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I second 231 west of the event as that area has become my go-to for an easy escape from the valley heat in the summer. If you do it right there is amazing camping at the end of 527 (I think) right on the edge of the rim overlooking Sedona. Spooked up a black bear out there in October.

Great report on one of my favorite parts of NM! We spent a couple nights here last week (outside the campground which was obviously closed, but the bathrooms were open). We had one cold night, probably in the teens, but so beautiful and peaceful in there.

Dang I saw this a bit late for New Years (our first not camping in three years), but I have been eyeballing both Mojave Road and Camino del Diablo as well. You wouldn’t have to twist my arm for an adventure if you have a few days in coming months.

I love Alaska that time of year. I have tent camped in Mid September and it was chilly but fine. When we moved down here in 2008 we made the drive starting the week after Labor Day camping in a hardside truck Camper and it was just about perfect. I would jump on the opportunity to make that...

Bill, thank you for this great report. I know this area a bit; Bear Trap is one of my favorite campgrounds and I squirrel hunt the Magdalena’s. That campground at Willow Creek looks spectacular. Any idea if there are brookies in there?

Well, I ended up with maybe 5” on the roof, and everything felt structurally sound. Dropping the roof wasn’t the scary experience I had feared, although I don’t think I would want to do that without the lift struts. I did have to lift the rear up a bit to adjust the vinyl and that was tricky...

I’m heading up to Arizona Snowbowl tonight and the forecast calls for 5-8” of spring snow. I’ve been through one storm before with maybe 4” accumulation, and the weight was noticeable but manageable. I’ve since added a 160W solar panel right above the door, and the potential added weight makes...

Ugggh. I grew up in SoCal, and spent three years in LA, an experience that was directly responsible for my next move (to Anchorage). The thing about LA is you just never know when traffic will hit, but it is all but guaranteed that time of day. You’ll be fighting it from the time you hit the...

Really depends on your intended use. I had a hardside cabover in Alaska, and it was perfect for the gravel road camping we did there. But at heart I am a dirt road explorer and my ATC goes places I could never get a hardside in now that I live in the desert SW. I would never go back.

Love it!

41. Pretty happy with that but want to top it this year!

Yeah! Stoked you made it out there. This reminds me I need to get back that way as well. Hope our paths cross soon.

I’ve been poking around in this area, a no mans land between the Sierra Ancha Wilderness and the Fort Apache Reservation. I’m still new to AZ and don’t know how the weather will be in February, but I am dying to hike up into these cliff dwellings...

Thank you for such a great write up. This is something that will stick with me in those times when things go wrong a long way from nowhere, as they inevitably do. Also makes me want to give the springs another try as the last time I did (maybe 17-18 years ago) we were coming in from a week of...

Great shots! I’m curious about camping at Shiprock; is it open for the taking, or do you need a permit?

Oh! And Butte Valley is awesome too. If you time it right you might score one of the cabins. The road in from the park is rocky and slow going but not technical. You will NOT want to attempt this from the west.

I would recommend the Cottonwood Canyon/Marble Canyon area. I’ve seen an old VW microbus in there, so if you can match that clearance and are comfortable going slow and picking your route, you should be fine (with a spare tire, of course). There is a stretch of slot canyon which is full of...

We were out in that same areaaround that same time, and got stuck in that same snowstorm between Jacob Lake and the rim. Such beautiful country! I'd be willing to bet that the white van you mention is My Wild Dreams from the Western Odyssey trip report. Small world!

You made it here just in time for the real heat! We're heading up to Bear Canyon Lake area on the Mogollon Rim for the weekend. Look for an ATC Cougar on a silver Dodge Ram if the wind blows you that direction

I believe I misspoke about Bear Trap CG being in the Gilas as I think it is actually the Magdelenas. However, I think the site itself would be perfect. It is a very small (3-4 sites) CG with tables and a pit toilet, in a ravine that doesn't get much sun. I was there in the fall and it was...

I bought my ATC camper in Ft Collins last year and worked with Chris at Rocky Mountain FWC to get the mounting hardware. He was super helpful. I did the installation myself (not much to it, really) but would recommend him in a heartbeat.

I've done some squirrel hunting in the Gilas. I don't know it all that well, but I would recommend the area around Bear Trap CG for being remote and cool. If you're heading that way a stop at the VLA is worth your while, and if you're going that way anyway you might as well head to Pie Town for...

Dang I'm sorry to be reading this just a few weks late. I'm new to Phoenix and have spent the past eight months finding camping spots near to town. I have agreat spot in the Sonora Desert National Monument but it is getting a bit warm now. If you're sticking around AZ, I really like the Sierra...

I woke up to this Saturday morning in the Anza Borrego. Thought I'd share.

I had the same concern on the polarity. I'll give ATC a call and see if they can confirm which is which. Sure will be nice if I can use that Zamp extension, although I'll have to solve the other end of the puzzle wiring it to the controller. Its a solarcynergy from solarblvd.com. The verdict...