car the first time I did
that.. So I had to learn to drive on totally different roads
with different traffic sighns and rules, and above that on a
type of car I've never tried had before..

Then it will start raining, and you will be fumbling in the dark pushing and
twisting every switch trying to find the windshield wiper control.

"pigo" wrote in message
...

"AH" wrote in message
.uk...

"Bob Lee" wrote in message
...
Stop for what?

For a break! I would like to get out every 3/4 hours and walk around for
30 minutes..

When I was working for TrekAmerica tours many moons ago I used to camp at
Rye Patch Reservoir. I think it's just E. of Winnemucca. There was a
campground there and a nice place to get out and throw some rocks or
something.

If you get out of your car every 45 minutes and walk around for 30 minutes
you're NEVER going to get to Reno! In your car you should be able to do it
in 1 stop. But if your not used to the long USA drives take 2 and walk
while the tank is filling.

My foreign clients on the tours could manage about 2 hrs between stops,
but they were mostly girls.

pigo

I meant 3 to 4 hours.. so a couple of breaks during the journey..

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 06:15:46 GMT, "Dmitry"
wrote:


"AH" wrote

Thanks for the advice.. I'll certainly be really careful.. I'm not a crazy driver on normal roads, so if I'm in the snow I will
certainly be taking my time..

You're welcome.

Forgot one other thing. Just in case: do you realize that
the car you'll be getting is an automatic? I was stumped
when they told me I'll have to drive an automatic and there's
no way they can get me a stick shift car the first time I did
that.. So I had to learn to drive on totally different roads
with different traffic sighns and rules, and above that on a
type of car I've never tried had before..



Sadly, this is very true. Its a result of the US love affair with low
taxes on our gas and the fact that this comparatively cheap gas makes
larger engines more practical to drive around, even connected to a
slushbox, than overseas. In our big congested cities, manuals can be
a pain as well. I have read statistics lately that even in the UK and
Europe automatics are gaining popularity. Progress I suppose in one
form or another, but sad for those of us who like to row our own
boats.

When I went to Australia I specifically ordered a stick shift rental,
and they gave me an automatic. I was dissapointed. In the US its hard
to buy a car with a stick, much less rent one, and driving a left hand
stick would have been quite a fun change.

For me the only hard part about driving on the left hand side of the
road, was getting in and out of my car (I kept getting in the left
side of the car on accident). Also driving on gravel roads where
there was no white line to stay next to. I'd always be drifting over
to the right side of the road before catching myself.

I loved the traffic circles, and am confused as to why we don't have
them on US roads in any kind of numbers - the ones we do have are
generally "americanized" and not the real deal - though I think the
one at Vail is pretty much the real thing, though it is setup so that
you have to go slowly through it.

nate
02 Subaru Outback MT5 (manual transmission 5 speed)

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 16:17:07 -0700, lal_truckee
wrote:

Dmitry wrote:
"lal_truckee" wrote


Aren't the ones with cable on the sides and what look like aluminum
beads on the tread surface supposed to work? Painful closure method,
at least those nasty red things on conventional chains didn't slice your
fingers open and could be dealt with nicely with Channellocks if they
gave trouble.

Sort of. But don't buy them, just pick them up alongside the road. Cable "chains" fall off regularly and are free for the taking.
Plus they really don't work worth a dam anyway.


Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Cable chains
are good for keeping you on the road and being able to stop.
Yes they are not that good if you're concerned about getting stuck,
but that's absolutely not a problem if you're on major roads and
hotel parking lots.

I assume you are defending "cable chains" because you've been suckered
into buying them? I can't imagine any other reason.

Chains are superior for all purposes, just as easy to install if you're
moderately competent, just as quiet if properly fitted and installed,
and CHEAPER.

But in any case - cables litter the highway after a snow - just pick up
what you need, if you want to try them. It'd be a favor to us who live
here if you would collect the roadside trash.

I agree with lal truckee, and who could argue with someone who lives
in the epicenter of the chain world anyway?

There is no doubt that chains are far superior in all ways when
installed. Chains will actually last and not break and give
incredible traction.

