Last-minute road trip? Help us decide.

[mlerose]

Should we take a spur-of-the-moment road trip to Idaho to see my best friend compete in her second Ironman this weekend? We'd spend some time in Yellowstone, and The Superhero and I would be able to cross two more states (Montana and Idaho) off our lists.

Pros: It would probably be fun, especially since it's probably really pretty through there right now.
It would be fun to surprise my friend.
We like road trips

Cons:
Cost of gas, food, and lodging (higher if we can't camp due to weather)
Weekend away and not at home means stuff doesn't get done
1000 miles each way is a long way to go for a long weekend.

[Darmund]

The weather should be gorgeous. http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/in...oeur+d%27alene But 2000 miles in a car over a three or four day period sure isn't my idea of fun.

[dactylic hexameter]

No, it will just make you feel guilty that you aren't that hardcore.

[mlerose]

Dude, my friend is AWESOME. She is a machine.

I like to exercise, but 2+ miles swimming, 110 mile bike ride, and a full marathon all one after the other are not my idea of a good time.

[Jeff]

ROAD TRIP!

I love road trips, but it sounds like you'll really need a LONG weekend in order to do this. Denver ----> Coeur D'Alene is a cool 1k miles. Google says 14.5hrs driving time (not including any stops) and I've found from experience that it tends to be very accurate. Unless you're planning on some hardcore spend 18hours on the road and pull into a hotel past midnight-type deal, you're got a FULL day's drive plus a part-day, minimum. Each way. Plus a full day to watch the Ironman.

That's 5 days right there. I suppose you could use one or both of the half-days to see Yellowstone. But you're looking at a very long weekend. Going hardcore, you've got a three day weekend with no possibility of seeing anything other than asphalt and ironmenz.

[mlerose]

Yeah, except we'd probably only go to Coeur D'Alene for the end of the race (so, like in the afternoon on Sunday). I think we'd leave Thursday after work, drive north for a few hours and camp, then Friday go into Yellowstone and have part of Friday and all of Saturday there. Sunday we'd drive over to Idaho and get there a couple of hours before my friend plans to finish. Wake up early on Monday and drive all the way back to Denver.

We've driven to California a few times, so we're experienced with long days of driving. I just don't know if it's worth it for such a short period of time.

[Jeff]

Well you'll be pretty beat Tuesday morning, but a full day in Yellowstone is nothing to sneeze at. Do campgrounds let you pull in afterhours?

[Khampelf]

Years from now, you won't look back fondly on a weekend of 'getting stuff done'.


"Hang on to your memories, they're all that's left you." - S&G

[BarbarianAtTheGate]

Originally Posted by Khampelf

Years from now, you won't look back fondly on a weekend of 'getting stuff done'.


"Hang on to your memories, they're all that's left you." - S&G

I was all set to give a hearty second to this sentiment, but then I thought that it depends on your definition of "stuff". I mean, if it involves whips and midgets, it could be pretty memorable, eh?

[SoylentPopTart]

The answer to this kind of question is always 'yes' for the reasons Kampelf gave. But 'pie?' was a close second.

[Drinky Crow]

Originally Posted by Khampelf

Years from now, you won't look back fondly on a weekend of 'getting stuff done'.


"Hang on to your memories, they're all that's left you." - S&G

This is so true. Whenever I think about spending a Saturday going on some day trip, my laziness gene kicks in and I'm like, "ahhhh, forget it, I'd rather watch TV or nap." But you know, I remember every one of those day trips, whereas I can't recall anything I did the last time I spent a day vegging at home.

I have a feeling that when I'm on my deathbed, the thing I won't be thinking is that I should have spent more time watching TV.

[Jeff]

What, no update?

[mlerose]

We ultimately decided that spending 2000 miles in the car over 4 days wasn't worth it. Instead, we packed up and hiked 7 miles up Pike's Peak (with 20 pound plus backpacks), camped overnight at Barr Camp, and hiked 8 miles down the next day. We had originally planned to summit but neither of us was up to 19 miles of hiking after the 7 mile slog the first day.

My friend ended up finishing the Ironman in 12:59, an hour and 45 minutes shaved off her previous Ironman finish. I think we're still going to go to Yellowstone sometime this summer.

[Jeff]

At least you had fun. I've been wanting to see Pikes Peak and Colorado in general for a few years now.

[mozg]

Pike's Peak is frigging awesome, but they are serious about the air up there. It's thin. Real thin. If I was still a smoker I would have died up there.

Yes way.

I took this at the top.

[mlerose]

Nice photo, mozg!

We've done a few 14ers over the years, but have never summited Pike's. Now that we know a little better what to expect, we'll plan for it. Maybe we'll go up a different trail next time.

[mozg]

I only had 4 hours before I had to be at the airport, so I did it in a car. I know, that's cheating and all, but I was in a hurry.

Also, flying after having altitude sickness is not a lot of fun.