Transition from Winter to Spring Camping in Utah

Ahh, Utah

Since winterizing my camper in November, I left it stored at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff.  Each weekend, well most weekends, I drove out there and camped.  When the campground was not full, I was invited by Diana, the owner,  to leave it parked in a campsite, instead of moving it to storage.  Thanks Diana.  When I arrived at camp, all set up, I just hooked up the electric, turned on the propane and ran the heater to warm it up.  Dry camping, I am used to the system of water jugs and that worked quite well for me. The coldest night was 14 Degrees at sometime in December.  But my Sunline Saturn Travel Trailer was cozy and warm.  I wouldn't run the heater all night, but just before nodding out and then again in the morning.  Sweet.  And the days were warm so I cooked and made art on the picnic table.

Last week, after teaching a Photo Workshop in Monument Valley, I camped for a few days to chill and watch rocks grow old.  I de-winterized the trailer and tested all the systems.  Since I was the one to winterize, I knew what was in the pipes.  It was really hot, 90 degrees, so I also tested the AC, hooked up to the water and sewer and all is well.  Whew.

I added the chalkboard above my artspace/dinette/guest bed. 

Why Utah

I love Red rocks, I love Butler Wash, Comb Wash, Muley Point, the Moqui Dugway, the Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, and the Night sky.

The drive from my home in Durango is less than 3 hours to all of the above.  

What I love to do while camping

1. Make Art
2. Cook Outside
3. Ride by Bike
4. Star watch
5. Fuss, build stuff
6. Sleep in my cozy bed
7. Sip Coffee and Tea
8. Go days without showering

Spring Camping in the Desert

My nephew visited me and I took him camping, and art making

He knows how to have fun with the Aunt Kit Show

This is what it looks like when the epic spring winds blow.  So glad for my camper
I've been tent camping in this kind of wind, and I prefer the camper.

I call this Camp Napoleon Blownapart.  Looking out of my dinette windows

When the wind mellowed, this is one of my favorite photo locations.

Camping in Utah, Spring Winds

Spring weather in Utah

Normally, this is the kind of imagery I like to make while camping at Valley of the Gods

On a recent Photo Workshop, I taught the technique of sun stars in Valley of the Gods

I have been traveling out to Utah for the past 20 years.  And I consistently enjoy the weather, year round.  Spring is a special time in the desert.  It's the beginning of wildflower season, and I often teach Wilds and Anasazi Ruin Photography.  This past weekend was the exception.  I didn't dare take my DSLR camera gear out of the car.  The spring weekend started with a glorious evening of hiking, a night of star gazing, followed by a morning of art making at camp.  And then it began...

Our first evening at camp including a walk along Lime Creek.  Here's Moochie enjoying the water in the Canyon.

A friend hiking in Lime Creek

My nephew was visiting from New York and we made some art together at camp.

As I looked south into the Navajo Reservation lands, I could see the approaching wind.  We hurried to "batten down the hatches" before it hit.  The gust were epic.  The sustained winds were at least 40mph and we were able to gather most of the camp and run into our rigs for the afternoon and evening.

Looking north from inside my camper

We called it "Camp Blownapart"

The sand blew for hours and the sky turned a red-rock color.  I dared not take out my DSLR.

After sunset we "ran" for the cover of my car and headed to town for dinner (no one wanted to cook).   As we drove out of Valley of the Gods, we stopped to check on a Popup camper that was flipped over.  This served to show me that I was lucky that my 3500 lb camper was strong enough and heavy enough, and that my friends 6500 lb Eurovan was too.

The town of Bluff was in a "black out" as the storm had blown over a handful of power poles which affected all the towns from Moab to Mexican Hat.  Lucky for us the Cottonwood Steak house was serving as they had propane barbecue and gas candles for the tables.  

Cameras and Camping at Bluff Hot Air Balloon Festival

Give a sense of place in your photos

Tell a story with your subjects.

Compression of space: a lesson in using longer lenses.

I teach Photography.  Most of the participants in my workshops have always wanted to learn photography.  Many students are retired and some want to learn a skill for a second career.  Many talk of being ready to devote the time, energy and commitment to their photo education.  On workshops and private lessons, we have a mix of beginners, intermediate and advanced photographers. What all students have in common is the desire to create beautiful images and to learn to use their digital cameras and lenses properly.

Balloon Photography Lessons:

• Choosing the right lens for the job, i.e. compression of space, wide view, details.
• Storytelling
• A sense of place.
• Proper exposure, shutter speed and ISO for moving subjects
• Proper choice of aperture for emphasis
• Working with the "star of the show" and the "supporting cast".
• Working with challenging light, sunrise, sunset, night photos
• Tripod or no, tethered or not.

Cameras and Camping

This past weekend we all met in Bluff, Utah for the Annual Bluff Balloon Festival.  I set up my travel trailer at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff, it was full, as were all of the accommodations in Bluff. But Diana (Cadillac Ranch) made sure that folks could boondock if necessary so they were not without a site.  Students stayed in a nearby motel. The class arrived at my camper for pre-sunrise breakfast, and coffee.  At that time we gathered around my dinette and planned the day, discussing basic camera settings to get started.  We left camp at around 8am, as the balloons launch close to sunrise and sunset.

Later in the day, I taught the grand landscape and photographing in harsh light at Muley Point at the top of the Moqui Dugway on Hwy 163. At the end of the day, we also used my campsite to gather around the picnic table and talk about photography and the challenges of the day.

The light has been really harsh in the Southwest recently, so I composed this image by framing the distant Monument Valley and nearby boulders of Muley Point.

RVWest Magazine featured story this month: Kit Frost, Photography

Camping at Sand Island Recreation Area, beside the San Juan River, in Utah

The current online issue of RV West Magazine features an article about my life, RV, photography, what inspires me and my reasons for purchasing my rig, and a story about how I combine photography and adventures.  Let me know what you think.  I love comments on my blog.

After entering the RV West photo contest in November, and winning, the editor called to suggest an article about my path to loving RV and Adventure travel in combination Chase the Light Photography Adventures.  Check it out.  The article includes a cool slideshow of photos taken of my rig while camping in Utah, and Colorado.  Most of the time, I'm out exploring and making photos and then I return to my camper at night for comfort and warmth.

Kit Frost doesn't just just seek adventures, she creates them!  Link

Thanks RV West for the wonderful article.

RV Renovations, Upgrades and Repair

Camping at Valley of the Gods, Utah.  The awning is still in place at this time.

Installations, Renovations and Repairs

1. Learned how to tow, drive,  back up and do figure eights.
2. Brake controller - New, installed under the Jeep dash
3. Weight distribution hitch anti sway - Habitat for Humanity Restore
4. New electric and hook up - 7pin
5. Larger tow ball
6. Solar Panels, hooked up 35 watt panel to trickle charge my battery
7. Replaced running lights around the camper
8. Installed spare tire on the back bumper of camper
9. Learned how to use propane, for heating and cooking
10. Learned how to dump my gray and black tanks
11. Learned how to hook up to shore power and to turn on circuits and run from shore power
12. Caulked around wheel well
13. LED Lights throughout super bright leds.com
14. Installed a spring on screen door, so it shuts every time.
15. Added shelves in closet
16. Turned bathroom into a closet for the winter
17. Took those silly tie backs off the curtains
18. Replaced outdoor lights, so I can have lighting at night when unhooking and opening propane for use.
19. Removed the broken awning/canopy, White trashy.
20. I plan to use portable awnings so I can cover the picnic table instead of needing to be close to the camper to hang out.

At Cadillac Ranch RV Park, Utah, a warm January afternoon, removing the awning and cleaning the camper.