Driving at night from the slopes!!

[nicks79]

I don't know if this question makes sense in this forum, but it affects all of us who make day trips to resorts that are 2-4 hours away.

When you drive back, tired and sleepy - what do you do to stay awake behind the wheel? Obviously no/little alcohol during the day.. But what else makes you stay alert and keep eyes open?

All suggestions/observations are appreciated.

 

[Puck it]

Listening to music and talking on the cell phone with work or friends.

 

[drjeff]

I don't know if this question makes sense in this forum, but it affects all of us who make day trips to resorts that are 2-4 hours away.

When you drive back, tired and sleepy - what do you do to stay awake behind the wheel? Obviously no/little alcohol during the day.. But what else makes you stay alert and keep eyes open?

All suggestions/observations are appreciated.

A full/fullish bladder helps me for a few reasons a) keeps me stopping every hour or so and getting up for a few minutes helps keep me alert b) caffiene doesn't hurt in the staying alert process c) bladder pressure helps me to with the alertness issue

Other than that, just a bit of common sense. Try and be well rested at the beginning of the day with atleast a couple of nights of good sleep prior to trip day and also, if while I'm on the hill if I'm feeling a bit more tired than I thought I'd be, I'll quit a bit earlier than I anticipated rather that try and stick it out to the end, and as I'm leaving the area, I try and have a bit of a light snack that's relatively low carb as for me atleast a high carb snack tends to make me more tired about 30-45 minutes later after the carb induced blood sugar spike.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Although I very rarely do day trips,the old "head out the window" trick works well.Yup,open up all the windows and you'll be awake from the cold and your passengers yelling at you.

 

[Jisch]

I have my son drive home. He normally sleeps the whole way up, its only fair!

I would also say having someone else in the car awake with you is a good idea. I've driven a car full of sleeping bodies many times and it can be difficult to keep the eyelids open when there's nothing but snoring going on around you.

John

 

[Geoff]

Move closer

 

[skiadikt]

not a day tripper but driving home almost 5 hrs sunday afternoon after skiing all weekend qualifies. caffeine is very effective. also i snack to keep awake.

 

[snowmonster]

I'm a day-tripper. 3.5 hours to Sunday River is pretty standard and I've done the Boston-Jay Peak daytrip too many times to count. Country music, light conversation and pits stops at rest areas are usually all I need. I stay away from coffee after 4 pm unless I want to sleep at 2 am. The challenge is when I'm alone because you can only go so far with music and pits stops. If I'm getting a little sleepy, I put my fist on the sunroof or driver's side window. The cold is enough to snap me back. When I'm getting really weary, I'll open up the driver's side window. Works like a charm!

 

[4aprice]

I would also say having someone else in the car awake with you is a good idea. I've driven a car full of sleeping bodies many times and it can be difficult to keep the eyelids open when there's nothing but snoring going on around you.

John

That is so true.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[KevinF]

I usually pull off somewhere (rest area, gas station parking lot, wherever I can safely park) and just recline the seat and take a nap. 15, 20 minutes seems to work wonders for me.

 

[Mullen]

Mtn Dew!

 

[Riverskier]

Coffee and cigs. Of wait, I quit smoking. Damn I miss those sometimes! And long car rides are definitely one of those times.

 

[Grassi21]

I usually crush a few beers and then fall asleep in the back of Greg's truck.

 

[Mildcat]

I keep caffeine pills in my car. One pill right after I leave keeps me alert the whole trip home. I use to work second shift so I could never get to sleep early. Sometimes I would get a couple hours sleep, drive 3.5 hours to ski and drive 3.5 hours home again. Days like that I would need two caffeine pills. I am not a coffee drinker so I haven't built up a tolerance to caffeine.

 

[TheBEast]

Sunflower seeds. Keeps the mouth active and taste good. Music usually doesn't work for me. Gum really doesn't work for me either. My other half likes to sleep in the car and I used to do a lot of road trips by myself. I'm not a caffeine guy either.

 

[ToddW]

I take a nap first while the traffic clears out. It makes the 5 hour drive home much easier.

 

[riverc0il]

I usually pull off somewhere (rest area, gas station parking lot, wherever I can safely park) and just recline the seat and take a nap. 15, 20 minutes seems to work wonders for me.

This.

I am normally brutally tired after a hard day of skiing. Not to mention waking up early to get first chair after a long week at work.... I usually start the weekend very tired and a day of skiing doesn't help.

Also, I preload my MP3 player with podcasts. I try to save the funny and humorous one's for the drive home. Sometimes I will save the one's that I know will make my mind work while listening to them. Straight up music does nothing for me and the wrong tunes can make me more tired. Minimal house is GREAT in the morning as it gets me grooving but on the home it puts me in a trance.

 

[riverc0il]

Oh yea, rumble strips work really well, too. :lol:

 

[andyzee]

Nothing like Starbucks

 

[WWF-VT]

I have a 3+ hour drive home Sunday nights after skiing in Saturday and Sunday. Usually get on the road by 4 PM with a strong cup of coffee. Break up the trip with stop for gas and a double espresso about half way across NH. Last stretch of the drive is listening to "Car Talk" and "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" on NPR.