8 replies to this topic

[Samo]

One of the reasons I've been looking at FWC's is I have a small addiction and also I have a small paycheck.. Kirkwood got bought out by a even bigger Corporation and now they are raising prices and putting an end to the small community feeling of the place.

They had a small RV parking area and it was a deal compared to a room. I guess I'm gonna have to study up on this snow country boondocking thing.

There is a certain member on this forum that has a lot of knowledge, and about this area, hopefully he will chime in with some advice?

http://www.tetongrav...ernight-Parking

Thanks, Sam

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

One of the reasons I've been looking at FWC's is I have a small addiction and also I have a small paycheck.. Kirkwood got bought out by a even bigger Corporation and now they are raising prices and putting an end to the small community feeling of the place.

They had a small RV parking area and it was a deal compared to a room. I guess I'm gonna have to study up on this snow country boondocking thing.

There is a certain member on this forum that has a lot of knowledge, and about this area, hopefully he will chime in with some advice?

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/249941-The-End-of-an-Era-–-Kirkwood-Closes-RV-Park-and-ending-All-Outside-Overnight-Parking

Thanks, Sam

Sam,have you looked into Bear Valley?I think they are still"small corp"people.Don't know for sure even if they allow RV parking.In the years that I skied Bear,I am a cross country skier,I always found that place to be nice and friendly.Since Bear is at the end of the road and has no connection to Tahoe it just gets skiers.I think Bear and KW get about the same amount of snow over the season.Just a thought.
Frank

[Samo]

Sam,have you looked into Bear Valley?I think they are still"small corp"people.Don't know for sure even if they allow RV parking.In the years that I skied Bear,I am a cross country skier,I always found that place to be nice and friendly.Since Bear is at the end of the road and has no connection to Tahoe it just gets skiers.I think Bear and KW get about the same amount of snow over the season.Just a thought.
Frank

Thanks Frank,

Just getting to be to crazy expensive.

I've been meaning to introduce myself, we are neighbors.

[BSS]

I'm actually surprised KMR allowed the overnighting as long as they did. I'm not surprised though, that Vail would put a stop to it first thing. It's just not part of their business model.

Best way around this is to just spend the money and get a winter parking permit, (which you might even already have if you ski Tahoe BC often) and camp up at the pass. You don't have to sweat the dreaded "3 o'clock knock," which always looms as a danger in parking lot camping regardless if you're paid up legit or not, and still beat the gaper train in the a.m. for prime early-chairlift placement.

Not to mention when you camp in a FWC at a ski resort, you had better be prepared to do a LOT of talking and answering questions because everyone who walks by wants to talk about it. I think it's kind of a pain in the neck (worse than when I had the sportsmobile even) After a long day of turns, I prefer a dip in a hot spring and the privacy of camping down a fire road or sno-park. YMMV

And Bear gets considerably less snow than Kirkwood. Though I do like to do some spring FWC camping and maybe a little leisurely hike-to skiing in the Bear vicinity when the pass opens.

[Samo]

Thanks Angelo,

Yeah, I think they had some security issues and I completely understand the liability problem. I'm just pissed I missed out on some mid week budget ski trips.
I was raised on Sugar Bowl and Squaw. Now I have a little more freedom and do the Kirkwood network pass, which is also gone now I understand.

Can you tell me more about the "winter parking permit"?

Thanks, Sam

[BSS]

Yep no problem man. Have I skied with you before? Maybe at Kirkwood or Mammoth?

A Sno-Park pass allows off highway parking during winter months (Nov thru May I think) at California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho designated Sno-Parks. They are really just parking lots have an outhouse and maybe a dumpster, nothing fancy; but they do get plowed and kept clear by the Transportation dept.

Cal-Trans has a station right around the corner from carson pass/Meiss sno-parks, so they're always cleared. These are the parking lots you would use if you were going south to Elephant's Back or Roundtop or skiing Red Lake or Stevens Peaks.

Further west on 88 past Carson Spur there's the Iron Mountain lot, which I have camped at a few times over the years. Shouldn't have too much trouble there either. Snowmobile traffic at this location for sure though.

You could just find somebody in the valley who owns a house or has a parking spot you could use. Or keep the top down sleep on the bottom bed, and park in the parking garage.

[Samo]

Yep no problem man. Have I skied with you before? Maybe at Kirkwood or Mammoth?

A Sno-Park pass allows off highway parking during winter months (Nov thru May I think) at California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho designated Sno-Parks. They are really just parking lots have an outhouse and maybe a dumpster, nothing fancy; but they do get plowed and kept clear by the Transportation dept.

Cal-Trans has a station right around the corner from carson pass/Meiss sno-parks, so they're always cleared. These are the parking lots you would use if you were going south to Elephant's Back or Roundtop or skiing Red Lake or Stevens Peaks.

Further west on 88 past Carson Spur there's the Iron Mountain lot, which I have camped at a few times over the years. Shouldn't have too much trouble there either. Snowmobile traffic at this location for sure though.

You could just find somebody in the valley who owns a house or has a parking spot you could use. Or keep the top down sleep on the bottom bed, and park in the parking garage.

I'll check it out. Thanks!

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Sam if you think about a "snow park pass"check out the price in Oregon or Washington they used to be less expensive and were useable in all those states.That may have changed but last time I bought a year pass it was about $25 in Ca and $20 in the other ones.Bear has a snow park just down the hill at the closure gate on hwy 4.BSS is right the snow parks are the way to go if you want to stay in your camper.The one thing is that the parks are used by a lot of snowmobiles and can get noisy.We have used the park on hwy 4 a lot for day use.The pass is good all over the state.Not a bad bargain.
Where do you live in Monterey.
Frank

[ski3pin]

California Sno-Park Passes

Oregon Sno-Park Passes

Washington Sno-Park Passes

Washington's website says a Washington plated vehicle is required to have a Washington pass. I'm not going to take the time to wade through CA and OR requirements in an effort to save $5. Washington's requirement seems reasonable and I wouldn't be surprised if other states are the same.