How much pre-planning for chase season do you do?

[Jason Foster]

You've seen my thread about the lodging costs for 2011, and I'll likely have more in the upcoming weeks and months about food, gas, equipment and more. I may be a little early, but I like the process of planning. Partly because I chase expedition style (100% away from home for weeks at a time). I know not everyone needs/wants to chase this way, but I was wondering how many others plan out their chasing...and how much.

Is chasing pretty much a 'wing it' or do you have charts, spreadsheets, and lists to prepare yourself for chase season?

Has (How) has this planning changed over the years?

Do you enjoy the pre-planning?

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I think it depends upon how you chase. As you mentioned, you tend to chase full-out ("away from home for weeks at a time"); others chase 10-12 times per year when the threat is relatively local. Since I live in Oklahoma, and I have a very flexible schedule, I am very fortunate to be able to chase nearly any day that I think is worth chasing (i.e. the reward must be greater if I'm going to risk a >6 hr drive to a target). When I chase, I try to keep a log of fuel and toll expenses in order to facilitate "reimbursements" from other chasers that may be in my vehicle (in a carpooling manner). I've also been keeping GPS logs for the past 6-7 years, and I really try to write up REPORTS-like chase recaps, but those tend to be more for refreshing my memory for those times in the future that I want to come back and look at a particular chase. I certainly imagine that the planning may need to be a little more thorough for those chasers who aren't able to be as flexible in terms of which days one can chase, as well for those chasers who live farther the Plains and tend to spend considerably more money in terms of lodging, fuel, and food expenses.

 

[Dean Baron]

Last winter I knew I would be able to chase a lot in 2010 so my planning was pretty much just saving money and keeping track on how much I had saved. I usually put away a $100-$200 per paycheck from September until May and ended up with over $2000 saved up by chase season in mid-late May. Other than that it was just making sure my I asked for my set summer schedule at work would give me enough hours but also give me as much time as possible to chase.

 

[Steve Worthington]

We dont do any planning as living in Ks we can hit most good cells with-in 5 hours or less and be back home the same night. Now when theres gonna be an outbreak we just go and get a motel when it`s over if it`s really late. I work for myself so I can take off work at most any given time or day. For us, I`d have to say we just 'wing it' when it feels right.

 

[Verne Carlson]

I spot chase and have 6 - 8 weeks of paid vacation each year so I can pretty much hit any setup I want to. For this I am very fortunate and thankful for and consider myself very lucky in that respect.

Winter is a time for me to build stuff. New camera mounts, dome cams, dash cams, helicopters, airplanes, gimbal mounts, etc. I like to get these all completed by mid Febuary to show off at the Denver Chasercon.

Winter is also a time to get the car in shape for the next season. New tires, fluids flushed, etc. At the end of road sanding season get a new windshield. After seeing how easily hoods were blown off by jet blast on the Mythbusters show I really want to get some hood lock down pins on the Rhino.

That's about it, hope that helps.

 

[James Gustina]

Since I tend to only chase in Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky the only planning I do is mapping out routes through terrain where storms have had the tendency to go in the past three years. Usually it's trying to find a vantage point without an obstructed view for a few miles. I also list out the new gear I need and check off 3 I can easily get before the next April. Other than that, it's just winging it.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Coming from Chicago and having all the time in the world I tend to just charge everything and then pay it off during the off season. I was never one for planning things out in great detail. Ive always been a fan of just going on a whim and figuring things out as I go...probably not a smart way to go about things but it seems to work for me.

MO is the cheapest state when it comes to gas. So I always make sure to fill up there before I leave the state. I avoid filling up in IL if I don't have to...and when I have to stop in IL I put just enough in to get me to the next state.

 

[rdale]

I follow what Ben Holcomb taught me at Advanced Spotter class -- check the Farmers Almanac and make reservations based on that (and the LRC method).

 

[Kate Pfeister]

I've already given my two weeks notice 4 months early...