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camping:snowbirding [2019/11/07 23:54] frater_secessus [wintering areas] |
camping:snowbirding [2021/06/05 14:38] frater_secessus [altitude] |
====== Snowbirds ====== | ====== Snowbirds ====== |
A snowbird is a traveller who "**follows the weather**" to stay comfortable. Common targets include daytime highs of 65-75F. These highs may seem too cool but snowbirds often camp in full sun to harvest [[electrical:solar|solar power]]. | A snowbird is a traveller who "**follows the weather**" to stay comfortable. Common targets include daytime highs of 60-75F. These highs may seem too cool but snowbirds often camp in full sun to harvest [[electrical:solar|solar power]]. |
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Snowbirding reduces the need for expensive and bulky amenities like air conditioning. | Snowbirding reduces the need for expensive and bulky amenities like air conditioning. |
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===== altitude ===== | ===== elevation ===== |
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A general rule of thumb is that **the temperature will drop 3.5F for every 1000' increase in elevation**.((3.54F is more accurate but less useful as a rule of thumb)) Low humidity will cause a greater swing, as it does when the sun goes down in the desert. A theoretical location with 0% humidity would see a 5.4F drop per thousand while a 100% humid location would see only 2.7F.((https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/25964/#post-1545479)) | A general rule of thumb is that **the temperature will drop 3.5F for every 1000' increase in elevation**.((3.54F is more accurate but less useful as a rule of thumb)) Low humidity will cause a greater swing, as it does when the sun goes down in the desert. A theoretical location with 0% humidity would see a 5.4F drop per thousand while a 100% humid location would see only 2.7F.((https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/25964/#post-1545479)) |
Nomads who regularly change altitude significantly may benefit from fuel injected (FI) vehicles over carbureted ones; FI systems automatically compensate for varying oxygen levels. | Nomads who regularly change altitude significantly may benefit from fuel injected (FI) vehicles over carbureted ones; FI systems automatically compensate for varying oxygen levels. |
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| Wiki: [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_United_States_by_elevation|list of cities by elevation]] |
===== latitude ===== | ===== latitude ===== |
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Climate averages increase as one approaches the equator((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate)), at a rate of roughly 1deg F per 50 miles traveled in latitude. | Climate averages increase as one approaches the equator((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate)), at a rate of roughly 1deg F per 50 miles traveled in latitude. |
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| [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GmL8BEtPU|This video]] shows how the latitude of 70deg F. changes throughout the year. |
===== efficiency ===== | ===== efficiency ===== |
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* some combination of the two | * some combination of the two |
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| ===== general patterns ===== |
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| On the **east coast**, snowbirds will typically move further south into Florida with cold weather and up as far as Canada in warm weather. |
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| In the **central US**, snowbirds may move to the Gulf Coast (Texas, Lousiana) during winter and up into the mountains of Colorado or further north in the summer. |
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| **In the west**, snowbirds often move to sea level in southern Arizona or California in the winter, and either up in elevation (New Mexico) or latitude in the summer. |
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| Draft version of [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CIvQ0e1QK8crVglw-MtRfujSnw59O8HXFiujTc9zGYs/edit?usp=sharing|common boondocking spot temps by month]] - Google Drive (view only, in progress) |
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===== wintering areas ===== | ===== wintering areas ===== |
* Arizona | * Arizona |
* Ehrenberg AZ (305')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehrenberg,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Ehrenberg+AZ|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=33.518&maxLat=33.690&minLng=-114.714&maxLng=-114.336&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Ehrenberg AZ (305')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehrenberg,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Ehrenberg+AZ|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=33.518&maxLat=33.690&minLng=-114.714&maxLng=-114.336&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Quartzite AZ (879')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Quartzsite,+AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=33.578&maxLat=33.750&minLng=-114.419&maxLng=-114.041&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Quartzsite AZ (879')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Quartzsite,+AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=33.578&maxLat=33.750&minLng=-114.419&maxLng=-114.041&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Tuscon