Better for a camping road trip: Arizona, Utah, and Colorado… or Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia?
A friend and I will be taking a long camping road trip next month and going on one of those two excursions. They seem like they'd be quite different.
The AZ/UT/CO route would probably involve seeing the grand canyon in Arizona, the canyonlands area of southeastern Utah (Arches National Park, etc), and then the mountains of Colorado.
On the other hand, the OR/WA/BC route would involve a lot of forested areas, some national parks like Crater Lake, some oceanside stuff, etc.
We're torn between the two, as the AZ/UT/CO route would be more new to us, but it is going to be August and we're wondering if roasting in our car or tent in those areas might take a lot of fun out of it (no RV with A/C for us!).
Which would you choose?
Well, lets see.
The desert that is Utah and Arizona, and that mountain they call the rockies *cha* OR…
You can….
travel,
…God's country. *wink*
Choosing either,
The Pacific Coast Highway, on the most western side of Oregon or right thru Three Sisters,
Doing I-5
Then hit'n that amazing ole' hill we like to call Louwala-Clough (Mount St. Helens)
After you finish that journey, another 2, two and a half hours north, the international geologic community has determined that Mt Rainier is the world's 16th most dangerous volcano. (elev. 14,410 feet)
Mount Rainier National Park is riddled with Old growth forest. Over 91 thousand acres. As defined, Old growth is trees over 250 years old.
Some of these Douglas Fir's and Western Hemlocks have been around for over a thousand years.
Of course some of the younger trees also contribute to the lavish tree line. Western Red Cedar, Pacific Silver Fir, and Ponderosa Pine all decorate and create surreal Timberland.
..and the 4 legged creatures, the Elk, Deer, Squirrel, and Coyotes.
All needing each other to sustain life.
Nearly 800 plant species. Over 100 non-native plants. There's 54 Mammals, 126 Birds and 17 Amphibian or Reptiles that call this Park home.
The Nisqually tribe has been granted access to the Park, in order to gather plants, traditionally used in their ancestral Rituals, and medicine.
Of the plants being harvested: bear grass, blueberries, cascara, cranberry, devils club, maidenhair fern, wild gooseberry, salmonberry, serviceberry, strawberry, tiger lily, princes pine, spruce, cedar, white pine and western yew.
The Park has also presented that when "vision quests" and other traditional journeys are needed, that the Park will do its best to keep tourists out.
Native lore says that (Mt.) Tahoma is the dueling sister of (Mt.) St. Helens.
..and that they forever are fighting for the love of (Mt.) Adams.
Once you catch your breath beyond the vertigo events of Mt Rainer, skip on up to the very groovy metropolitan city of Seattle, its time to feast your hearts desire. Who cares if its the middle of the night. It's open. Then, dance your beHIND off, at the very grooviest clubs west of the Vegas strip.
Now its time to jump a ferry, circle the Peninsula, get yourself over to the Lake Quinault Lodge, and rest like you've never rested.
THEN…. find your way to the Sol duc Hot Springs (clothing optional area of course) You'll be awed as you find yourself in the Worlds ONLY temperate rain forest. The canopy of trees, is so dense, its wet, no matter how blue the sky. The Douglas Fir, White and Red Cedar tree's are the laregest on the ENTIRE Globe…
Its freaken heaven…
Then of course you'll grab your passport, head the hour and a half up to Port Angeles, and grab the quick ferry ride thru the Strait of Juan de Fuca. And ya'll be oot and a'boot to Victoria British Columbia, before ya know it, eh?.. =)
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 am
It all depends on the type of weather you wish to be in; hot and deserty or warm and forested……………….
References :
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Since the two areas are vastly different, the decision rests entirely up to you.
As you mentioned the Az link will be hot and dry. However when you get into Utah and Col. the temperature abates a long depending on where you are.
The northwest has one other issue when doing tent camping—-it is wet. It rains a lot.
Personally, if it were me and i had not been to the area (but I have) i would do the southwest trip. You will have totally varied scenery–from the desert to the mountains. You can cover the northwest and its beauty on shorter excursions.
Just a post script on the southwest, there two areas that most miss that i think are outstanding—there is a road at both the west and east end of the Grand Canyon that are well worth the time andthere is camping at both.
The one in the west is outside Peach Springs, Arizona and over about 5 miles of dirt road. It is near the skywalk but do not go there (too expensive, about 80 per person). It is a take out site for rafters.
The east road is located at Navaho bridge and is the site of a former ferry crossing. From the bridge itself you will be able to see California condors….they nest in the cliffs around the bridge.
The beauty of both sites is almost as good as the main canyon.
References :
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Well, lets see.
The desert that is Utah and Arizona, and that mountain they call the rockies *cha* OR…
You can….
travel,
…God's country. *wink*
Choosing either,
The Pacific Coast Highway, on the most western side of Oregon or right thru Three Sisters,
Doing I-5
Then hit'n that amazing ole' hill we like to call Louwala-Clough (Mount St. Helens)
After you finish that journey, another 2, two and a half hours north, the international geologic community has determined that Mt Rainier is the world's 16th most dangerous volcano. (elev. 14,410 feet)
Mount Rainier National Park is riddled with Old growth forest. Over 91 thousand acres. As defined, Old growth is trees over 250 years old.
Some of these Douglas Fir's and Western Hemlocks have been around for over a thousand years.
Of course some of the younger trees also contribute to the lavish tree line. Western Red Cedar, Pacific Silver Fir, and Ponderosa Pine all decorate and create surreal Timberland.
..and the 4 legged creatures, the Elk, Deer, Squirrel, and Coyotes.
All needing each other to sustain life.
Nearly 800 plant species. Over 100 non-native plants. There's 54 Mammals, 126 Birds and 17 Amphibian or Reptiles that call this Park home.
The Nisqually tribe has been granted access to the Park, in order to gather plants, traditionally used in their ancestral Rituals, and medicine.
Of the plants being harvested: bear grass, blueberries, cascara, cranberry, devils club, maidenhair fern, wild gooseberry, salmonberry, serviceberry, strawberry, tiger lily, princes pine, spruce, cedar, white pine and western yew.
The Park has also presented that when "vision quests" and other traditional journeys are needed, that the Park will do its best to keep tourists out.
Native lore says that (Mt.) Tahoma is the dueling sister of (Mt.) St. Helens.
..and that they forever are fighting for the love of (Mt.) Adams.
Once you catch your breath beyond the vertigo events of Mt Rainer, skip on up to the very groovy metropolitan city of Seattle, its time to feast your hearts desire. Who cares if its the middle of the night. It's open. Then, dance your beHIND off, at the very grooviest clubs west of the Vegas strip.
Now its time to jump a ferry, circle the Peninsula, get yourself over to the Lake Quinault Lodge, and rest like you've never rested.
THEN…. find your way to the Sol duc Hot Springs (clothing optional area of course) You'll be awed as you find yourself in the Worlds ONLY temperate rain forest. The canopy of trees, is so dense, its wet, no matter how blue the sky. The Douglas Fir, White and Red Cedar tree's are the laregest on the ENTIRE Globe…
Its freaken heaven…
Then of course you'll grab your passport, head the hour and a half up to Port Angeles, and grab the quick ferry ride thru the Strait of Juan de Fuca. And ya'll be oot and a'boot to Victoria British Columbia, before ya know it, eh?.. =)
References :
Been here all my life..