Sleeping in vehicle in VT

Anyone here slept in their car in VT or NH in the winter? I've comfortably slept in vehicles before in cooler temperatures but not New England winter kind of cold. My thinking is to head up on weekends when conditions are good and sleep in the car so that I can maximize skiing and sleep, while minimizing cost and driving hours per day. I'm mostly interested in this for the area around Jay Peak but if I get good at it I may be start doing it other places too.

How would a poor skier best: 1. stay warm, 2. stay comfortable, 3. avoid getting hassled?

Best cold weather sleeping bags?

Places to legally park overnight?

Thoughts and recommendations appreciated

cheers!
 
the area around Jay is literally one of the coldest east of the Mississippi lol...but if you have a big enough car where you can actually lay down, just bring like 5 blankets, a hat and a hoodie and you'll be fine. maybe a sleeping bag too. No one will bug you.
 
The way I look at it is...

I'll sleep in my car for very good pow days like a foot + minimum. Its absolutely FREEZING at night in VT in a car. I have a negative 0 sleeping bag, a good spot thats dark, and layer on blankets like crazy and sleep in long johns, ski socks, hat, and sweat pants/sweatshirt.

Otherwise I'd rather suck it up and wake up at 4 am and drive to wherever I want to go. Granted my car is pretty small so it only really fits me and one other person very uncomfortably. We put our skis / poles outside under my car and bury it in snow.
 
Slept in the car at jay before and they never complained or told me to leave in fact that actually seemed to respect it lol. But yea get a -30degree mummy sleeping bag and a few blankets and you'll be fine. trick is to try and keep your boots warm to avoid cold feet.
 
All I can say is get a good winter bag haha and make sure there is some form of insulation between you and the car floor or you will be extremely miserable.
 
With gas prices obscenely low I would recommend just idling with the heat bumping while you sleep. You won't burn more than a gallon or two.

Some heat, a blanket, and a pillow will make you feel right at home.

I personally tried to catch a quick nap in the Stowe parking lot got there like 7 or so b/c I hadn't slept and someone knocked on the window and woke me up within 30 minutes. I think they knew I hadn't been there all night and weren't jerks really but Im guessing they would have been if they saw my car when they showed up to work. Wasn't cool though it meant I had to fall back to sleep and get more z's to be able to shred I'd have been up way sooner than I ended up getting up after that.

I think closed gas stations are probably your best bet. You might get woken up in the morning when they open but your car won't draw attention from cops or anything somewhere like this.

Rest stops on highways are always fair game for car sleeping. There are some on 89 and 91. You might wake up further than you like from the hill but noone can mess with you there.
 
Please do not sleep in your car overnight with it on unless you crack the windows (which you should do anyway). If you cannot sleep in the cold without running it you should not be doing it. That being said I have some experience with doing this. I would only suggest it if you have something you can flip the back seats down in. Hatchbacks and SUVs work best, but you can get by with a sedan. First, get yourself a couple yoga mats or purpose built sleeping pads for camping. If you are planning on doing this more than a few time its worth it. Most people dont think about it, but much of the cold when sleeping in a car is coming from below you, metal is cold and when you are compressing your sleeping bag you would be losing more heat from below you then above. I personally use 2 yoga mats and a thick cotton sleeping pad. Then throw on a cheap 0 deg sleeping bag. You can pick one up out of walmart for ~20-30 dollars. sleep in a hoodie, sweatpants and beanie. The beanie is key unless you want to sleep totally covered. Finally, bring as many blankets as you can fit in your car. Before you bed down, spend 30 min reading and blasting the heat as hot as you can, and try not to drink shitloads of water. Waking up at 4am to piss is brutal when its -10 out and it takes you 10 minutes to get in and out of your cocoon. Finally, crack one window of your car, more if you can bare it. This helps keep the moisture from your breath from freezing on the inside of your windows, and prevents you from suffocating. If its snowing, throw a trashbag in between the door and frame and drape it over the outside with a skipole or something to keep it held down in the wind (maybe wrapped in something so it does not ding your car). This will keep the snow outside. I suggest a nice thermos that can keep hot for 24+ hours. Although expensive, having a hot drink when you wake up in -10 below is very nice. If you are really desperate for more heat in your sleeping bag, you can use glove/boot warmers as well. If you need to run the car for short bursts, or make sure you have a couple windows vented, however this is discouraged in heavy snow, as if somehow the tailpipe gets clogged and you are asleep, you will be in a world of hurt. If you have the ability, a sheet or two to cover the windows will offer some privacy as well.

