Just wondering if anybody is considering the gas prices for this comming winter? Is the price at the pump gonna effect how many trips you all make to the slopes this year?

The way things are going, gas will be near 2.75 or 3.00 here in the state by winter...and of course 4wd uses more gas, so you all get the picture...

Hopefully the climb in gas prices will stop soon and level off as fall and winter hit. The only thing slowing me down to visits of local ski areas would be another crappy snow season. If it snows, I'm going.

Gas prices just prioritize things in life. Right now, that means fewer trips to the mall on the weekends for me when it's 99 degrees. Just stay at home instead.

But skiing? Forego skiing for high gas prices? I mean- we're already paying 60 bucks for a lift ticket. Is an extra couple dollars for gas really gonna push anyone over the edge if Intrawest hasn't done so already? Especially on this board???

You have got to be kidding! There is no way increase in gas prices plays any role in whether we ski or not. We save all our personal leave time for the winter just so we -can- go skiing and the only thing that keeps us from skiing is lack-o-snow. Gas at $3? $5? $7? ... not a problem! ... skiing is what we live for ... just 3.5 more months!!!

Speaking of Intrawest and lift tickets ... did you know that Snowshoe tickets at the window are within $2 of Squaw window rates? I know that Snowshoe has pretty much a captive market but that is just wrong. It's getting to the point that it may well start being cheaper to fly west than to ski east. Especially with things like Jet Blue to Sacramento, the Peaks Card and cheap lodging at the casinos, S.Tahoe might even be cheaper than Snowshoe, for sure there is exponentially more acreage and a whole lot more vertical.

I didnt mean it was going to make us stop skiing all together...What i was talking about is one day, you get off work early...nothing to do, you decide to go skiing...but its only for a few hours...2 to 4...is it economical to pay the 40 bucks or so for a half day lift and spend 40 bucks on a tank of gas or should you just wait till a full day on the slopes can be enjoyed...I know snow conditions have a lot to do with decisions to ski or not...I was talking with a few buddies the other day and they were saying things like..."If it snowed 3 feet at TL today, and i was off early tomm...i would be there in a heartbeat even if gas was 3$, 5$ a gallon... but if it was 55 degrees and icy pack on the slopes, i would think twice about driving 30+ miles to the slopes and skiing for only an hour or two...and spending 40 bucks on gas...where as last year, i would have went."...I know prices havent rose all that much, but last year it was around 1.75 1.80 a gallon...now its 75 cents more than that...that adds up after a few trips...Especially for us poor hillbillies...lol

Snowcone, this debate comes up every year (the "is it cheaper to ski out west" debate). Since we're all starting to think about the ski season, might as well start arguing about this too! My take: if you go for a week, skiing is cheaper out west. If you factor in terrain, the value is far, far better out west than east. What's influenced my decision to ski around here way more than gas prices are the lift ticket prices. You can ski Alpine Meadowns in CA for 39 bucks- you can ski Whitetail for 50. There is no comparison in the terrain. You can ski Solitude Utah for 47 dollars or Snowshoe for 60 somethin' (all window prices here). I don't care what it takes to get terrain open around here, Snowshoe should never- NEVER- be within two dollars of Squaw Valley. Period.

So will gas prices influence my skiing decisions? Well, I spend 80% of my time skiing out west and what's influenced my decisions more over the last year than anything else was the broke-ed-ness of being back in school. The high lift ticket prices, the long drives, the lack of a positive income stream all matter more to me than the cost of gas. But this winter we're heading back to Utah- Park City most likely- where we'll be staying liftside for a week and eating powder for breakfast! Maybe I'll even meet Crush so he can show me a thing or two about skiing these new shaped ski thingies.

Gas prices? If it came down to gas prices, I'd call in sick, save the commute, and go skiing. Priotize, prioritize...

Kris, that is an interesting question. I figure i drove or rode w/someone 4000 miles roughly last season. Probably spend an extra $150 on fuel this season. I think i MIGHT take more advantage of Oglebay (five minute drive) instead of driving to 7springs for those weeknights where ijusthavetomakesometurnsori'lllosemymind. But ur right, if it snows 3' at tline today, i'll be there tomorrow.