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RE: Trip Advice for Yellowstone
While I do enjoy Colorado and have spent many weeks there in my youth, I would lean towards more time north, such as Glacier NP, and even go up to Banff/Jasper up in Canada.
My preference is for a less crowded trip with more open spaces, hence my preference for Glacier/Banff.
I've done three such grand trips, with a week in Yellowstone being the cornerstone of each trip, and would do it again once a forth trip comes around. But then I'm a huge fan of Yellowstone.
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katleman
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01/27/12 02:22pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Best time to go to Mount Rushmore & Yellowstone
How about taking the middle time period - June/July
I agree with June/July.
Mid/late June is nice in Yellowstone, still a bit nippy, but the crowds aren't as bad as July/August. Then head over to Rushmore and finish off with Glacier in July.
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katleman
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11/01/11 04:21pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Yellowstone or Glacier for week of 4th of July
We are trying to decide on a campground in Calgary so we can make reservations. Any recommendations?
Shawna
Didn't mention whether you need to be in Calgary proper or not.
Given the other two stops (Glacier and Yellowstone) I would recommend Banff National Park, a couple hours to the west of Calgary.
Not practical though if you're hanging out in Calgary, like for the Calgary Stampede, July 6-15. It's their centennial this year, would expect it to be rather busy.
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katleman
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10/17/11 02:40pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Great basin NP to Yosemite National Park
Love Great Basin BTW, quite the hidden gem in eastern Nevada.
I've done both routes (6 & 50) in a 24'C, both are roughly equivalent.
With 50, you'll be driving through a bit of congestion around Carson City and it's not as direct a route. But nothing wrong with it either.
Then there is the roller coaster road when you switch from 6 to 120. I frankly enjoyed that stretch of road, and none of my 4 passengers got sick. After the coaster, 120 winds through a very nice pine forest, and a few nice rock formations. Stop at Mono Lake to see the tufa formations. The roller coaster isn't tough to drive, take it slow if it bothers your passengers.
As to 120 on into the park, heading up is just a long steady climb, which shouldn't be a problem. If you have to head back down, just put the rig in a low gear and enjoy the slow drive down. Aren't really any challenges on 120 through Yosemite onward, and quite the stunning views.
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katleman
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09/08/11 11:15am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Day hikes in Zion
A day hike up The Narrows is well worth it, especially this time of year, it's probably as warm as it's going to get.
Did a couple miles back in 2006 with the kids, came back with my youngest this July to do the entire 16 miles top to bottom (two days) Not a casual hike, but well worth it if you can do it.
Need some kind of water shoe to do the day hike up The Narrows. Even better would be to rent a pair of 5/10 Canyoneers from one of the outfitters in Springdale. Had them for the two day hike and they made a world of difference. Didn't go with the neoprene booties, initially regretted that decision, but got used to the cold water pretty quickly with just regular wool socks.
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katleman
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09/07/11 02:03pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Beartooth Highway / Best way from Billings to Yellowstone
As others have said, depends on your level of comfort and experience driving on mountain roads.
Grew up driving on snow, and a fair number of hours driving mountain roads, both RV and car.
I've driven Beartooth twice (24'C) and wouldn't hesitate again. One trip even had a dusting of snow (in June).
I've also driven Chief Joseph Highway as well, it's quite scenic as well, and not as challenging.
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katleman
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09/01/11 11:18am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Lasses NP-Can we fit?
Manzanita will have plenty of spots for your rig, especially post labor day.
There are a few large sites at Summit Lake, but not many. Worth staying up there, if you can find a site, much closer to the peak, and the thermal areas.
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katleman
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08/30/11 02:53pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Newbies going to Yellowstone, 1st time, recommendations?
Have been to Yellowstone in a 24'C three times, including a rookie trip, with our family of five.
You won't need hookups. Daily driving will keep your house batteries in good shape. I wouldn't stay at Fishing Bridge again (rookie mistake) because I thought I would need hookups. Better options at the other campgrounds, like Madison, for less of a parking lot experience.
Your best bet for touring in an RV is get on the road early, more animals, less people/traffic. You get a much better view of the park from the RV, and you have your food, change of clothes, and restroom with you. You've already done it in a car, this should be a treat. Do the animal viewing early, then over to the thermal basins (animals nap during the day, geysers don't)
Highly recommend the route up 89, through Logan & Bear Lake. Stumbled upon it on our first trip, and actually camped along the way on our next two.
I realize with just three days there, it might be a bit much to change campgrounds, but it's still not a bad idea, to spend two nights at Madison, and say one night at Canyon, at the opposite side of the park, to cut down on backtracking, giving you good access to the valleys.
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katleman
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06/20/11 01:05pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Is 2 weeks in Yellowstone too much?
Have made three one week trips to Yellowstone in the last 7 years, would still like to go again, because there are places we haven't seen yet.
I'm lucky enough to visit Yosemite every year, and if you didn't get bored with a week in Yosemite, you'll want two weeks in Yellowstone.
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katleman
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05/19/11 12:12pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Tips to avoid cleaning, reuse, save space
Typically one melts wax leftovers in a double boiler, places lint balls in cardboard egg cartons, and pours in the wax over the lint. Cut the egg carton segments apart, and you have completed firestarters. :C
I suppose that would make the lint last longer. I just grab a wad of lint out of a zip lock bag, and place it where I would normally use newspaper. Haven't had a problem yet with it yet.
A few years back, I abandoned the teepee method of starting a campfire, that I've had since my youth, to just building a square fort out of the wood, then toss a few smaller scraps in the middle, and insert the lint. Not as fun as the old teepee, but it's less hassle, with no rebuilding needed after the teepee collapses.
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katleman
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05/19/11 12:05pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: Yellowstone the last week in June. Crazy?
