Taking the Insight skiing

[jsanford]

I'd like to go skiing this year, which would involve a trip on dry freeways up until the last two miles or so, where that would change to unsanded or wimpily-sanded access roads to the ski resort, especially by the Nordic center.

I know many of you who live in places with a real winter put on snow tires. Assuming I'm in no hurry, could Mouse make it to a ski resort parking lot, and then leave after dark in below-freezing temperatures? For locals, I'm thinking Snoqualmie's Nordic center, not Mount Baker or Mount Rainier.

[Dougie]

Starting in the cold doesn't seem to be a problem, at least with a brand new battery... And the ski areas I've been to are good about plowing and sanding.

[james]

Shouldn't be any problem. I drive mine all winter with the stock tires, and go skiing most weekends. Assuming you know how to drive in snow (and if you don't, the world's best snow tires won't help much), you shouldn't have any problem with light snow, or plowed roads.

The only problems I've had are with more than 5-6 inches of unplowed snow, and the Insight's no different in that than any other car with low ground clearance. Carry a set of cable chains, and keep an eye on the weather, just like with any other car.

[lisaena]

I live in North Carolina, and people are often shocked to learn we have serious ice storms here. I fell in love with my Insight all over again when a freak storm blew up (they never seem to be able to predict these right within hundreds of miles), and I had to crawl home in my hilly neck of the woods.

I was terrified, in normal, stock tires, but with the front-wheel drive, my Insight kept chugging along, on TERRIBLY slick icy roads.

In 1 hilly, miserable stretch, I passed 5 SUVS in the ditch, one that careened over right in front of me, but Beryl kept trecking up the hill, unphased.

I wouldn't worry at all.

But, I am curious about getting the skis on? Aren't they like 2x the length of the car?

[james]

No, skis fit in just fine. I use 210 cm ones, about the longest you'll commonly find, and just slide them along the passenger seat. It's a little inconvenient if you're carrying a passenger - they either have to get in first, or slide under - but I don't often do that.