Christmas in the Grand Canyon

[moose074]

So planning ( have rv sites reserved) a trip to Grand Canyon over Christmas break. With the understanding that weather can change quickly. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions. We are staying at trailer village. My daughter will be planning the trip for the most part. Just wondering what others have done and what might need to be avoided. Any replies appreciated

[ppine]

Sounds like you will be on the South Rim not in the GC. Be prepared for snow and cold temperatures. Learn the techniques for cold weather trailer camping and you will be fine.

[Thomas ho]

take tower heaters. 13.5 watt max, water, went in feb. 2 years ago. to g.c. , cold, you can leave early , we went to lake havasu. much better weather, make reservations there, you can always cancel. busy place. reserve a spot for as many days in a row that you can. you dont want to be a space hopper. watched people move a space or 2 over day after day. i got 2 weeks in 1 spot, on the colorado river. start reservations now you might get luckey.

[moose074]

Thank you both for the reply, have stayed in trls in winter before, learned that in my last trl at least during a stay in Palo Duro Canyon , if outside temperatures were above 20 then the electric heaters were ok. If temps dropped to low teens I needed to turn up furnace so it heats the underbelly. Gonna order tire chains later today haven’t owned a set of them since I left AK in 98

[Thomas ho]

if you need chains you need not travel.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by Thomas ho

take tower heaters. 13.5 watt max, water, went in feb. 2 years ago. to g.c. , cold, you can leave early , we went to lake havasu. much better weather, make reservations there, you can always cancel. busy place. reserve a spot for as many days in a row that you can. you dont want to be a space hopper. watched people move a space or 2 over day after day. i got 2 weeks in 1 spot, on the colorado river. start reservations now you might get luckey.

What is 13.5 watt max? Is it the heaters, the water, or something else?

[moose074]

Originally Posted by Thomas ho

if you need chains you need not travel.

I would normally agree but most mountain passes used to require chains as weather can change suddenly. Great example would be Friday I traveled all day in rain. Left Odessa it was raining then 10 miles later it was snowing. Another ten it was almost a total white out. Visibility less than 1/8 mile at the most. Snow on the road made it difficult to see the road/ shoulder. Another ten miles it was sleeting but visibility was improved while it was starting to stick road was visible. By the time I finished my 44 mile trip from Odessa to home it was raining again. Had all the above in that short distance

[aeblank]

We got stuck in a foot of snow in Bakersfield, CA a couple years ago. Actually used my chains (on snow tires). Easy to say not to travel, but things happen.

We were at grand canyon a couple days before Christmas and it was nice. In the 50s, but did snow on the day we left. Sounds great to me!

[moose074]

Well trip started this morning, couldn’t be happier drove from Kermit Tx ( 2800 elevation) to Roswell NM averaged 8 mpg and found gas cheaper than I had accounted for so first tank cheaper than planned. Leaving Roswell ( elevation 3500) head to Clines Corner ( 7000 elevation) first 15-20 minutes great. Then we hit 30 mph wind plus the rolling hills dropped mileage to 5.4 on that section of road. If luck holds I won’t have much wind after I get a little further west in morning. Will be leaving Edgewood mid morning ( 8 ish) headed to Grand Canyon. Weather appears it will be nice so should have good trip.

[moose074]

Well up early wasn’t able to miss the wind appears to have hit already. That’s just traveling I guess

[Mr. Dan]

I subscribed to this thread. DW and I are considering a trip to the Grand Canyon next year - about the time we turn 76. We've never been.

[moose074]

We arrived today weather here is warmer than Texas. It was 47 no wind was snow on ground but not roads. When we arrived. Williams was 55. I let my daughter navigate even though I knew the route. Like I told daughter after driving through Flagstaff ( really wasn’t that bad) and under an overpass that read 13’9”. My trl is listed at 13’6 not sure of my actual tow height. I keep forgetting that google doesn’t know or care that I’m towing a trl. Google tried to take me down what appeared to be residential road. I told daughter to turn it off I had it.
We were here summer of 2021 cars and people everywhere. Lots less today it was enjoyable to walk around one of the main over views not be shoulder to shoulder.

[moose074]

Yesterday went to Flagstaff great drive saw elk 4 about 20 yards off road inside the park. Enjoyed the trip on 180 it was very scenic. took in a few museums explored old downtown. Weather was low 50 according to truck.

[moose074]

Another great day weather wise. Headed to Williams today, I was there 18 months ago and it was shoulder to shoulder on sidewalk and stores were packed. Today felt like nobody was there.stores were still open people still around but not even 1/4 of the people. Same with the park, been here twice before and was hard to enjoy because of the crowds, not today hit up the visitor center and a few of the main overlooks we missed last time due to crowding. Some spots were busy but not packed

[Chicken Corners]

Looks like a great time. Merry Christmas.

[moose074]

Left the Grand Canyon Monday headed to Palo Duro Canyon the second largest Canyon in the US. Went from almost no wind to extreme wind . The views were just a spectacular in their own right, some very contrasting while others especially the colors in the canyon very similar.