Driving to Las Vegas in the winter....am I making a mistake?

[48Rob]

Gerry,

3 Days out, 2 days rest, and another 3 days back is an ambitious schedule... Something on the order of 600+ miles per day.

That’s 10-1/2 or more actual driving hours per day, not counting stops. With stops more like 12-13 hours.

If camping is too much trouble, maybe just get a hotel somewhere close and enjoy your vacation days, relaxing.
6 Days of 600 miles drives isn't.

Rob

[stumphugger]

The secret to winter driving in the mountains is to not push things. I saw somebody else post my strategy in another thread so maybe this is common. If I'm not going skiing, or pressed for time, I try to time going over the mountain pass so I'm going around noon. That gives the day highway crew shift time to get it plowed and put whatever chemical is used and lets any sun (a rare thing here) help out.

In our state, you will find that during a storm, the passes may be in better shape than the lowlands, because the crews that take care of the passes have more equipment. Such has been the case for White Pass, where I live on the lower part not in their jurisdiction.

Watch out for the semis that drive by the chainup places instead of stopping to put on chains. They'll spin out and cause a backup. Again, that's during a storm.
You'll have a toothbrush, sleeping bag and survival gear along. Got tire chains? Something to put on the ground while putting chains on? I carry one of those blue foam sleeping pads that are sold at Walmart. Cover your ears when installing chains. Ears tend to get water dripped in them.

Anymore, what with the chemicals they put on roads, winter driving isn't as bad as it used to be.

[Miriam C.]

Gerry,

3 Days out, 2 days rest, and another 3 days back is an ambitious schedule... Something on the order of 600+ miles per day.

That’s 10-1/2 or more actual driving hours per day, not counting stops. With stops more like 12-13 hours.

If camping is too much trouble, maybe just get a hotel somewhere close and enjoy your vacation days, relaxing.
6 Days of 600 miles drives isn't.

Rob

Quite a bit more than professional truck drivers are allowed.

[Verna]

Gerry, I know you're a few years younger than me...but, you 're not a 20 year old kid. Those are long days for driving. Anything over 5 hrs is too much for me anymore. It's no longer fun, and I really don't want to endanger myself, nor those around me. Do the drive when you have more time, so it can be fun.

[GerryS]

Driving is fun . 3 x 9 hour day isn't bad. As long as it's daylight, I'm good.

I'm probably not going to make the trip for other reasons though. Most because I just don't want to feel rushed, and with Susan having to be back in Monday, I think that would be inevitable.

It's a good problem to gave, but I'm rolling vacation to next year....the bad part is since Susan just started she doesn't get nearly as much as I do having been on the job for almost 11years.

[GerryS]

Btw, I used to ride motorcycles 1000 miles a day somewhat regularly. 9 hours in a car is a relative snap

[Verna]

You were younger !!! I used to drive 10 hrs with 3 short breaks from eastern PA to Greenwood. I just can 't do that any more!!

[mikeschn]

I did a 12 1/2 hour drive in one day last weekend. I was whipped the next day!!!

Mike...

[GerryS]

Regardless, I'm not going . I've got a couple days....what to do with them.....hmmmm

[Verna]

I need to camp 2 more nights to hit 50 nights for the year. Just a goal that I'm so close to.

[Rhino Ray]

Aww Gerry, where's your sense of adventure. Just take the southern route. There's lots to see.

[Wolffarmer]

I did my 1000 miles in one day on a motorcycle on a 1963 500cc BMW. It got so it hurt worse to get off than to keep going. When I got home I just leaned it against the house and went inside. I did it once, never again. I often drive 10-12 hours with few real stops other than to get gas or a rest area if I can't make it till the gas gage is low. 63 years old now and still do it. I drive a farm truck 9-12 hours a day very often. 12 hours in a car/suv on pavement is nothing. Once drove from New Jersey to Central Washington state just taking cat naps in the car. Things began to get a little weird in South Dakota. Got very strange in Montana.

Randy

[Bigwoods]

I am waiting for daughter and her family to drive from Vegas to Northern Minnesota. So they have a E350 Ford van, 6 kids, a dog and a bird. They are pulling a trailer and I have to admit I am nervous. What bothers me is they are sight seeing and dinking around and I just want them to get moving.

They say it it going fine but I figure they will get here in a snow storm if they stay our of the ditches. They will probably want to move their possessions when it is -15°.

[GerryS]

My Iron Butt days were either on a Suzuki GSX 1100 super G, Kawasaki concourse, both with custom built long distance saddles, or BMW K1200LT (also known as Light Truck) so I always had a bike with comfort in mind. Although. The Kawi handle bar geometry was off leaving me with numbness. I'd still be riding Iron Butts, but my vertebra in my neck won't allow it any more.

My best trip was across the high plains. We didn't so that in 1000 miles, close to 400...but to this day, it is still the best trip I ever took. I'm hoping to take my wife of 23 years up there this summer. My only problem, is that I have become quite attached to trees....until you get to the far west side of South Dakota there aren't many of those there.

I'm thinking 2 weeks. North to Mackinaw City, spend a couple days then head west. Well see, I'm still in the scheming stage of that plan. But I'm thinking home to mackinaw, to twin cities (with a quick stop in Necedah. To say Hi to the Becky and the camp-inn guys), then to Wall or rapid city area.....spend a few days in the badlands, then out to devils tower before heading home via Kansas City (Strouds family restaurant calls!!!!)

Long trips and meandering used to scare me, so I appreciate the concern about a family moving that distance, but cell phones and ham radio do a lot to increase safety by giving good communication. It's not like the days of Horatio Alger when a minor problem could spell death.

If I can't do that, I'll reserve time in the great parks here in my home state. Either way, I win. . We are truly blessed in Indiana with some great places to stay....Tuekey Run, Brown County, and Clifty Falls to name 3....