Chasing Basics/Tips for the new guy!

[dmckemy]

I am planning a trip to the Midwest this Spring when school ends (early May) to do some stormchasing. This trip would probably be about a week long, give or take a few days, and I plan on staying at motels/hotels along the way. For those of you who have done extended stormchasing (being away from home for over 2+ days), what type of things do you bring with you? The obvious stuff (extra clothes, toiletries, money, stormchasing equipment) come to mind, but I was wondering what everyone else brought to help make the trip more easier. Additionally, what kind of meals do you have when you're out and about chasing? Stop at restaurants? Bring lots of snacks? Any specific food to bring or avoid? Also, what kind of hotels/motels should visit/avoid in the Midwest?

I have one last question...for those of you who have chased for about a week or so, about how much does it cost (taking into account food, gas, hotels/motels, ect)? I'm just looking for an approximate value as each case varies.

I appreciate any help or advice you can give me!

 

[fplowman]

Get some chapstick, My lips dry up and fall off when Im aproaching the dryline or its approaching me.

Extra batteries and ways to charge them. extra recording media.

When gas was up there last season we were easily paying $150 for gas and another $35 or so for food ( per day ). Think 3 tanks of gas whatever it is to fill up, sometimes more, $75 hotel room and $35 or so on food. All that can vary day to day. Also need extra for flats, windows, tows from the ditch, etc.. Emergency cash.

 

[Brian Stertz]

Meals during chases...what are those?? Better get used to the word Allsups and have a good gall to process all the deep fried stuff. At least Sonics have poked up these days. Have fun and watch out for the mean green HP's. Yes Fred has a good idea...load up on the cherry ice or Burts Bees.

 

[nickgrillo]

I am planning a trip to the Midwest this Spring when school ends (early May) to do some stormchasing. This trip would probably be about a week long, give or take a few days, and I plan on staying at motels/hotels along the way. For those of you who have done extended stormchasing (being away from home for over 2+ days), what type of things do you bring with you? The obvious stuff (extra clothes, toiletries, money, stormchasing equipment) come to mind, but I was wondering what everyone else brought to help make the trip more easier. Additionally, what kind of meals do you have when you're out and about chasing? Stop at restaurants? Bring lots of snacks? Any specific food to bring or avoid? Also, what kind of hotels/motels should visit/avoid in the Midwest?

I have one last question...for those of you who have chased for about a week or so, about how much does it cost (taking into account food, gas, hotels/motels, ect)? I'm just looking for an approximate value as each case varies.

I appreciate any help or advice you can give me!

As far as the costs, it depends on where you're "stationed" and where you end up chasing. For instance, in 2006 I drove from KC to the bootheel of MO all the way to central ND and then back to KC in less than three days. Not sure how much I spent, but it was over $300 (in a Mustang and with 2006 gas prices) and I was splitting the cost for the hotel rooms. In 2005, I spent over $3000 on chasing (was out for a total of about 6 weeks and generally stationed in Norman) and mind you I stayed with several different chaser friends the vast majority of the time and saved a lot of money on lodging. Gas was also split 2, or even 3-ways on some of my chases that year. In 2006, I spent over $1500 chasing, and once again, I stayed with chaser friends much of time (and was out for a total of ~4 or so weeks). I think I spent about 5 nights in hotels that year. Additionally, I spent a couple nights in my car; partly because I didn't see the need to spend $60, and I was 16 in 2006, and most places will want ID...

If you're staying in hotels, then it depends which ones you stay at. The typical price (i.e. Best Western, Econo Lodge) is usually >$60.00/night wherever you go. There really isn't any hotel chains to avoid, per-se, in my opinion; but whatever you do, don't stay in cheap motels. The $19.95/24.95 places will usually have an abundance of -insert explicit here- and you won't get any sleep.

As far as food, it depends. In my case, I always eat fast food (i.e. $1 menus) on the road (obviously not for everybody) and try to avoid sit-down resteraunts due to the cost. Unless it's after a chase, I have the time, and I'm with other chasers (usually after a successful chase). In six weeks, I don't think I spent more than $200 on food. It's the $1 menu for me over 95% of the time (anybody who knows me can vouch for that).

In 2009, I plan on staying out for a minimum of 5 weeks (leaving in either the last week of April or the first week of May, depending) and will be stationed near KC. It will probably cost me at least $1500 (and I will be splitting gas costs + staying at a chaser friends house).

It boils down to what kind of car you drive (in terms of gas mileage), where you're coming from in the first place and where and how much you chase. Bring at least $1000 with you.

 

[David Wolfson]

Tim Vasquez' Storm Chasing Handbook, well-read before the trip, is first on my list! It has good information about the questions you asked and questions you haven't thought up yet.

And I think the most important part of the Handbook isn't about meteorology, scenery, or equipment. It's about individual motivation and the Zen of chasing. What are your own goals, that is, what do you want to get out of the experience? A clear understanding of this allows for the second most important thing to bring -- your own set of limits, rules, and boundaries. Establishing these and committing to them will make for a more satisfying experience no matter what Nature has in store, and may even save you from injury.

