Is there a "snowbird's guide to elevations?"

[ganchan]

When I begin my full-time vandwelling adventure, I'll likely be running with just the standard foam board insulation and window coverings, a little heater, and maybe a personal fan blowing over an ice chest -- and that'll be all the climate control I have, at least while boondocking, until I can invest in a house electrical system. So obviously I'll want to snowbird. I've heard that changing elevation is the quickest and easiest way to find a more temperate climate. Unfortunately, beyond some very basic knowledge of where the mountain ranges lie, I don't know very much about this topic. Is there some handy guide that offers detailed info on elevation changes in each state?

 

[GrantRobertson]

Normally, that is called a topographical map.

 

[jimindenver]

When I look at a area with google earth, it gives me the topo info. Don't be fooled though, we exclusively camp at 10,000 ft and it gets hot up there too. Record temps are usually in the 90's when it's over 100 down in Denver at a mere 5280 ft.

 

[akrvbob]

The single best tool I've found is a Benchmark Atlas. It's like the Delorme Atlas and Gazeeter but it does a much. much better job of displaying elevations. It's my go-to tool for elevations.

Here it is on Amazon for the state of Arizona:

http://www.amazon.com/Arizona-Road-...35265&sr=8-1&keywords=benchmark+atlas+arizona

Highly recommended!
Bob

 

[BamaDuke]

I'm not sure that this would be the best method of choosing a location. Like Jim says, elevation is only one criteria. Maybe there is a tree, or shrub, that only grows where the temperature never exceeds 90. Or one that won't grow in temps under 30. If we can figure that out, we could find the best places for seasonal migrations.

Bama

 

[highdesertranger]

grant and bob you beat me to it. bobs suggestion of the bench mark atlas is probably your best choice. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

Elevation is one of my top priorites when I'm looking for a campsite or even a route to my next campsite. I do NOT want to be in extreme heat and I'l drive out of my way to avoid it.

Elevation is by far the single most important criteria to avoid heat. Coasts are probably more important but I'm rarely near a coast so they aren't a factor to me.

If your'e pulling a heavy load, you also need to be aware of how well you can climb to elevation so knowing elevation gain over a certain distance gives you a good idea of how steep a road.

Bob

 

[Woody Creature]

I have been using this free program for Google maps. http://www.mapdevelopers.com/elevation_calculator.php It is fast and works.

 

[Matt71]

I use this site which will tell you the average highs and lows for most US cities by month.
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/state.php3?c=US

You can also check the almanac for the closest town. Weather Underground will let you go all the way back to 1945 to check the daily weather.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/

 

[peacetara]

Coastlines are awesome at regulating temperature. That's why San Diego and LA can be so bearable in the summer as well as the winter. But the farther inland you go (even within the city) the hotter it gets.

The next best would likely be elevation, and if you are on mountains, you can try for the north face of the mountain in the summer. The sun will go down quicker, and rise later so it won't have as much time to heat up, and you could potentially be in partial shade most of the day from the mountain as well or trees, depending. That all helps a little to cool things down in the summer. lots of these little things can add up. But shade and solar power are not exactly best buddies, so if Solar is your only source of electricity(like me) that might be an issue.

There is more detailed answer here (http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/15157/ask-a-weatherman--how-does-elevation-affect-temperature-) but from that you can see:

"the temperature decreases by about 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet up you go in elevation. In mathematical speak that is 9.8 degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters." - Joel Gratz (Meteorologist)

Personally I generally make a big loop from Washington/Oregon in the summer to Southern AZ in the Winter. But I have family in WA and AZ(and various other places along the way), so I have reasons to travel so far (tho it takes me a full year to make the trip, so I'm not remotely in any hurry).

One could spend the entire year in AZ and do just fine (and many of us do just that), the lower deserts around Quartzite and Yuma in the winter, and the north part of the state in the Summer (Flagstaff area for instance) and be relatively comfortable, and save a lot on gas/travel expenses.

Hope this helps!

 

[GrantRobertson]

If you are just looking for information about the average climate for an area then www.city-data.com is amazing. If you scroll down to the "Average climage" section for any city then you will see some of the most useable weather charts I have ever seen. Here is a sample for Austin, TX:

 

[GrantRobertson]

One could spend the entire year in AZ and do just fine (and many of us do just that), the lower deserts around Quartzite and Yuma in the winter, and the north part of the state in the Summer (Flagstaff area for instance) and be relatively comfortable, and save a lot on gas/travel expenses.

That would certainly make taxes and Medicaid and possible food stamp benefits a lot easier to handle. I may start a new thread just on this one topic.

 

[highdesertranger]

um that's interesting, I was taught it was 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet. highdesertranger

 

[peacetara]

Highdesertranger I am quoting a meteorologist , I assume he knows what he is talking about. YMMV. He does say "about". If you find any documentation/research one way or another that would be interesting.

GrantRobertson, definitely start a thread, it would likely be an interesting conversation, and if anyone else has other states they can do this with(off the top of my head, California would be the second favorite I'd guess).

 

[highdesertranger]

well I didn't mean to offend anybody. I was just saying this is what I was taught, in college, in a desert field studies class, by a professor. so like I said interesting. maybe it's global warming. ha ha. highdesertranger

 

[Wabbit]

This is a pretty informative thread on the importance of how high one should try to be and at what times during the year!

 

[akrvbob]

While temperature is a very important part of why you would want to know elevation, since many of us are older there is another reason: can I breathe?

In the flat-lands back east it isn't an issue but you can easily live at 10,000 feet out west, and while it will be very cool you may not be able to breathe.

there are several 12,000 foot passes in Colorado, people may need to know that.
Bob

 

[Terry]

There ya go Bob. I have COPD and am sticking to lower elevations so I can have as much density to the air I breath as I can get. That makes humidity the problem. It's one of those "damned if you do and damned if ya don't" things. But if I have to suffer no matter what I decide, I'll take the coast. I live in Pensacola and am doing my utmost to afford it. I'm on disability and am one major break down away from disaster. The one thing that may change my location is trying to become self sufficient again. I may have to sell the house to finance another business startup. We'll see what the future brings. By the way. my "rent" is less than $100 a year that I pay in property taxes after filing for homestead exemption so it's kinda cheep to live here.

 

[BC Guy]

When I was in Arizona last year, I noticed that my breathing was a bit worse at 7000'. The highest I have been locally is over 4000'.