By Peter Hines
Snow Chronicles Webmaster
September 21, 2005

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Only I did not think that the price of gas would go over $3.00 a gallon this soon. So much for Mother Nature and natural disasters. Hurricane Katrina really did a job on the Gulf Coast and most of the petroleum infrastructure which is there. Now the price of gas is well over $3.00 a gallon. And it’s only September and it probably will not drop too much before the ski season starts.

This disaster will undoubtedly affect the price of skiing this winter. First, for those of us who drive to the mountain, we’ll see the cost of getting there and back over 30 percent more this year. That could mean over $20.00 more per trip depending on how far you travel and the fuel mileage of the vehicle you drive. Our vehicles do not get optimum mileage in the winter months to begin with. Higher gas prices will make this “ouch” hurt a little bit more.

Secondly, ski areas will probably be raising their rates to cover the increases that they have to endure. All of those snowcats that are used to groom the trails will be using pretty much the same expensive fuel that you and I will be. The equipment used to plow the roads and parking lots use fuel too. Further, if we want a warm place to go to before, during and after skiing that will probably cost more too. Ski areas will and have to pass these increases onto the skier at the ticket counter. It is probably for this reason that virtually all areas do not set their season ticket prices until jus before the beginning of the season.

Only those that gambled this year by buying a season pass early will be held harmless at the counter. They’ll still take a hit at the pump however.

So what are we to do? Here are some suggestions.

Ski with more people; in other words fill up the car with gas and skiers. Carpooling to the slope is a good idea anyway. I learned a long time ago that skiing is more fun with more friends. Extend the good times that you have at the slopes to the ride there and back. I know this year I will be asking for a little help with the gas payments from my friends and family. Carpooling to the slopes is the most economical way to take the sting out of the numbers on the pump.

Slow down; according www.fuelecomomy.gov gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Driving at slower speeds may take a little more planning and leaving a little earlier in the morning and getting home a little later, but it will be worth it. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Drive sensibly; aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
Avoid excessive idling; idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. There is really no need to let the car idle in the lot to warm up. That used to be true but with modern fuel injected engines you can pretty much start and go. Besides, that “cold” car you get into is will be warmer after five minutes of driving than any gondola or chairlift you been on.

Lastly, keep you car in shape. That tune-up that you have been putting off is a better deal now than ever. Don’t forget to check and replace air filters regularly. Keeping tires properly inflated at the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

I really think that higher gas prices are here to stay. And with that the winter sports that we love will be more expensive too. The few simple tips outlined above may help take the sting out of the increases.