Fueling Your Love for the Mountains
Anyone visiting this site must share our love of the mountains in New Hampshire to some degree, but to what cost? I just spent a week of vacation visiting friends and family in the Mid-Atlantic states and lets face it gas prices are going to influence your travel decisions. We've been relatively spoiled with affordable gas in comparison to Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. Now, it appears we are finally catching up.
This past vacation I was traveling regardless of price, but other future trips may be adjusted accordingly. You're looking at $4/gallon throughout most of New England and good luck with gas if you live in Connecticut!
Our member mountains are well aware of the barrier this could create when it comes time for you to head up I-93, I-89, Route 16 etc. It will be interesting to see what ideas everyone comes up with to make the travel more affordable. I wouldn't be surprised to find more economical station wagons in place of many SUV's that normally fill the ski area lots. Not to mention seeing most vehicles full of bodies, as opposed to families possibly taking two vehicles north in the past.
We are lucky that New Hampshire is the closest mountain region to many New Englanders and most areas are right off of "mileage friendly" interstates. It's time for all of us to take care of our wallets so we can still enjoy the mountains and lakes in our free time!
Karl/Ski NH
Now back home I live one drive time hour from Cannon Mt. The cost in gasoline is approximately $20.00 round trip. Add to that a $60.00 ticket. Even if I were to purchase a seasons pass the gas price makes repeated visits prohibitively expensive. Car pooling might seem to be the answer but none of my friends or family in the immediate area ski. What we need is a ski bus that stops in designated areas for say five bucks a head round trip. That would make it easier for those that don’t or can’t car pool.
Other than that, buddy pass discounts that really amount to something (I’m sorry but 10% just doesn’t cut it) would be welcome when inviting friends from Connecticut or Massachusetts. Gas prices are higher there and the commute is a lot longer. We’re talking 4 to 8 hours round trip. Resorts – PLEASE – help us out!