Boondocking at 10,000 feet

[FirstTracks]

I just got back from 3 days/2 nights of boondocking at 10,000 feet in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest southeast of Park City, Utah.

Less than 90 minutes from home, this underutilized area is one of my favorite places to camp. Literally tens of thousands of acres are criss-crossed by Forest Service roads, many of which are graded and improved gravel roads. Some of the unimproved roads, too, are easily negotiated by an RV. That means nearly limitless places to camp, all with spectacular views. While I've camped here in the past, this time I'd explore a section that was new to me, and it was my first time there since purchasing my first TT.

Friend Dale and my two dogs joined me, and Dale's wife came up for night #2. The weather was perfect with cloudless skies, barely a breeze, and daytime highs in the upper 60s/low 70s and overnight lows around 40ºF. Our nearest neighbor was about a half mile away. Dale proudly proclaimed each day the "best day ever!"


It hasn't been long that the road has been passable. In fact, it's good that we made camp where we did, for a half mile further south a snow drift crossed the road that would've been impassable with a trailer, and was barely passable in my truck by itself.


Nearing camp.


My girl Zoe at camp.


Our camp.


Hiking the ridgeline above our camp.


A panorama from the ridgeline above our camp. Our camp is visible at left middle ground if you click through to view the original size photo.


Zoe on the ridgeline. Our camp is visible at right middle ground, as the High Peaks of the western Uinta Mountains dominate the horizon.


I'm a proud Evo owner, my first RV.


Our camp.

(continued)

[FirstTracks]

(Part II)


The Wasatch Mountains just to our west.


Maggie just adores snow.


Maggie at camp.


When Maggie wanted to be alone, she'd just walk off to go to sleep on the snow adjacent to camp.


Back in the Salt Lake Valley today, the dump station at the Cottonwood Water District was busier than I've ever seen it. By the time it was my turn to dump, there were five rigs lined up behind me.

[CampingGator]

Absolutely beautiful! Can't wait until we retire and can head out to see the country! Thanks for sharing.

[howellma]

Wow! Beautiful.

[Wattsworld]

Nice looking tt. Very impressive pictures. Is it that cold most of the summer or will it warm up there? I love the open area there. That would be high on my lists of want to see and do.

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by Wattsworld

Nice looking tt. Very impressive pictures.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Wattsworld

Is it that cold most of the summer or will it warm up there? I love the open area there. That would be high on my lists of want to see and do.

In the mountain West, temperature is all about altitude -- you pick an altitude that will deliver the temperature that you want to recreate in. For example, while it was barely cracking 70ºF at our camp at 10,000 feet, it hit 87ºF today at my house at 4,860 feet. Altitudes in between have temperatures in between, so you choose precisely what you want. Typical summer highs at 10,000 feet are in the 70s or even the low 80s during a hot spell, while it breaks 100ºF a handful or so days each summer in Salt Lake City, which is at 4,226 feet.

I should add that even with air temps in the 60s, the sun is blazingly hot at 10,000 feet. While temperatures drop 3.3ºF on average per 1,000 feet of altitude, research models suggest an approximate 8 percent to 10 percent increase in ultraviolet intensity for each 1,000 feet of elevation; thus, the sun was approximately 40-50% stronger at camp than it is at my house. While the air may be cool as far as a thermometer is telling you, you're by no means cold at that altitude -- even in a T-shirt and shorts -- and sun screen is your friend. When the sun dips below the horizon, though, temperatures drop like a rock.

[MNtraveler]

Looks beautiful! What did you do for refrigeration (we have gas refrig problems at altitudes >6000'), or did you just leave your food out in the snow? ;-)

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

Looks beautiful! What did you do for refrigeration (we have gas refrig problems at altitudes >6000'), or did you just leave your food out in the snow? ;-)

LOL! Snow would've worked, but we've had no issues with our fridge at altitude. Now, admittedly we're new to the RV world but we've thus far this season camped at 8,200 feet, 5,700 feet, 6,200 feet, 9,300 feet and now 10,000 feet (among others) without refrigerator issues.

[MNtraveler]

That's great! Our Dometic says in the manual gas won't work much over 5500' and we got it to work to about 6200' only.

[FirstTracks]

Two more photos, courtesy Dale:


Maggie at camp.


Our camp.

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

That's great! Our Dometic says in the manual gas won't work much over 5500' and we got it to work to about 6200' only.

Yep, ours is a Dometic too.

[MNtraveler]

Great pix!

[FirstTracks]

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

Great pix!

Appreciate that!

[Maman325]

Fantastic! Will have to add that area to our list of places to camp. :-)

[Witch Doctor]

WOW, Thanks for that it's looks beautiful, probably at 10,000' i would pass out..

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

WOW, Thanks for that it's looks beautiful, probably at 10,000' i would pass out..

Agree Beautiful Pics,but WD I have seen you in Trouble at 300' ASL! Youroo!!

[JimMorrell]

Interesting comments. In over 40 years, camping from sea level to over 10,000 msl in the Rockies, I have never heard or, nor ever had problems with my refrigerator at altitude when dry camping. That covers 3 different refrigerators.

[NatlChamp]

Sweet. Pretty much never use our refer and to date haven't stayed anyplace with hookups. Will be at 10000 plus in Sept deer hunting (or as we say in California, camping unless you shoot something). Thanks for sharing.

[ben31]

Great pics of a wonderful place! Thanks for sharing them with us!

[CharSolera]

Looks beautiful, FirstTracks! I'm up in the Star Valley enjoying the cool night temperatures. Gaining altitude is my favorite way to enjoy summer and avoid 90-100° .

Like MNTraveler, however, my Dometic refrigerator balks above 7,000'. It will usually start up on propane, but only after several rounds of the sparker clicking without the gas lighting. I'll get an error code, restart and with luck, the spark finally starts the propane. Anyone have a guess why this is an issue with some Dometics and apparently not with others?