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Travel Forum / Destinations / USA and Canada / February 2006Visiting from the UK - Canyons
I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 March, hiring a car for two weeks and heading for: Grand Canyon Village Monument Valley Bryce Canyon I planned on bringing a small tent and camping except the first and last night when I would stay in a motel near to the airport. Can anyone comment on the weather in this area over that period, both during the day and night. Thanks Mark Make that April 26th for 2 weeks...doh !! > I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 March, > hiring a car for two weeks and heading for: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Mark > April 26th for 2 weeks ... Can anyone comment > on the weather in this area over that period According to the Yahoo Weather site... Grand Canyon Village -- Highs in the 50s F, lows in the upper 20s Monument Valley -- Highs in the upper 60s F, lows in the mid 40s Bryce -- Highs around 50 F, lows in the mid 20s Note that the temperature can vary considerably at different altitudes. For example, at the Grand Canyon it's usually much warmer at the river level than at the rim, due to the altitude difference. > the first and last night when I would stay in a motel > near to the [Vegas] airport Vegas actually doesn't have many airport motels because there are tons of hotels in the nearby "Strip" area (where most of the newer casinos are located). In fact you can see some of the hotel/casinos out your plane window from the runway. If this is your first trip to Vegas, you might consider staying on the Strip at least one night just to experience it. Jim Thanks for the info mate. Had googled http://www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/control/home and was thinking of giving that a go. Seems cheap, near to the strip and airport. Do you know better? Mark >> April 26th for 2 weeks ... Can anyone comment >> on the weather in this area over that period [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Jim > Thanks for the info mate. Had googled > http://www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/control/home > and was thinking of giving that a go. Seems cheap, near to the strip and > airport. Do you know better? > > Mark If you are arriving mid week you'll almost certainly get a better deal on the strip. Keith >> If this is your first trip to Vegas, you >> might consider staying on the Strip . > Thanks for the info mate. Had googled > http://www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/control/home > and was thinking of giving that a go. Seems cheap, > near to the strip and airport. Do you know better? I'm afraid I can't offer specific suggestions for inexpensive places as I've always splurged when visiting Vegas and have stayed at the Paris and the Venetian, which are upscale hotels. A good site for advice is www.cheapovegas.com , as it reviews many of the hotels in the area, and www.tripadvisor.com is helpful for looking up consumer reviews of places. You also might want to post your question to the Las Vegas newsgroup -- alt.vacation.las-vegas . Jim I beleive in each of these parks the weather can get pretty cool at night and warm during the day. Have you visited the National Park Service's web sites for each? They give pretty good info about this stuff. Also keep in mind that you will probably need to reserve a camp site at each park, and if you plan to camp in an area other than an approved campground, you will need a special permit, if you are even allowed to do it at all. > I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 March, > hiring a car for two weeks and heading for: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Mark >I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 April, hiring >a car for two weeks and heading for: >Grand Canyon Village >Monument Valley >Bryce Canyon You can look forward to sub-freezing temperatures at night on the South Rim at GCNP as well as at Bryce. It could also snow on you, although rain is more likely during the day (if at all). Monument Valley is on the Navajo Reservation and although somewhat lower in elevation high winds and blowing sand are fairly common across the entire high desert on the Colorado Plateau in Spring. >I planned on bringing a small tent and camping except the first and last >night when I would stay in a motel near to the airport... I presume you are an experienced winter camper and understand that a great deal of gear is needed to do that -- probably more than an airline will allow you to check (used camp stoves are not allowed, neither is fuel of any kind). Serious cold weather sleeping bags, insulation pads, rain gear, insulated boots, and heavy clothing are also required and all that might exceed your baggage allowance. You can buy campfire wood at GCNP for Mather Campground, but personal water supplies will freeze overnight. There is a nearby store there, which eases the problems. If your intent is to dayhike into the Canyon down the Bright Angel Trail, make sure that the water to the upper rest stations has been turned on (in freezing temps they shut it off so the pipes won't burst). Check with the Backcountry Office. Bryce is higher and colder, so be prepared for that. Monument Valley isn't equipped for tent campers in the way that the National Parks are, so bring-your-own everything. A better option would be to camp at Navajo National Monument west of Kayenta on a side road. It's run by the National Park Service, is free, and has some of the best Anasazi cliff house ruins in the Southwestern US. Caveat > I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 March, > hiring a car for two weeks and heading for: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Mark Its likely to be rather cold for camping, you are at 6000 ft or so and sub zero temperature at night are pretty much guaranteed Keith Thanks to everyone for their tips and comments, especially Caviat for the detailed reply. I'm taking your advice and postponing until May 23 - June 7 when hopefully the temperatures will have moved off freezing at night. It's another $170 on the air fare at that time of year but it's probably money well spent. Interesting comment about not being able to take used cookers on planes. The canister will be empty of fuel, so does this still apply??? If so I'll probably have to dive into Walmart and pick up a cheapy cooker. Is this the best place to get one? I've been advised to get an ice box because of the speed that food goes off in the heat of the day. Also to bring 6 inch nails for tent pegs and a good ground sheet so that the stones don't perforate the tent base ! Mark >> I'm thinking about flying over from the UK to Las Vegas on 26 March, >> hiring a car for two weeks and heading for: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Keith >Thanks to everyone for their tips and comments, especially Caveat for the >detailed reply... Con mucho gusto, amigo. >I'm taking your advice and postponing until May 23 - June 