Escapees September-October 2022

MARK travels in a small class-C and has made numerous modi fi cations to his RV to enable him to boondock more easily. He’s not saying he’s an expert, or the primary source for boondocking information, but he’s done it for a number of years and is happy to share some things that he’s learned the hard way. in terms of preparation and daily life, and get ready to make some excellent memories. Oh, and be sure to write your friends “down below” and tell them how comfortable you are on higher ground! Next time, we’ll cover Mouse and Critter Proo fi ng. of clothing. Sure, it’s over 100 degrees at home, but don’t just pack shorts and t-shirts! The range between high and low temperatures is much greater on top, and swings of 40–50F are common. Dry air holds less heat, and there are no structures or roads around you to hold heat at night. I always pack long pants, sweatshirts and several jackets, from light to heavy. Don’t forget some rain gear as well. Be Sure to Bring a Hammock To sum it up: High-elevation camping is a great way to beat the summer heat. Be aware of what living at high altitude means A couple years ago, I was in the moun tains above South Fork, Colorado, on Labor Day weekend. High temps at 10,000 ft. were in the low to mid-80s on Monday and fell to the mid-20s on Tuesday. You know what else fell? Snow! Yes, weather is a constant source of entertainment in the high country, so it’s best to be prepared. I was paying attention to the weather forecasts for the region, saw what was coming and moved to Del Norte and an RV park (with hookups) on Monday. We got well over a foot of snow, but it was more fun than scary because I wasn’t way up on the mountain. I got some amazing pictures, threw a few snowballs and acquired a great camp fi re story. Pack a Range of Gear for Varying Temperatures When packing for an extended stay in the mountains, bring a wide range

that box of brownie mix. A pressure cooker or insta-pot will help, because they raise the pressure enough to offset the altitude effect. Propane grills will also cook differ ently, generally producing less heat. Relax, you’ll get used to it, and there’s no reason to be in a hurry anyway. Watch the Weather Tall mountains seem to and weather radar often doesn’t penetrate into the mountains. Take any local weather forecast with a grain of salt and keep an eye on what the weather is doing around you. A weather radio is a great accessory for mountain camping, but you still need to pay attention. This is especially important when you leave your campsite for a hike. The good news: there aren’t a lot of hurri canes or tornadoes in the mountains. The bad news: there are often short-lived strong thunderstorms, especially in regions that are affected by the monsoonal moisture plumes in Arizona and New Mexico. These pulse storms may drop a little hail and rain, and have some gusty winds, but rarely are a threat to life and limb. If you get a lot of rain, and the road out is muddy, just sit tight a few days. It’ll dry out and you can continue on to your next destination. generate their own weather. Additionally, most weather forecasting of fi ces and equipment are down below,

Mark says, “What a di ff erence a day makes! At an RV park in Del Norte, Colorado, around 8,000 ft.”

DID I MISS SOMETHING? If you have boondocking tips or comments to share, send them to me at TECHQUESTIONS@ESCAPEES.COM and I will publish them in a future column.

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ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2022