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====== Snowbirds ======
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]].

Snowbirding reduces the need for expensive and bulky amenities like air conditioning.


===== elevation =====

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))

>= 7000' is a good rule of thumb for summer boondocking.((http://www.irv2.com/forums/f93/where-do-you-like-to-go-in-the-heat-of-the-summer-305048.html#post3219342))

Nomads who regularly change altitude significantly may benefit from fuel injected (FI) vehicles over carbureted ones; FI systems automatically compensate for varying oxygen levels. 

Wiki:  [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_United_States_by_elevation|list of cities by elevation]]
===== 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.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GmL8BEtPU|This video]] shows how the latitude of 70deg F. changes throughout the year. 
===== efficiency =====

In order to alter the temperature by 10F one could either:
  * change elevation by ~3000'; or
  * change latitude by 500mi, about the length of Nevada's eastern border((http://www.city-data.com/states/Nevada-Location-size-and-extent.html)); or
  * some combination of the two


===== general patterns =====

On the **east coast**, snowbirds will typically move further south into Florida with cold weather and up as far as Canada in warm weather.  

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.

**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. 

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)

===== wintering areas =====
Wintering areas will be closer to the equator and/or lower in elevation

Popular locations include:((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Winter-boondock-CA-NM?pid=257155#pid257155)), ((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Winter-boondock-CA-NM?pid=257149#pid257149))

  * 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]]
    * 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]]
    * 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]]
  * California
    * Coronado CA (16')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado,_California)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Coronado,+CA,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=32.599&maxLat=32.773&minLng=-117.372&maxLng=-116.994&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
    * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_City,_California|slab city]] (71')((https://freecampsites.net/#!2008&query=sitedetails)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!slab+city,+CA|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=15&minLat=33.2472&maxLat=33.2687&minLng=-115.4859&maxLng=-115.4387&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
    * El Centro CA (-42')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Centro,_California)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!yuma,++AZ,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=13&minLat=32.749&maxLat=32.835&minLng=-115.657&maxLng=-115.469&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
    * Holtville CA (-10')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holtville,_California)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Holtville,+CA,+United+States|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=14&minLat=32.7895&maxLat=32.8328&minLng=-115.4275&maxLng=-115.3331&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * Florida
  * south Texas
      * [[https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm|Padres Island]] - Padre Island National Seashore
  
===== summering areas =====
Summering areas will be farther from the equator and/or higher in elevation.

  * Arizona
    * area around Flagstaff (6,910')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagstaff,_Arizona)), but [[camping:banned#arizona|not Flagstaff proper]]. -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!flagstaff,+AZ|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=11&minLat=35.030&maxLat=35.366&minLng=-112.029&maxLng=-111.274&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * California
    * Ft. Bragg (46')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California)) -- low elevation but with an "extreme maritime effect of the Pacific Ocean..."((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California#Climate)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Ft.+Bragg,+california|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=14&minLat=39.4258&maxLat=39.4656&minLng=-123.8525&maxLng=-123.7581&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * Colorado
    * Leadville (10,152')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadville,_Colorado)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!leadville+CO|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=14&minLat=39.2309&maxLat=39.2708&minLng=-106.3397&maxLng=-106.2453&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
    * Pike National Forest (~9,500)((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_National_Forest#Climate)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!Pike+National+Forest|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=13&minLat=39.168&maxLat=39.248&minLng=-105.512&maxLng=-105.323&s=&t=2-3-4|cell service]]
    * Steamboat Springs (6,732')((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Springs,_Colorado)) -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!steamboat+springs|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=12&minLat=40.407&maxLat=40.563&minLng=-107.021&maxLng=-106.643&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * Michigan
    * Michigan coast of Lake Michigan -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!lake+michigan|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=7&minLat=41.01&maxLat=45.80&minLng=-93.26&maxLng=-81.18&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * Minnesota
    * north shore of Lake Superior -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!lake+superior|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=6&minLat=43.1&maxLat=52.0&minLng=-99.0&maxLng=-74.9&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]
  * Nevada
    * 
  * 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]]
    * Ruidoso, 7000'+
    * Cloudcroft, 8000'+
    * Note:  [[camping:New Mexico camping pass|New Mexico has an annual camping pass]] available
  * Oregon
    * coastal areas -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!oregon+coast|free camping]]
    * Mt. Hood National Forest -- [[https://freecampsites.net/#!mt+hood+national+forest|free camping]], [[https://opensignal.com/?z=13&minLat=45.214&maxLat=45.286&minLng=-121.846&maxLng=-121.657&s=&t=2-3-4|cell coverage]]

===== spring/fall =====

Theory:  elevations around 3,000' may be good for "shoulder season" camping.  FIXME

  * Arizona
    * 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]]
  * Florida
    * Ocala National Forest (104') --
  * 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]]
    * 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') --

===== weather =====

Annual weather patterns and forecasts play a large role in the lives of snowbirds



  * 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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