7 >when hopefully the temperatures will have moved off freezing at night. It's >another $170 on the air fare at that time of year but it's probably money >well spent. Indeed, the cost of misery from cold is high indeed. >Interesting comment about not being able to take used cookers >on planes. The canister will be empty of fuel, so does this still apply??? Yes. Most airlines will not allow a stove onto their plane if there has EVER been fuel in the tank. Some won't allow new stoves that have never seen fuel. And, of course, no separate fuel will be allowed. >If so I'll probably have to dive into Walmart and pick up a cheapy cooker. >Is this the best place to get one? Well, it likely is the cheapest place. They often have Century brand propane camp stoves for USD $20-30, and be sure to get the propane tanks for it. These pressure-unregulated stoves are big, flimsy, and won't simmer, but are probably perfect for you because you'll have to leave it when you return to the UK. >I've been advised to get an ice box >because of the speed that food goes off in the heat of the day. Get one of the large foam types sold in most supermarkets for just a couple bucks. They don't last, but so what, eh? >Also to bring 6 inch nails for tent pegs and a good ground sheet so that the stones >don't perforate the tent base ! Depends on how much you like your tent. Six inch nails won't hold a tent pitched in sand for long. I use 12" plastic ones, myself. Guying might also be necessary. And ground sheets are always wise. There are lots of sharp things on the ground in the desert, so pick your site carefully and lightly brush the area for the tent clear of loose stuff. Inflatable pads are at risk if you don't. Caveat Hi <SNIP> >>Interesting comment about not being able to take used cookers >>on planes. The canister will be empty of fuel, so does this still apply??? > >Yes. Most airlines will not allow a stove onto their plane if there >has EVER been fuel in the tank. Some won't allow new stoves that have >never seen fuel. And, of course, no separate fuel will be allowed. My wife and I (also from the UK) had no problems last September flying back to the UK with United(Ted) and BMi. We disposed of the tank before flying back and just packed the burner in our check in baggage. However, this was JUST the burner part. There was NO propane tank (empty or otherwise) attached. The stove was a fairly cheapo single burner propane stove which uses disposable cylinders. Does this make any difference?? >Get one of the large foam types sold in most supermarkets for just a >couple bucks. They don't last, but so what, eh? The large foam type we saw somebody using at Dead Horse Point campground in Utah last September certainly didn't last long. As soon as they left their tent to go off for the day, leaving their foam cooler under the picnic table, the waiting flock of ravens very quickly and effectively completely demolished it - and all the food inside. It looked as though a hand grenade had gone off inside the cooler. Our "proper" ice box we left on our table was totally ignored by the birds - and in many, many, trips to the US from the UK over the past twenty years has never been a target for wildlife. >Inflatable pads are at risk if you don't. As I know to my cost; my Thermorest Mattress seems to acquire a puncture virtually every trip. What are those huge spiky thorns you find everywhere in the Southwest Desert - are they what you call "goat thorns"? Regards KGB [...] >My wife and I (also from the UK) had no problems last September flying >back to the UK with United(Ted) and BMi. We disposed of the tank [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >burner propane stove which uses disposable cylinders. Does this make >any difference?? Just the burner is fine -- that can't burn or explode without fuel and/or a tank. It's the fear of vapors in an empty tank that trigger a confiscation. Different airlines have different rules, though, and some may get anxious about any stove. If he wanted to try, Mark could probably take the propane stove I suggested back to the UK, but it's big and bulky (at least compared to my pocket-sized Snow Peak burner), and really a piece of junk anyway. But it will work fine for him here. >The large foam type we saw somebody using at Dead Horse Point >campground in Utah last September certainly didn't last long. As soon [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >by the birds - and in many, many, trips to the US from the UK over the >past twenty years has never been a target for wildlife. Ravens are a big problem on the Colorado Plateau. Those who know about them NEVER leave anything looking or smelling like food in or around a picnic table, and that includes trash. The answer, obviously, is to keep the foam cooler in the car unless it is one of the bombproof stainless steel type that we use when truck camping. The only time you can't avoid raven raids is when boating on Lake Powell and camping on the shore (which we did a couple of times last year to access special places that have been buried under lake water for decades). Everything is exposed, there is no place to dump trash on most of the lake, so it must be carried on the boat and left there at trailheads when one goes exploring. Even tarps didn't help. >...my Thermorest Mattress seems to acquire a >puncture virtually every trip. What are those huge spiky thorns you >find everywhere in the Southwest Desert - are they what you call "goat >thorns"? If you mean the little buggers that have 3 spikes and so there is never a "down" position, I know them well. They are called goat head thorns. We've fixed many a flat bike tire when out in the wild because of those. But there are many other kinds around here depending on your location and elevation. Deserts have lots of spiky things. We have used various Thermarest models for many decades backpacking and camping and one can get good results if one takes the necessary precautions (and a patch repair kit). They insulate you from frozen ground in winter (unlike standard air mattresses) and are a lot more comfortable than any foam pad lesser of the 6" thick model we use in the back of our truck when truck camping. Ah, the challenges of the outdoors... Caveat > Thanks to everyone for their tips and comments, especially Caviat for the > detailed reply. I'm taking your advice and postponing until May 23 - June [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > cookers on planes. The canister will be empty of fuel, so does this still > apply??? Absolutely. > If so I'll probably have to dive into Walmart and pick up a cheapy cooker. > Is this the best place to get one? I've been advised to get an ice box > because of the speed that food goes off in the heat of the day. Walmart would well enough and you'll be able to pick up a styrofoam icebox too. > Also to > bring 6 inch nails for tent pegs and a good ground sheet so that the > stones don't perforate the tent base ! > > Mark Sounds like a plan :) Keith |
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