Driving from Calgary via Vancouver and LA

[hellNbak]

Hey all,

A couple of us are piling into my car and driving to Defcon this year. We are taking a bit of a longer route and taking our time getting there but if anyone else is driving from any of these areas and wants to join feel free. I *might* have room for one person in my car (its a small car though) if you are willing to pitch in for gas.

Here is our route

July 27 Calgary------->Vancouver------->LA----------->Vegas

August 3rdish Vegas--------->Vancouver----------->Calgary

See you all there.......mucho partying this year........

[renderman]

You are going to be so dead by the time you hit Vegas It's not even funny. You won't be able to stand when you get there. Add more days or take a more direct route

I Have trouble after the 24 hours straight through I15 (2500Km) That's gotta be at least 5000 Km one way

[hellNbak]

You are going to be so dead by the time you hit Vegas It's not even funny. You won't be able to stand when you get there. Add more days or take a more direct route

I Have trouble after the 24 hours straight through I15 (2500Km) That's gotta be at least 5000 Km one way

Nah, its only a 22 hour drive. We are making one stop on the way half way to rest up but I am sure I will be fine and if not I can be through the magic of various chemical substances. :D

[highwizard]

Nah, its only a 22 hour drive. We are making one stop on the way half way to rest up but I am sure I will be fine and if not I can be through the magic of various chemical substances. :D

Have you driven the route before?

[renderman]

My quick calculations in Mappoint suggest it's at the very least, a 36 hour drive, That's not including construction and the usual delays.

It's about 11-12 hours to Vancouver at the very least from Calgary.

As Highwizard said, have you driven this route before? I seriously think you need to go back to the planning stage here.

[hellNbak]

My quick calculations in Mappoint suggest it's at the very least, a 36 hour drive, That's not including construction and the usual delays.

It's about 11-12 hours to Vancouver at the very least from Calgary.

As Highwizard said, have you driven this route before? I seriously think you need to go back to the planning stage here.

Vancouver is not a 12 hour drive from Calgary. We did the drive for CanSecWest is 6 hours and that was with stopping multiple times for fuel.

From Vancouver its a 18 hour drive to Vegas. We are taking two days to get there so it shouldnt be that bad. Have not done the exact Vancouver --> Vegas run before but have done my share of long road trips.

[highwizard]

Vancouver is not a 12 hour drive from Calgary. We did the drive for CanSecWest is 6 hours and that was with stopping multiple times for fuel.

From Vancouver its a 18 hour drive to Vegas. We are taking two days to get there so it shouldnt be that bad. Have not done the exact Vancouver --> Vegas run before but have done my share of long road trips.

Just becareful going through Utah.. It has a way of chewing up and spitting out hackers who don't live there and venture through it's hallowed ground.


You said you are taking two days to get there, but what are you alotting for your return trip?

[skroo]

Nah, its only a 22 hour drive.

Not quite.

I've done Seattle -> Los Angeles in a single 18-hour run - that's an average speed of 60mph, which is pretty good going considering that you've got to cross a) Oregon, with its rabidly-enforced 55mph speed limit, and b) the Cascades.

Calgary - Vancouver's about 5-6 hours, Vancouver's a good two hours (at least) from Seattle, L.A.'s a minimum of 18 hours away from there, and Vegas is 4 hours out of LA if traffic's good. If you don't stop for rest and keep fuel and food breaks to minimum, that's roughly 32 hours of solid driving.

For the amount of time you'll waste and the cost in fuel, you'd probably be better off getting a flight while cheap tickets are still available before the 30-day limit cuts off - not to mention that you then have to turn around and do it in reverse to get home.

We are making one stop on the way half way to rest up but I am sure I will be fine and if not I can be through the magic of various chemical substances. :D

Just remember that they will arrest you for that on the spot.

[lil_freak]

Just becareful going through Utah.. It has a way of chewing up and spitting out hackers who don't live there and venture through it's hallowed ground.

hehe

Yep, that's why Renderman will have carguards at all times. :D

[renderman]

hehe

Yep, that's why Renderman will have carguards at all times. :D

Utah got 2 of us last year And Arizona got one. This years will be spent going very slowly and keeping an eye out for those 'deer x-ing' signs

The numbers I've come up with are similar to Skoo's at 32-36 hours of driving. You can choose to go if you want, but I don't think anyone wants to hear about anyone ending up as a stain on the highway because they fell asleep at the wheel en route to Defcon.

I'd really recommend following speed limits. State troppers don't take to kindly to forgieners going 110 Mph. I know this from experience :(

[skroo]

Utah got 2 of us last year And Arizona got one. This years will be spent going very slowly and keeping an eye out for those 'deer x-ing' signs

If he takes the LA route, most likely they'll be on I-5 South all the way from Seattle to L.A. I would recommend heeding the 'Deer Crossing' signs just south of the agricultural inspection station at the California/Oregon border: I still have dents in the driver's side of my car obtained during a trip back from Seattle in 2002 in which a young deer ran straight into the side of it.

The fur finally washed out of the back bumper, though.

[hellNbak]

Just becareful going through Utah.. It has a way of chewing up and spitting out hackers who don't live there and venture through it's hallowed ground.


You said you are taking two days to get there, but what are you alotting for your return trip?

The return trip is basically going to be "whenever we get there" I am thinking 2-3 days maybe hang out somewhere if we find a cool place to hang out on the way back.

[Dented-Halo]

The return trip is basically going to be "whenever we get there" I am thinking 2-3 days maybe hang out somewhere if we find a cool place to hang out on the way back.

If there ever was someone who could do Calgary to Vancouver to LA to Las Vegas in 22 hours it would be hellNbak. This guy was going 220 KM/h on the trans canada being chased by a mountie and out ran them.

22 hours or less i'd say ;)

<insert 'watch out for the deer' advice here>

[renderman]

If there ever was someone who could do Calgary to Vancouver to LA to Las Vegas in 22 hours it would be hellNbak. This guy was going 220 KM/h on the trans canada being chased by a mountie and out ran them.

22 hours or less i'd say ;)

<insert 'watch out for the deer' advice here>

He's safe, he's going around Utah

[TheCotMan]

This guy was going 220 KM/h on the trans canada being chased by a mountie and out ran them.

I drive fast, but even I know I can't outrun a police radio.

(HighSpeed) + (Spike Strips or Caltrops) = (stain on the highway)

Substitute "Deer" for "Spike Strips or Caltrops" for similar effect.

Some law enforcement groups must request permission to start a high speed chase and others have explicit rules for which a high speed chase must be terminated.

I'd say you were lucky they did not radio ahead to catch you. Many states have laws re: speeding, and exceeding 100MPH as being reckless driving, adding to evasion of law enforcement, and it could lead to time in jail or lots of points on your record and hefty fines.

If you still want to speed, check out two books from Nolopress (Link on their left side called "Cars & Tickets" as they can save you money. (I've used them many times... nudge-nidge, you-know-what-I-mean?))

One word of warning... If you arrive at DefCon DEAD, people will be upset with you for ruining their fun. Your body may get placed in Pool 3. (Don't let this happen to you.)