Cables are light, and compact and okay for making it past the chain
gang though. Unfortunately, they generally will fly apart after a few
miles, or a few uses.

nate

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 07:22:19 GMT, "AH" wrote:


"pigo" wrote in message
...

He's staying at the Cliff. **NO** need for a car at all. Same at Heavenly.
Once he's there, he **HOPES** that the roads close.

Haha.. damn right I do

That was the main reason to pay the extra $40 or so a night to stay up on
the slopes.. if the road gets closed, I could have possibly the best skiing
day of my life.. its a gamble, and only a small chance of coming off, but if
it does it will be more than worth it..


Kirkwood, which is a ways down the road from Heavenly is where the big
powder days are at, but its a tough little drive. I had a nice powder
day at Heavenly skiing Mott Canyon all day while my punting friends
hid from the snow in the lodge. Myself and about 10 strangers had it
all to ourselves on a midweek day, and it just kept gettting deeper.
Most of the rest of the mountain stayed pretty skied off
unfortunately.

nate

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:29:56 -0700, lal_truckee
wrote:

Lucky wrote:
"Richard Henry" wrote in message news:iikfd.18516


I carry a box with the wrong size chains in them in the back of my Jeep,
just so I'll have some to show. I figure if the road is so bad I need to
put chains on over the 4WD, I'm going back home instead.


Heh Heh.
well you can stop pretending to be a powder skier then.

Going home was one of my best decisions ever.

Early the morning of March 31, 1982 I was trying to force my way up the
Alpine Meadows access road, backing up repeatedly and ramming my way
through drift after drift; when the road became completely impassible I
considered snowshoeing the last few miles - had the shoes and pack and
proper clothing; but I decided to turn back. I went home.

Going home was one of my best decisions ever.

http://www.avalanche.org/~moonstone/...he%20Story.htm

Scary. Whatever became of Anna?

nate

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 22:00:45 -0600, "pigo"
wrote:


"bdubya" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 14:18:28 -0600, "pigo"
wrote:



What kind of car are you getting? Good snow tires and moderation of speed
should do you just fine.

If you know a place in SLC that rents cars with good snow tires,
please advise. I'd really appreciate it.

bw

Like a FWD sedan but with better than normal tires, type of thing? I know
there are lot's of Montero's and Sub. Wagons and the like.

Those aren't FWD. But what I mean is a normal lightweight
front-driver with dedicated winter tires (usually with the
snowflake-on-the-mountain logo), as opposed to M+S tires. 4WD/AWD is
nice, but costs a lot more, doesn't help much with cornering, and not
at all with stopping; winter tires help with all three. I've
looked, but never found, a company that rents cars with such tires,
but I'd sure like to.

bw

uglymoney wrote:
On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:29:56 -0700, lal_truckee
wrote:


Lucky wrote:

"Richard Henry" wrote in message news:iikfd.18516



I carry a box with the wrong size chains in them in the back of my Jeep,
just so I'll have some to show. I figure if the road is so bad I need to
put chains on over the 4WD, I'm going back home instead.


Heh Heh.
well you can stop pretending to be a powder skier then.

Going home was one of my best decisions ever.

Early the morning of March 31, 1982 I was trying to force my way up the
Alpine Meadows access road, backing up repeatedly and ramming my way
through drift after drift; when the road became completely impassible I
considered snowshoeing the last few miles - had the shoes and pack and
proper clothing; but I decided to turn back. I went home.

Going home was one of my best decisions ever.


http://www.avalanche.org/~moonstone/...he%20Story.htm

Scary. Whatever became of Anna?

I think she's in Mammoth
Update:
http://www.mammothadaptivesportsfoundation.org/article_2003_anna_allen_story.html

uglymoney wrote:

There is no doubt that chains are far superior in all ways when
installed. Chains will actually last and not break and give
incredible traction.

Yes, but I actually broke one. The piece going across the tread broke
near Snow Valley's parking lot, so I figured what the hell. I ended up
leaving early and getting my money back. Rotten place but acceptable
customer service when they're confronted with a screaming customer.

In the chains' defense, I DID buy them used and got at least half a
dozen trips of ~40 miles each out of them.

--
Cheers,
Bev
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Screw the end users. If they want good software,
let them write it themselves." -- Anon.