21 yr old moving to CA..living in a tent need FEEDBACK (Santa Cruz: dorms, buying)
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21 yr old moving to CA..living in a tent need FEEDBACK
Knew the title would raise some eyebrows
I am going to be visiting California for a few months starting in January. I am going to be taking part in American Conservation Experience, where I will be working in remote locations where I will be sleeping in a tent at days at a time. My question is, what is California's weather like between January and April? I will be located in Santa Cruz, CA though will be traveling throughout the state at different locations. I understand the climate will vary greatly throughout the state, though I am just trying to get a generalized idea of what the winter is like(I am mostly concerned about how cold it gets at night).
Wet and chilly for the Northern two thirds of the state. That's when we get most of our rain. Think low 40s at night, mid 50s in the day for the coast. Unless we are having a dry winter probably a storm or two a week.
I am going to be visiting California for a few months starting in January. I am going to be taking part in American Conservation Experience, where I will be working in remote locations where I will be sleeping in a tent at days at a time. My question is, what is California's weather like between January and April? I will be located in Santa Cruz, CA though will be traveling throughout the state at different locations. I understand the climate will vary greatly throughout the state, though I am just trying to get a generalized idea of what the winter is like(I am mostly concerned about how cold it gets at night).
Thanks
Depending on where you are in the state: it could be below freezing or could be in the 50s. by March the weather will warm up, but the rains will start. In fact, again, depending on where you are you might get rain the entire time. So Ca will be much warmer as you can imagine, still cold at night. It sounds like you are in for an adventure to put it mildly. good luck.
Living in a tent in winter here ain't going to be a picnic.... depends on elevation, but North Cal can be cold all day and freezing at night and very rainy plus misty/foggy on the coast. 40s, 30s at night in lowlands, 20s and 10s at elevations....I'd make sure you have a tent with a full rain fly with enough dry storage space and figure how you're going to be warming yourself up--you'd either need a place where you can go and sit to warm up or some kind of heater. Myself, I decided to get a new big tent, where I can sit on a chair and stand, because being trapped in a smaller tent during the rains can drive one crazy.
I am going to be visiting California for a few months starting in January. I am going to be taking part in American Conservation Experience, where I will be working in remote locations where I will be sleeping in a tent at days at a time. My question is, what is California's weather like between January and April? I will be located in Santa Cruz, CA though will be traveling throughout the state at different locations. I understand the climate will vary greatly throughout the state, though I am just trying to get a generalized idea of what the winter is like(I am mostly concerned about how cold it gets at night).
Thanks
You're concerned about the cold and you should be when in higher elevations but if you're camping on or anywhere near the coast, you're going to get wet if you don't have proper gear.
I'd rather camp in really cold temps than in rain ... it's a pain in the a.
I've spent many months in a tent in the redwoods (Santa Cruz county) but never in the winter.
And when it rains on the coast in the winter, it really rains.
It'll be so loud at times you won't be able to sleep.
The end of October is always my cut-off time but i've been in early rains and it's a pain.
Make sure you have a darn good 4 seasons tent (very expensive but worth it - do not try and save money by buying a less expensive tent and/or a 3 season tent - you'll regret it especially if you prefer to stay dry and warm!) and that you have a high quality tarp for your tent and that you provide proper drainage around the tent so that water doesn't collect under the tent and/or under the tarp.
And get a sleeping bag that will be appropriate for below zero temps because even if it doesn't get that cold, you'll be glad that you have a super warm bag when in higher elevations.
Here's a page at campmor.com for 4 season tents.
It's a good place to find your gear and save a bit of $$$. www.campmor.com 4 season tents
He doesn't need a 4 season tent (which is expensive) unless he's going to be camping in high-snowfall and high-wind area.... I know one can camp in Oregon just fine with 3 season tent and I camp in the Sierra in late fall/early winter with my $50 3-season tent. If these kids are sent to some very high snowy elevation, I believe that organization will put them in some kind of dorms or provide large tents and won't leave them with their own tents. The company packing recommendations don't require a 4 season. He doesn't need to spend that much $$... I mean $499 for a small tent.. it's like a price for a used trailer I mean. Price like that is a total rip off...Reminds me of $400 Patagonia jackets.
You may have luck with an Army supply store.. I got my new sleeping bag for $50 in Army supply and it's rated for -10. I got another bag there for $15, rated 30F and stuff one inside another--it gets hot as hell in the bag even in freezing temperatures. There're some cheaper 4 season tents for $100-150 you can find on Amazon if you go with 4 season, sacrificing space. I mean if you really go "way out there"... you better know how to build a snow cave in case your tent gets blown away, you'd need to know how to hunt in case you're cut off food supplies... I'm sure American Conservation Experience had foreseen all this happening and has some required gear list for volunteers
He doesn't need a 4 season tent (which is expensive) unless he's going to be camping in high-snowfall and high-wind area.... I know one can camp in Oregon just fine with 3 season tent and I camp in the Sierra in late fall/early winter with my $50 3-season tent. If these kids are sent to some very high snowy elevation, I believe that organization will put them in some kind of dorms or provide large tents and won't leave them with their own tents. The company packing recommendations don't require a 4 season. He doesn't need to spend that much $$... I mean $499 for a small tent.. it's like a price for a used trailer I mean. Price like that is a total rip off...Reminds me of $400 Patagonia jackets.
You may have luck with an Army supply store.. I got my new sleeping bag for $50 in Army supply and it's rated for -10. I got another bag there for $15, rated 30F and stuff one inside another--it gets hot as hell in the bag even in freezing temperatures. There're some cheaper 4 season tents for $100-150 you can find on Amazon if you go with 4 season, sacrificing space. I mean if you really go "way out there"... you better know how to build a snow cave in case your tent gets blown away, you'd need to know how to hunt in case you're cut off food supplies... I'm sure American Conservation Experience had foreseen all this happening and has some required gear list for volunteers
I camp so much in both rain and in higher elevations / cold / snow and, for me, a 4 season tent is definitely worth it.
It just depends on whether or not the o.p. can afford it and how important it is for him to be as comfortable and dry and warm as possible.
I prefer to invest in high quality camping gear (and gear that will last).
I don't have a lot of money but there are some things that i won't go cheap on and gear is one of them.
And i have a Patagonia parka and i paid quite a bit more than $400 for it and when it's 20 below zero i'm quite grateful for it and it's worth every penny ... for me.
I grew up in the coldest country on Earth... where I lived I remember snow in August and could go for months without a day of sun. Wouldn't pay for that Patagonia crap if my life depended on it. We lived without that stuff and camped (including our army and geologist parties) just fine with cheap equipment and clothes. I always prefer to get stuff in Army supplies. The stuff shouldn't cost that ridiculously much. When I see those dudes parading expensive junk like if they're out ot get laid (Patagonia clothes probably makes it more likely) it often screams "city slicker" makes me want to puke...! People lived for millenniums without that expensive gear. They started to produce pricey junk to commercialize rock climbing and camping, it reminds me of iphone being "necessary". If I pay $500 for a tent it better be able to pop itself up and have fan dryers inside. It probably would have to have wheels.
Last edited by alexxiz; 11-01-2011 at 10:08 PM..
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