|
|
Forums:
Climbing Information:
General:
Re: [wandering] North America, one year off, climbing trip:
Edit Log
|
|
happiegrrrl
Nov 27, 2011, 9:55 PM
Views: 6517
Registered: Mar 25, 2004
Posts: 4660
|
I have gotten my low clearance behemoth van all the way back of Cochise Stronghold(west) and driven him through the gravel road connecting west to east Stronghold without any difficulty. But I don't think I would take it down something where it is any worse(at least not without a few people to help push/pull if I got stuck)
Here's Swanky:
Most of the places you mentioned won't be any issue, but I don't know all of them - surely others will have be able to advise.
When you are in Red Rock, if you have rain(sandstone too fragile after rain), you can go to JTree(and as an international visitor, I think JT is a place you may find worth going to).
Arizona - Sedona has very cool sandstone towers, and the region has a HUGE variety of climbing because there is a wide range of elevations/types of rock. Cochise was fun, but pretty isolated.
I think you have a lot of time in Canada.... I would never diss Canada but think I might think about Colorado/Wyoming in the summer months.
And I would suggest spending some time in Tuolumne and then to Yosemite.
10K on a car!? You'll have no problem. But selling afterward MIGHT be an issue since you will have a tight window, as you pretty much need the thing until the last minute. Someone might get a verrry good deal, if you get desperate.
One thing vehicle related. You want the clearance for driving, but you don't mention shelter. On a year, you are NOT going to want to be pitching a tent every night, and you are NOT going to want to be relocating car contents just to bed down.
What are you thinking for sleep/rest times?
As for me, I am living the winter in the van above and I gotta say - he ain't called Swanky just because he's got a blue velour interior!
I am a BIG proponent of the Conversion van, now that I have one - hahaha. Gas mileage - poor. I DID get two days crossing the country last month where Swanky sipped along at 19mpg but I have no idea how he did that. The overall average has been 15mpg, and on any kind of stop/go, it's 13.
But! He's a rolling hotel! Being converted to a quasi-RV, he has better insulation than passenger rigs, which is nice during winter months. Tinted windows make it cooler in the sun as well. I pulled out all but the front seats and had a platform bed put in. With the raised top, it has enough room to sit up in bed(reading, rainy daze, evening chats....other activities) on a real mattress and can fit 18 inch high bins beneath. Very good for 2 people, though for me it is me and a dog and the inventory for my chalkbags and hair goods businesses.
If you and partner are young, and/or heavy drunks, then you don't need any real comforts - hahah. But a year is a long time to be roughing it out of a small vehicle.
IF you can find a Sprinter van - GO! Supposedly they get 23mpg.... Tall enough to stand up in and.....if you cannot find anyone to take it off your hands when you leave, I'll happily give it a good home(just kidding - you WILL be able to sell the Sprinter to a climber, but I don't have any money).
(This post was edited by happiegrrrl on Nov 27, 2011, 9:57 PM)
|
|
|
Edit Log:
|
|
Post edited by happiegrrrl
() on Nov 27, 2011, 9:57 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
