First Winter Newbie Question

[Ray Eklund]

Rollinstone Post #19... you are 100% on top of things.

Winter camping is not for amateurs. Amateur means inexperienced in below FROST, not freezing. Freezing is 32F, but not enough to freeze up your Airstream's liquids... but 18F overnight will.

I have seen over ten years skiing Keystone, Colorado a small trailer parked, but it did not appear to being used when the snow buried it. Having snow around and on top is insulation. Beats bales of straw.

Among the top two or three concerns is Humidity in your Trailer. You have to vent your inside air with outside air. If you have frost on the insides of your windows... you are or will be in serious trouble sooner, than later.

Fresh water tank when full takes more time to freeze, than having 33% fresh water.

Park your trailer's length, facing Sunrise and Sunset, for maximum Solar Warming. Your aluminum will give you a bit more warmth after sunset, and a good boost heating the aluminum in the morning. We can even open our door with the screen door closed for free interior heating.

Leave your window shades up for Solar interior warming, as well during daylight hours.

It may seem time consuming, but practice three days camped in your driveway in Sub-30F and better Sub-20F evenings. The thin air of the high elevation Rocky Mountains will be great for warming, but once the sun sets, lock up and CYA. Cover Your you know what.

Your Airstream is lousy for keeping everything warm inside. Think... Beer Can. Put a can of Beer on top of your Propane Tank cover. Check it in the morning. It may SYA... Save Your you know what, as far as planning.

Thin Dry Air on a sunny day is great in the Rockies.

Lower Elevation Humid air is absolutely miserable, during freezing temperatures during the day or after sunset, sunny or cloudy.

The Little Buddy portable heaters are very good for the interior. Your furnace on Propane and Battery are not.

I highly advise anyone considering camping in any kind of trailer, at elevations, at any Ski Area, may want to practice a bit at home. If you cannot make it at home... you do not belong in the Red Zone of a ski resort. If the RV Park is in the shade of the day and not getting full sun from sunrise to sunset... reserve a room, sit back and watch someone else FTA... Freeze Their you know what. I will be sitting right there next to you... recalling these posts.