Finally on places to park, do yourself a favor and call ahead and ask the resort front desk if overnight parking is allowed, you will be surprised how many places are not cool with it. The desk staff will also be more than happy to answer you. You mentioned Vermont so I can give you 3 places that are fine. Bolton Valley does not give a fuck, and has a bar open fairly late so you can read inside and mack on the ladies till an hour or so before bed when you go to warm your car up. Mt. Snow is also totally cool with it. If you need to stay near Killington, both Killington and Pico are NOT OK with it, and will attempt to tow you, however the AMC trailhead right between the two works great, and no one will bother you, no address but its right across the street from a hotel a few miles before Pico if you are driving from killy to pico. Stowe is also, unsurprisingly not ok with it. Also be aware of where you are parking if it is snowing, as they will be plowing the lots, try to park in the least inconvenient spot for the plows, which will usually be the furthest spot from the lodge or something like that. Also bring a small shovel incase you get plowed in.

Dont be scared if this is your first time car camping. I had almost no camping experience prior to starting to do it a few seasons ago and it is one of the best decisions you can make if it is only you (I suppose 2 could work in an suv without much issue.). I managed to go down to about 15 below zero one night and was absolutely fine. Bring a few good books, load a cooler with lots of water and food that wont freeze easily and have a good time. For extended trips, a planet fitness membership will get you a shower in most major cities (only in Burlington in northern VT however) which is a massive bonus after day 2 or 3 of skiing and hanging out a bars and sleeping in your car.

If you have any more questions drop em here.
 
The Inn at Long Trail is the name of the hotel in between Pico and Killington. I do not know if they plow that trail head lot across the street though.
 
13613736:DBack1321 said:
The Inn at Long Trail is the name of the hotel in between Pico and Killington. I do not know if they plow that trail head lot across the street though.

The state plows it to my knowledge as its an AMC trailhead. Park facing out so you can plow through and bring a shovel.
 
Any insight on Jay Peaks parking lots? If stowe doesn't allow parking in lot anyone know of lots around there or places we can park. How about MRG any insight? Keep in mind we will be in RV
 
Stowe and Jay have very different mindsets, I would be very surprised if Jay does not let you sleep there. Call the mountain and ask them, best way to find out.
 
13610571:PeppermillReno said:
With gas prices obscenely low I would recommend just idling with the heat bumping while you sleep. You won't burn more than a gallon or two.

Some heat, a blanket, and a pillow will make you feel right at home.

bring a shovel, and make sure the exhaust is clear.. that shit scares me
 
13610571:PeppermillReno said:
With gas prices obscenely low I would recommend just idling with the heat bumping while you sleep. You won't burn more than a gallon or two.

This is actually quite risky. If it snows enough and your tail pipe gets covered, the exhaust will enter back in your car and you will die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you sleep in a car, do it at a rest stop or call a ski resort beforehand. Bring a warm enough sleeping bag, wear warm clothes, and you should be fine. I've camped in tents mid winter before. It's all about layers. Wear a hat when you sleep. Prepare to wake up with a cold nose.
 
13613573:NH_OPERATORFinally on places to park said:
]

Do you know if Sunday river is cool with sleeping in their parking lot?

**This post was edited on Nov 9th 2017 at 10:01:00am
 
13853932:danielski234 said:
]

Do you know if Sunday river is cool with sleeping in their parking lot?

**This post was edited on Nov 9th 2017 at 10:01:00am

iirc Sunday river is mostly not cool with it but there’s a lot of condos around, I’m sure there’s an empty lot you could spend the night in somewhere. There’s also a rest stop at the end of the access road.
 
Sugarbush is completely cool with parking in there lots. They said we could park our RV there last winter.
 
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