Parking Lot Base Camp

[Ripitz]

One thing COVID has done is revive the parking lot tailgate scene. Since the ski areas are asking people to use their car as a base lodge I was wondering if an EZ up tent would fly in the back of the lot. I have a 3 year old and would like to have a place to get out of the weather besides cramming into our SUV. I’m pretty sure this will go at the Greylock Ski Club but I was wondering if it would go at Belleayre in the overflow lot. I was thinking it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. What are your thoughts? Is ORDA listening?

 

[Tjf1967]

I don't see why not if the lots are not full.

 

[Harvey]

^^That looks deluxe.

Personally I don't see myself sleeping in my car or going for that kind of setup. Mostly day tripping, booting at the car, trying to eat, maybe packing some food, but not too worried about it if I can't eat until I get home. I can sleep at our place near Gore and work out something in the Cats if necessary to storm chase.

FWIW, this year two of the most popular pieces of NYSB past content (via Google search) are Brownski's guide to building a basic truck camper:

Dirtbag Dad and the Ski Truck Camper

You don’t have to follow me on Instagram to see where I’ll be.

nyskiblog.com

And JG's guide to tailgating:

Ski Tailgating: Tips from a Ski Bum

Life has changed, but tailgating is timeless.

nyskiblog.com

 

[Ripitz]

Thank you for the invite and the links. I’ve spent many nights in the parking lot but this setup would be for day tripping. It seems like a lot to setup and take down but since it is an EZup, we have been able to do it fairly quickly. We hope to get a full day without the lodge. Easy to do as an adult but it’s hard to do with the young ones. As the tailgate article points out ski areas vary in what is deemed acceptable. One thing for sure is the parking lot will be a lot livelier this year.

 

[raisingarizona]

In all honesty I’ve found most traditional lodge food to be a bit much anyways. I have better ski days if I have lots of lighter snack foods throughout the day, you know like stuff I can mostly carry on my person and eat while on the lift.

if I’m not worried about charging hard all day I love some tailgating out in the sun with a Coleman grill to cook up brats, a cooler full of beers and some fold up chairs.

I’ll admit, our weather here is probably more conducive though.

 

[Harvey]

Thank you for the invite and the links.

In my best Al Pacino: You talkin to me?

You are welcome for the links, not sure what you mean about the invite?

 

[Ripitz]

Ha! When you said, “Can sleep at our house near Gore”, I thought Wow! These guys are super friendly!

 

[Harvey]

Ha! A guy likes to be romanced a bit before going all the way! ?

Beside being more covid paranoid than most, I wouldn't call our place a "house." It's TINY.

 

[jasonwx]

In my best Al Pacino: You talkin to me?

You are welcome for the links, not sure what you mean about the invite?

Harv
Wasn't that DeNiro in Taxi Driver

 

[Peter Minde]

I've camped out in every car I've owned except the blue Subie. Re-reading @JohnGiuffo's tailgating piece... I have my Dad's 50-year-old Coleman 2-burner stove, which saved our bacon during the 10 day power outage several years ago. But I think I'd have to move up to a truck for tailgating.