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| Messages 1 - 19 of total 19 in this topic |
Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 30, 2016 - 11:38am PT
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I am thinking that for 2016-17 winter, I would like to try heading slowly through southern Utah and settling in Bishop, with Joshua Tree as a side trip if/when it gets too cold. I love Joshua Tree, but since the Pit is gone, have to wonder about long term parkncamping.
I've always thought southern Utah was spectacular, but have only been there in spring on my way home, and haven't really seen much. Someone posted a picture of the beautiful Paria Mountains on FB yesterday and I had a big OMG moment there. Made the pretty blue striped formations in the Painted Desert seem like a dowdy cousin, almost.
I can take kinda cold, just not below freezing for weeks on end. I suppose I just have to wait and see what the weather brings, but any comments/discussion is appreciated.
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Coach37
Social climber
Philly
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Jun 30, 2016 - 01:04pm PT
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I lived in my VW westy for a winter in South central UT, and another in and around JT. A little on the cold side for me in UT, but I also lived at about 6000'.
Bishop:
Moab:
Joshua Tree:
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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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Jun 30, 2016 - 01:19pm PT
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For Winter stays in Utah, altitude is key. In Moab/Canyonlands the river bottoms are at approx. 4,000ft which can make for nippy Decembers and Januaries, and even more so on the canyon rims. Lower altitude areas like the canyon floor in Zion NP can be significantly less nippy.
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kief
Trad climber
east side
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Jun 30, 2016 - 06:55pm PT
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The Virgin River Valley (greater St. George area) is the warmest part of Utah in winter. Average low temperatures in December and January are just below freezing with highs typically in the mid-fifties. The Mormons called it "Dixie" and even tried growing cotton. It only snows two or three times a year and melts pretty fast. I spent a few months working on a project in Hurricane. It's a nice little town, though getting steadily bigger.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Jun 30, 2016 - 08:54pm PT
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Bishop is a mixed bag. Often, winter days are very nice. When the sun is out, no wind, you can climb and hike in amazing comfort. In the shade? Freakin' cold. This last winter was extreme by Bishop standards--several weeks of low, low temps at night, like 10--12 deg. F. Might have been warmer at slightly higher elevations because of the way cold air pools at the low spots. Would have been a challenging time to hang in a van. We were camped in the Sonoran desert after bailing on a Cochise trip due to cold. Our landlord called and sent a pic of about 5 inches of ice on our lawn due to a broken irrigation valve. Icicles 6 feet plus of one of the trees. Neighbors thought it was so beautiful. So, throw the dice, and keep headin' south if you get freezed out.
BAd
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
PUAKO, BIG ISLAND Kohala Coast
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Utah is awesome in the winter if you stay south of Cedar City, Moab is cold especially if the area gets snow cover. St George is awesome.
Aloha an be well
Rg
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Bishop is a mixed bag.
Ditto that. Not much different than the high desert in JT.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Cold in Bishop? Umm, yeah it gets cold in Bishop. It's surrounded by thirteen and fourteen thousand foot peaks that more or less create their own weather. There's also a trend around called skiing. I do believe that a few folks even live in the region due to this fad. [end of snarkyness] ;-);-)
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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If cold and rain/snow were the problem then Bishop would be fine, but wind is the issue that shuts down climbing. Even in the heart of winter you can climb somewhere dry for a few hours a day. But on a sunny day, if the wind comes up, it's no fun.
Unfortunately, wind is the hardest to predict.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Unfortunately, wind is the hardest to predict.
Actually, it's usually pretty easy although it can be tougher when applied to micro climates.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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As far as the wind factor, a lot of times you can find a spot in a wind shadow. Not always though.
I'm also an avid fly-fishing guy and do agree that a lot of days can be shut down for all activities due to wind. Some days I'll throw in the towel and come home to watch Netflix only to find Netflix is even shut down by the wind. Seriously.
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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We have micro climates up the yin yang. I always figure Pacific/west winds- tablelands, north winds Buttermilks. This sometimes works.
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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 6, 2016 - 11:05am PT
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Thanks all. I guess I will have to see what happens - watch the weather and decide as the times comes closer. Don't know why but I am already itching to get on the road, with another 4.5 months to go still.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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There is a brief, fairly cold winter in Moab. Usually below freezing and sometimes below zero at night from New Years or so through the middle of January.
Generally great play in the sun weather though.
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herm
Trad climber
Bishop
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(tungsten hills boulders)
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Denver CO
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Whatever you do don't go to Bryce Canyon. I was there a couple winters ago to take pictures of the snow on the orange rock but did not realize the significance of it being at 9000'. I woke up at 4 AM in the back of my van, the air inside my sleeping bag was ice cold, I was wearing multiple layers including pile and a gore tex shell, knit hat and hood cinched around my face but thought I was going to freeze. I drove from there to Cedar City where I found a Dennys that was open, at about 5:30 AM. I was also pulled over by a cop as I left Bryce, driving through a small town with only one headlight working. I was so frozen I decided to drive all the way back to Moab. It was getting dark and when I arrived I got pulled over by another cop. So, when winter camping in Utah, avoid high elevation and keep your vehicle in excellent working condition.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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Also note that shade can come early in the afternoon depending on where you are in canyon country. St. George are Hurricane are soul crushing IMO. Other parts of the region are straight up creepy with shithole polygamy towns, etc. There is some decent climbing around St. George. Springdale is cool but cold in the winter. I've always thought of Southern Utah as a great place to visit, and then leave.
Have you considered AZ? Way warmer and tons of climbing.
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jeff constine
Trad climber
Ao Namao
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Less HOMELESS people in Bishop during the winter. LOL
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