Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 04:44:47 +0000
Reply-To: Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: end of camping season????
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
This is good to hear everyones responses. I thought I was the only freak ;).
I regularly go to the top of Stevens Pass (alt. 4500 I think) during the
summer and winter. Its so quiet during the winter. No people to annoy if I
choose to listen to the stereo relaly loud. No people to annoy if I am
really loud. Plenty of sledding for the kiddo (although he hasnt been yet, I
need to get him a better sleeping bag and construct a cot for over the front
seats). Although, my van isnt a full westy I have put all the westy interior
minus the poptop in, it works great. Being a Syncro; its really fun. I
havent got stuck yet (even though I really want to, just to have an
adventure). I am putting the front locker in as I had some difficulty last
spring trying to get over a logging road covered in that nasty hard slush
crap. I did make it farther than the previous Fords and Chevys. But, alas,
it wasnt far enough and I had to turn around. Hopefully this year I will be
treated with a TD engine to keep me out of second gear when climbing the
pass.
The other bonus to where I go is that there is alot of rail history. I have
been backtracing the old switchbacks from the Great Northern railroad. There
is limited information as to where exactly everything is (other than the
parts that have been turned into trailheads that you have to pay to park
near). Once my website is back up and functioning I will be putting up a
link that has many pics and some detail as to what I have found. Its good
stuff for sure.
On a non-vanagon related note; I have recently renewed my ham radio license.
Fortunately, I was able to do this in a timely fashion and retain my
original license number. I also have a really nice Kenwood rig that I need
to permanently install into my van. I havent really researched it much AFA
mounting. I know a few of you others are fellow hams. Where do you have your
rigs mounted? How does it work out for you? Changes that you would do now? I
havent come to a good conclusion as to where to put it. I would like to be
able to access it from the driver seat and read the panel as well.
Thanks for all the feedback on the winter camping. Keep it coming.
Chris DeLong
KB7MRM Tech plus
Fine Tuning
206.522.5503
www.finetuningperformance.com
Seattle, WA USA
>From: Karl Hartmut Filc <kfilc@SYMPATICO.CA>
>Reply-To: Karl Hartmut Filc <kfilc@SYMPATICO.CA>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: end of camping season????
>Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 19:57:52 -0400
>
>Hi,
>
>Reading this message, I can't believe the problems you have with wet and/or
>snowy shoes. Any half way decent department store has the solution for you.
>I have a so called wet shoe tray in my home and my camper. Like a rubber
>mat
>with a lid to keep the water in the tray.
>
>Hartmut
>
>PS Winter camping is the way to do camping and learn something you could
>use
>in the summer time as well!!!
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Craig Oda
>Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 :22:46 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: end of camping season????
>
>I camp in the snow with a 2WD Westy. I think many people do. I have
>two catalytic heaters, one that is tapped into the main propane system
>and the other that is powered by small Coleman canisters. Both are
>rated for interior use. It's warmer if you don't have to pop the
>top. I camp with 3 people in the Westy, so I have to pop the top. I
>had a problem with snow being tracked into the van and the carpet in
>the main cabin getting wet, then it would eventually freeze and then
>rethaw. I found this to be unavoidable since our hiking boots would
>get covered with snow and freeze. We would take the boots inside the
>van to thaw out and they would get the floor wet. To resolve the
>problem, I ripped out the carpet and installed linoleum tile in the
>main cabin area.
>
>If you are coming from a background of camping in tents in the snow
>and you move to a Westy, it will be posh. The Westy is much warmer
>than a tent. However, if you're coming from a background of camping
>in an RV, then you'll freeze your behind. Even with two heaters going
>inside the van, everything froze inside the van, including the saline
>soluttion for my contact lenses. My wife's sleeping bag is rated at
>zero and she was still cold. Remember, I camp with the top up.
>
>There's various solutions to making the van warmer, including the
>fabrication of a secondary vinyl jacket around the pop top tent and
>installing warmer curtains. People have also installed larger heaters
>with a thermostat. I haven't done these mods.
>
>It'll be much warmer than a tent, but it's not going to be as warm as
>camping in a vehicle with four solid walls and a thermostat.
>
>Very much doable as a winter camping vehicle. If you have a syncro,
>you'll rock. Winter is one of the times I really wish I had a
>syncro.
>
>I totally recommend camping in snow. It's beautiful and the crowds
>are way down. If I had a better solution for drying out my son's
>shoes, it would be even better.
>
>-- Craig
>
>
>On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 02:02:52 +0000, Chris DeLong <green536@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
> > I see alot of you talk about it being the end of camping season. Why do
>you
> > say this? Does anyone here camp in the snow or in the cold?
> >
> >
> > Chris DeLong
> > Fine Tuning
> > 206.522.5503
> > www.finetuningperformance.com
> > Seattle, WA USA
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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