If chasing solo IMO the most important thing to bring is whatever will keep you awake and alert for long, sometimes tiring hours on the road. For me it's the ever-to-hand diet Mountain Dew and caffeinated gum, special graded driving glasses, and Sirius radio.

 

[Matt Sellers]

Your fixed costs (based on your expected level of service) will be lodging and food... a cheap motel averages around $50/night and cheap food around $25/day.

Variable costs, such as fuel and "problems", are the main consideration when budgeting for an extended period of chasing. If you spend four days out of your week chasing in the same general area, your fuel costs will obviously be much lower, overall, than if severe weather forecasts/events make you drive from Iowa to western Kansas to west Texas to Oklahoma over the course of four days. "Problems", mentioned above by FPlowman, like blown tires/blown windows by hail/stuck in ditch... should also be budgeted for, just in case. However, if you don't get stuck or lose a window - that extra money pays for your steak dinner to celebrate filming that photogenic fat stovepipe.

My best estimate at a budget is $1,000 per week of chasing, at a minimum; provided you sleep in cheap hotels/motels and eat (somewhat) cheaply, that allows for about $65-70/day in gas or potential "problems." For an average vehicle that gets 25mpg on the highway, that allows for around 800 driving miles/day given an average gas price of $2/gallon.

Good luck this season!

 

[Dan Robinson]

For 1 week, I'd budget $1500.

I usually budget for $200/day for fuel+hotels. I don't spend that much every day, but sometimes it goes over that - particularly when the target drive is long (OK to SD for example) and/or I have to get a more expensive hotel room than normal (everything is booked, nothing else available, or too tired to shop around). I also have to add another $200-$250 for the round trip from home to the Plains.

I don't count food as a chasing expense since I have to eat food every day anyway (it's already in my 'normal life' budget). Food can be as lavish or frugal as you want. For instance if I'm staying in a town with a Wal-Mart and my room has a microwave, I'll get my usual frozen dinner for $1-2 each.

I have and still do sleep in my vehicle on occasion to save money. I use dark sheets to cover the windows, and find a reasonably quiet/safe place to camp for the night.

Chasing's no different from your average cross-country road trip as far as expenses go -and the available cost-cutting measures are pretty much the same.

 

[Scott Roberts]

Also, what kind of hotels/motels should visit/avoid in the Midwest?

When I'm chasing and need to overnight, it's usually at Days Inn or Super8. They seem to be dotted pretty frequently in the small towns around the plains, and it's pretty easy to book a room on their website while on the way in from a chasing day. Either tends to run in the $45-$55 a night range, sometimes a little less. If you have both in a community, go with the Super8 -- they tend to be newer and built in the more modern style (interior room access, etc). Days Inn also has a lot of those, but you'll see converted Travelodges and other hotel chains that are now Days, too.

 

[Jeff Passner]

Bring lots of good music for the road, even something to read and a plan for what to do if it's a down day. Depends if you're chasing alone or not.

I say this with a smile be careful of what you eat... Hit Mexican stuff for lunch is great but know if you can handle it. Nothing worse than stomach cramps when the storm starts spinning.

Be prepared for everything.. Lesson learned --- if a storm looks junky at 7:30 p.m. don't drive away. You never know what can happen.

Just a little suggestion --- if you are filming a tornado or something beautiful don't yell and scream and curse too much. You'll want to share what you've seen and I just think it's dumb to listen to that.

One other hint -- one "busy" days it can be difficult to get the hotel you want especially if you stay out there late. As others have said, call ahead.

 

[Mike Krzywonski]

A light jacket comes in handy when you encounter cold outflow winds. Also, something to measure the size of hailstones. You may want to bring a small notebook in order to keep a chase log or journal. If you don't have a hand held anemometer, you may want to consider purchasing one for calculating wind speeds, etc. Those small antibacterial wipes are good to have for cleaning your hands or sanitizing the headboard & toilet seat at the motel if you're germ conscious.

 

[dmckemy]

Thanks for all of the replies! This will be my first time out in the Midwest, and although I've done some local stormchasing around North Carolina, I haven't seen a tornado yet. The type of car I would be driving is a 2001 Kia Spectra...it gets good gas mileage and I just had a check-up for it at a car shop, so hopefully it won't break down on me.

Again, thanks for all the replies, and good luck to everyone this season!

 

[Mike Krzywonski]

When I'm chasing and need to overnight, it's usually at Days Inn or Super8. They seem to be dotted pretty frequently in the small towns around the plains, and it's pretty easy to book a room on their website while on the way in from a chasing day. Either tends to run in the $45-$55 a night range, sometimes a little less. If you have both in a community, go with the Super8 -- they tend to be newer and built in the more modern style (interior room access, etc). Days Inn also has a lot of those, but you'll see converted Travelodges and other hotel chains that are now Days, too.

Although the rooms tend to be smaller, I have found that Motel 6 usually has the most competitive rates & is just as clean, if not cleaner, than the other budget chain motels.