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Happened to catch a coal steamer, iirc, exploring s. Colorado

 
I did not take the railway tour, but remember driving on Hwy 17 through the same canyon over to Antonito on the same trip.

Once you get to Colorado, it should be easier finding towns you can camp or boondock in the NF not too far from, and also have cell service not far away. There are many towns in Colorado to recommend: Pagosa Springs, Silverton, Creede, Lake City, Crested Butte, Buena Vista, on and on. There are a couple of CGs near Buena Vista that youtubers stay at: check channels of CamperVan Kevin and Randy MobileTraveler. When I lived in CO, I typically would camp in spots along the FS roads leading to trailheads. Looks like you have 4WD, so can get into the more difficult ones too.

There are I believe 600 peaks in CO over 13,000' high and the trailheads to most of them are around 9-10,000', and there are usually camping places nearby. Mainly obvious spots where others have camped before.
 
I envy you and those other guys near Angel Fire. The whole area is fantastic. I totally love Taos. Living in Colorado for many years, I visited all of those places and drove almost every road in western CO. Northern NM is sparsely settled, but western Colorado is full of small mountain towns, of which I'm sure most will have good cell service. A bit of civilization plus lots of forest and mountains. I would mention the area between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, but it's overrun by humans anymore, but maybe the road up to Ashcroft. Top of the world. Have fun. :)
 
I got my compass mounted and I think it's a bit of overkill, I didn't want to return it, but it looks awesome. ?
Just got to wire the night light
 

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doesn't all the electronics effect the compass? I know a guy that did the same thing his compass was useless. you should have seen it when he started his truck, it would spin it almost all the way around. highdesertranger
 
highdesertranger said:
doesn't all the electronics effect the compass?  I know a guy that did the same thing his compass was useless.  you should have seen it when he started his truck,  it would spin it almost all the way around.  highdesertranger

Well, I haven't been on road with it yet but no deviation when I start the truck.
I first mounted it where a rearview mirror would be, then I realized it was too close to the metal roof.
Boats use them all the time and they have lots of electronics however not close to engine. 

I'll keep you updated
 
MaTaLa said:
I got my compass mounted and I think it's a bit of overkill, I didn't want to return it, but it looks awesome. ?
Just got to wire the night light

It is kind of overlarge for the area, but as you get older and your vision deteriorates (which it will), the markings will be easy to see.  :D
 
yes I know about the magnetic fields and all. but there in your dash the fields are ever changing depending on what is going on. he could never get his to be accurate 100% of the time. he would adjust it one day then the next day conditions would be different and it would be off.

the ones I have seen for sail boats tell you in the instructions not to mount them around any electrical wires and such. I have even seen a can of Coke or Pepsi send them spinning. anything that emits an magnetic field is going to effect it, which is most electronics.

for sure keep us updated on how it works out.

highdesertranger
 
They've had in car compasses for decades. I thought they would have had the calibration issues figured out by now. There may be some moving magnetic fields in a car, but in general, they calibrate compasses for static magnetic fields by moving them around in circles or figure-8 patterns.

https://www.google.com/search?q=calibrating+car+compass
 
Qxxx said:
They've had in car compasses for decades. I thought they would have had the calibration issues figured out by now . . .

They put a lot more electronics in cars today, less steel and more plastic (which doesn't shield magnetic fields).
Interesting to see how it works.
 
With a compass on land all you really need is a general direction. It is not like open water where you could sail past your intended island if it was off. On land paths are predetermined unless blazing a new trail.
 
Yeah, it's definitely overkill for me. I'll probably use more making sure I am headed the right direction out of the parking lot when Google starts directions than anything. That and orienting parking for solar panel

Although I have already been in some rugged areas where it would have been helpful
 
Compass seems to be working fine. I remounted it about 1/2 inch out of the shifter's pattern more.

When navigating by maps it comes in handy if for nothing but reassurance that I am headed in right direction. I am sure I'll wonder how I did without it soon. :D
 
Trout Lakes Campground, Carson National Forest, Cebolla NM area. 
Rough 10 mi dead end road with 3 small lakes, more like big ponds, and primitive sites scattered around the lakes and a vault toilet. 
I'd recommend high clearance and if it rains you'll definitely need 4x4.
Beautiful spot at 9200 ft elevation
 

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Have intermittent 1 bar of Verizon without weboost.
Routinely 4 bars with it
 

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