AZ (2389')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!tucson,+az|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=32.047&maxLat=32.396&minLng=-111.304&maxLng=-110.549&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Tuscon AZ (2389')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!tucson,+az|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=32.047&maxLat=32.396&minLng=-111.304&maxLng=-110.549&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Yuma AZ (141')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!yuma,++AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=32.519&maxLat=32.866&minLng=-115.005&maxLng=-114.250&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Yuma AZ (141')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!yuma,++AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=32.519&maxLat=32.866&minLng=-115.005&maxLng=-114.250&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Florida | * Florida |
* south Texas | * south Texas |
| * [[https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm|Padres Island]] - Padre Island National Seashore |
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===== summering areas ===== | ===== summering areas ===== |
* New Mexico | * New Mexico |
* outside Santa Fe (up to 10,000')((https://freecampsites.net/#!1610&query=sitedetails)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Santa+Fe,+NM,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=35.519&maxLat=35.854&minLng=-106.315&maxLng=-105.560&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * outside Santa Fe (up to 10,000')((https://freecampsites.net/#!1610&query=sitedetails)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Santa+Fe,+NM,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=35.519&maxLat=35.854&minLng=-106.315&maxLng=-105.560&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
| * Ruidoso, 7000'+ |
| * Cloudcroft, 8000'+ |
* Note: [[camping:New Mexico camping pass|New Mexico has an annual camping pass]] available | * Note: [[camping:New Mexico camping pass|New Mexico has an annual camping pass]] available |
* Oregon | * Oregon |
* Cottonwood (3,314')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!cottonwood,+az|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=34.655&maxLat=34.824&minLng=-112.199&maxLng=-111.821&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Cottonwood (3,314')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!cottonwood,+az|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=34.655&maxLat=34.824&minLng=-112.199&maxLng=-111.821&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Winslow (4,850')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winslow,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Winslow,+AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=34.940&maxLat=35.108&minLng=-110.886&maxLng=-110.509&s=all&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Winslow (4,850')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winslow,_Arizona)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Winslow,+AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=34.940&maxLat=35.108&minLng=-110.886&maxLng=-110.509&s=all&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
| * Florida |
| * Ocala National Forest (104') -- |
* Nevada | * Nevada |
* Carson City (4,802')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_City,_Nevada)) -- [[https://opensignal.com/?z=10&minLat=38.84&maxLat=39.48&minLng=-120.52&maxLng=-119.01&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Carson City (4,802')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_City,_Nevada)) -- [[https://opensignal.com/?z=10&minLat=38.84&maxLat=39.48&minLng=-120.52&maxLng=-119.01&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
* Pahrump (2,697')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahrump,_Nevada)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!pahrump,+nv|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=36.042&maxLat=36.374&minLng=-116.362&maxLng=-115.606&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] | * Pahrump (2,697')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahrump,_Nevada)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!pahrump,+nv|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=36.042&maxLat=36.374&minLng=-116.362&maxLng=-115.606&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]] |
| * New Mexico - most of NM is at higher elevation. |
| * Las Cruces area (4,000') - |
| * Utah |
| * St. George (2,900') -- |
| * Hurricane (3,200') -- |
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| ===== weather ===== |
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| Annual weather patterns and forecasts play a large role in the lives of snowbirds |
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| * long term patterns- |
| * [[https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/annual-average-humidity-by-state.php|average humidity by state]] |
| * medium term - [[https://w2.weather.gov/climate/l3mto.php|3 months high/low forecasts for the nation]] |
| * short term weather - |
| * [[https://graphical.weather.gov/|U.S. daily high temps map]] |
| * U.S. wind patterns - [[windy.com|windy.com]] |
| * [[https://www.nws.noaa.gov/outlook_tab.php|U.S. fronts and precipitation]] from the NWS |
| * [[https://w2.weather.gov/climate/|U.S. latest high/low temps]] |
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