PNW Heat

[mattboyrd]

Curious to know how others in the Pacific Northwest are dealing with the heat and recent humidity while in your van.
Personally, I found a Ryobi brand fan that uses batteries I already own (18+ series for my drill and circular saw), that has been a LIFESAVER this past couple of weeks.

 

[Suanne]

Yes, a fan is great.

Other possibilities:

Wear cotton, sit in front of the fan, and spray water on yourself. Use a swamp cooler if not too humid. Position your vehicle to get air flow through open windows. Run the AC in your vehicle. Pay for an electrical hook up and run a portable AC. Park or sit in the shade. Put up a canopy (EZ-Up) and park underneath it. Spend time in an underground parking garage. Refrain from any exertion, unless you are taking a dip in a pool, river or lake

Go inside public places for AC (library, fast food place, coffee shop, mall, etc.). Move up in elevation, under the trees, into the national forest, e.g., free dispersed camping just off I-90 between Denny Creek and Tinkum, west of Snoqualmie Pass.

After sundown, when the outside air is cooler than the inside, open at least two windows and turn your fan around to blow out the warmer air and draw in the cooler air.

 

[Milk Hauler]

SHORE POWER! I'm a long haul driver and If I get stuck in the pnw I plug into
shore power There are lil kiosks at certian truck stops that you plug into. Its runs about a $1 per hour and you have 20A of power. I have a house on wheels, so in order to cut idle time I bought a small window ac. Mounted in lexan, I stick it in the window and freeze myself out. [emoji41]

 

[Milk Hauler]

I have a 16 liter engine that drinks 1gal of $4.00 diesel an hour just idling. And a $250 ticket for idling in California, its a deal. The I5 corridor has Shore Power kiosks every 100 miles. From Seattle to San Diego.

 

[akrvbob]

I'm camped in the mountains above West Yellowstone, MT and today's high is 84 and there's generally a breeze. I'm camped with a view of the mountains to the north and West Yellowstone in the valley--beautiful! I've got shade in the morning and evening and plenty of sun during the day. Plus, 3 bars of 4g! Life is good!

I know not every vandweller can move to a different place, but if you can, maybe you should?
Bob

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

It's 97F in the Sea to Sky (Whistler) area today, but it 'feels like' 101, according to the weatherman. It's supposed to drop down into the 60's overnight - thanks be to God!

We were supposed to get a thunderstorm yesterday, but that didn't happen - it was almost as hot as today.

According to the weather forecast, we're in for at least two more weeks of this heat, and it could well last into August. A friend of ours manages the weather station in these parts , so we get a little more insight than what's generally reported.

We bought a fan for $20 a couple of days ago. It was needed.

I checked Lillooet's temp today (the 'desert' place I told Bob about), and it's sitting at 100F and feeling like 110. No thanks!

Blessings to all,

Jesse.

 

[Milk Hauler]

Funny thing is.. I picked up a load of cream from Salt Lake City Ut, I just got down here to Dryers ice cream in the central valley part of California. The weathet was hot and muggy in SLC, but nice here in this desert portion of California. Mabe the influx of people are changing the weather in SLC? Its a high desert techically. I've never been so miserable in SLC.

I'm now chillin here with the ac on (albiet on low) unloading in Fresno. Weird weather all over the US. Next month after my vacation, I'll start on my dedicated run again. Fresno to Cresent City Ca. I love the weather once I get north of Willits on the 101. The redwoods is my favorite spot to hangout. No ac needed around there. I just wish it wasn't so expensive to own land up there. I have a friend in Arcata who makes $45, 000 a year and is barely getting by. They have so many co hippy fests going on up there. I'm down with tjem though. [emoji41]

 

[LucyImHome]

Suanne pretty well covered it all. I'm in the Olympia WA area, in a trailer/rv park, in an old travel trailer. It hit 95 today. Roof AC is out. I'm using a portable swamp cooler, a high velocity floor fan and a box fan. I also fill the tub with water, to stand in and to dunk tshirts to drape over shoulders. Spray bottles help. I tried to buy a portable AC but everyone is out of stock. So I bought a tarp carport to place over the TT. It helped some, but it's just plain hot. Might try styrofoam boards to lay up on the roof. At that point of wondering if I should seek AC store to hang out in. Except that I have a big dog.
Funny, I was living in my truck in Palm Springs, summer 2 years ago. Set a record one day of 122. This feels about the same. Humidity I guess.
I think it would be less miserable if I was in a van, since I could drive to a shady, cooler spot.

 

[SoulRaven]

Mike,

Can you tell us more about how to locate these power kiosks and if they're available for everybody or just trucks?

 

[LeeRevell]

Opposite side of the nation, but we Floridians just came off a week of temps in high 90's to 100 or so, with Heat Index ("feels like....") of up to 110 F.  Coupled with our high humidity, it was a real PITA!  Had a storm a few nights ago that killed power throughout most of Tally, and I had to go stay with my elderly Mom, as it really had her flustered.  Took a couple battery LED lanterns, but will get her a couple 12volt battery fans (I use O2Cool) and some spare D-cell batteries.  I may try to get her a small genset we could set on her back patio and run a portable AC - I have two I hardly use.  The older folks don't do well in high heat, and she is a Hoosier.  

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We're in the PNW and its been it the 70s and lower 80s. People are complaining about the heat but its great for us since we're from Az. We open all the windows and doors for a nice breeze that keeps us nice and cool while parked in the sun.

 

[Milk Hauler]

Mike,

Can you tell us more about how to locate these power kiosks and if they're available for everybody or just trucks?

Anyone can use them. Check outshorepower.com

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

Thanks for that, Mike - very helpful!

Jesse.

 

[highdesertranger]

mike what is the difference in the red and green ones? highdesertranger

 

[mattboyrd]

Thanks folks!
My little Ryobi fan got me through the worst of it. I have 3 18 volt batteries for it (and my drill and circular saw) and since it's basically made for contractors they conveniently also make a 12 volt battery charger.
The fan in conjunction with a wet bandanna on my head and neck actually had me shivering at times!

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

Today I went outside for the first time since June 9th, and it felt so good to once again behold a blue sky, and cumulus white clouds hovering silently over the mountaintops.  The last vestiges of sunlight kissed the shimmering green leaves that swung gently in the evening breeze, laden with the dewy breath of the encroaching night.

No smoke to steal away the air, no torrid heat too hard to bear.  How wonderful to lose oneself completely in a moment....

Love to all,

Jesse.

 

[Willy]

Here in the Okanagan we've been getting 110+ deg/F days w. no wind.. sux. Got a 12v extractor fan going and another 12v fan to move air around. My friend also gave me a pump-up spray mister bottle, which I use every so often. ..Willy.

 

[FrequencyZero]

The heat/humidity in the PNW isn't too bad, but like you've figured, a simple fan should suffice.