We've visited the third week of June three times in the last 7 years. I didn't find the crowds excessive. On one of the trips, we overnight-ed on the way back (around July 10th), the park was much more crowded than in June.
I wouldn't have any problem with June. It's a nice balance, not as cold and snowy as May, but not as crowded as July/August. Not crazy at all.
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katleman
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05/13/11 11:54am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Tips to avoid cleaning, reuse, save space
Another thread mentioned using dryer lint for kindling. Thought I'd re-mention it here as part of the "reuse/keep out of landfill" part.
dryer lint works very well, started using it a couple years back after it was mention here. Only trick has been getting the kids to stop throwing it in the garbage after years of doing so. :-)
We precook bacon, on the barely done side, and just toss it in a ziploc. Just toss a bit on the griddle and it's ready to go, no fat drippings to worry about at the campsite.
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katleman
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05/11/11 01:21pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: Yosemite April 25, Road Report (Snow Removal)
Both the high country wildflowers of Yosemite and the spring waterfalls are both bucket worthy, but they are somewhat mutually exclusive. Wildflowers don't peak until late June, and by then the waterfalls are well past their peak flow (early May).
Granted, this year, flow is expected to peak in late May, meaning better flows in June, but it probably means a much later wildflower peak too (flowers don't grow in snow :-)
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katleman
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05/03/11 02:50pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Yellowstone to Glacier
We drove our Minnie over the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge to Yellowstone back in Sept. 2007. No problem at all and a beautiful drive. We've done the same drive in the same size rig in 2004 & 2009. Wouldn't hesitate to do it again. But I have a bunch of mountain driving experience, both before and since RVs. Slow and steady is always your friend.
If you're planning a day trip over Beartooth, consider a loop, returning via Chief Joseph. Did that route in 2009, and I'd have to say it's a bit more scenic than Beartooth.
As to Glacier from Yellowstone, done that twice, for the same reason, while we're all the way out there, might as well. We went even further north, to Banff, same reason, in the general area. While you can do the drive in a single day, we enjoyed 2009 much more by breaking up the drive. We took HWY89 north from Livingston, overnighting in a NFCG about an hour south of Great Falls, enjoyable drive. Continued up 89 on up to Browning the next day and on into Glacier.
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katleman
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05/03/11 02:34pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Two small tents VS. one big tent
Are your kids ready to sleep in their own tent? If they are, then go two tents.
Indeed. Went tent camping in the Sierras a couple years back, boys were 13/10. Both were kinda spooked still about sleeping in the tent, even with all the camping we had done and wouldn't have done well in a separate tent. And the ranger coming by and giving us a bear talk didn't help either. :-)
We're off again this weekend, 15 & 12 now, and I think we can go with two tents now.
Wouldn't have even considered it with them being younger than 10. It's not that something is likely to happen, it's the sounds of nature, wind, branches snapping, animals, birds, etc that stokes a young persons mind at night.
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katleman
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05/03/11 01:59pm |
Tent Camping
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RE: Yosemite April 25, Road Report (Snow Removal)
Oh my...we will be there on May 7th....our first time!!! We will be entering the park via Hwy. 120...will we be limited as to what we can see? We especially wanted to visit the mariposa grove.
We'll be in the valley, until about 4pm, on May 7th (Camping at North Pines) Weather is going to be picture perfect.
Given the snow pack, high country (Glacier Point and Tioga Road (120)) won't be open yet. But the entire valley, plus Mariposa grove will be open. One of the easier and rewarding hikes (more like a stroll) in the valley is up to Mirror Lake, especially very early in the morning.
If you have time, a drive down to Hetch Hetchy is work the trip, though more of a toad run.
Beside the big three falls, Yosemite, Vernal, and Nevada, do check out Bridalveil (especially now, should rather impressive) Given the snow levels, there should also be countless smaller falls that often are dry along the valley walls. There is Wapama Falls over at Hetch Hetchy, but it's a pretty good hike, not trival.
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katleman
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05/03/11 01:37pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Yosemite April 25, Road Report (Snow Removal)
We are visiting Yosemite June 1st. Sure hope all the roads are open by then.Glacier Point is possible. For Tioga pass, don't think so.
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katleman
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04/29/11 04:34pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: What is the best month to visit Yellowstone?
We have kids in school so our options are limited to June-July-Aug. We have always enjoyed June. Less crowded and more animals out from our point of view.
Anytime is a good time at Yellowstone!
+1
June is much better than July/August, for those with school connections still. We've gone three summers, hitting the road right after the last child is out of school, arriving at Yellowstone by the third week.
One of the years, we returned through Yellowstone, second week of July, and the crowds were much more noticeable and bothersome.
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katleman
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04/27/11 04:23pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Bear Lake Utah
Can't recall if they can fit a 36'A, but if it's just an overnight on the way to Yellowstone, there are a couple nice NF sites (no hookups) along HWY 89, just outside Logan, in Logan Canyon. We've stayed there twice on our way to GT/Yellowstone.
Or if you really want to try something different, stop an hour short at a campsite on Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake.
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katleman
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04/22/11 03:10pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Tonopah, NV west to Momo Lake, CA
Took that route in reverse in 2009, going out to Tonopah from Mono Lake. Really enjoyed that section of road, would do it again. We ended up overnighting at Millers Rest outside of Tonopah.
Stop for a hour or so at Mono Lake, off 120, and look at the tufa rock formations.
HWY 120 is quite scenic, with unique forests.
There is also some rather extreme rollercoastering on hwy 6/95 (highway following the lay of the land into depressions, that would be smoothed out more in highways that are more heavily used) I got a kick out of that segment, but I was only driving a 24C
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katleman
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04/18/11 12:58pm |
Roads and Routes
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