Canyon De Chelly preparation

Some of you had some very interesting thoughts on our trip preparation post. Can some of you avid campers come up with some ideas for us not so avid campers about the supplies, equipment and quantities of water, gas and whatever you can think of that we will need for the CDC trip. We are only 5 short months away. I better start packing the Jeep!

Good sleeping bags are one of the things I think is most important.

OK , we have 14 vehicles definitely going to CDC with deposits paid and smiles on their faces. Remember prepare-prepare-prepare. Almost nothing sucks like finding out you left something important at home(like your camera).We make lists and check them off because I've driven as far as Globe on a weeks vacation only to realise I'd forgotten my wallet,Duh. We will plan an overnight camping trip so you can check out your new camping stuff and we'll also be active on this board with suggestions and tips to help the newbies. Don't be bashful with your questions,we'll try to help. Super Dave

I think this was mentioned before but are we only setting up camp once and coming back the following nights or are we setting up camp and packing up after each night we're there?

hi all, I'm been camping on and off for the past year. some nights we FROZEN our a###! off and we learn a hard [cold] lesson, and now we are more prepared. and now camping is a lot more fun. a good tent [with no broken poles] a good sleeping bag[ rating of 0 degrees] and Mr heater BUDDY the tent heater.to take the chill off!! and a shower tent for the long weekend. and lot of water. just my 2 cents



lazy dog

I think this was mentioned before but are we only setting up camp once and coming back the following nights or are we setting up camp and packing up after each night we're there?

According to Dave we will return to the same camp each night.

hi all, I'm been camping on and off for the past year. some nights we FROZEN our a###! off and we learn a hard [cold] lesson, and now we are more prepared. and now camping is a lot more fun. a good tent [with no broken poles] a good sleeping bag[ rating of 0 degrees] and Mr heater BUDDY the tent heater.to take the chill off!! and a shower tent for the long weekend. and lot of water. just my 2 cents



lazy dog

I am sure a lot of you have those things but I don?t and with me hardly doing any camping I have no intention to run out and buy them. I am going to buy a porta potty to use in the tent. We looked at the average temperatures for the year in Chinle and the week we are going on the 4th to 6th , the average day time temps were in the mid 70?s and night time temps in the mid 50?s. Of course this is a yearly average and it could get ugly but lets hope not. This is why we chose this particular week. I will have to rely on my 45 degree sleeping bags and blankets to keep warm. I personally am more interested in how much water and fuel to bring. I don?t have a shower but I would like to sponge bathe every day. I am not going to be doing much cooking, only on a grill with paper plates, paper bowls and plastic utensils so I will have little to no dishes to wash. Six gallons, eight gallons of water? Do we need to bring fuel if we fill the tank in Chinle Saturday morning? These are some of the questions I have and I?m sure I will have many more in the next couple of months.

Last year I remember putting on 70 miles while in the Canyon, mostly in 4 low. I did have an extra 5 gal. can of gas which I put in the tank. Probably didn't need it but it made me feel better. I'll take 5 gal. again this year and if I have to sell it she won't be cheap. You know if you have a gas hog or not so you decide,almost forgot the entrance to the canyon is only a couple of miles from Chinle so you should top off when you get to town. This year I'm taking 24 gal. of fresh water so I can take a shower and won't smell so offensive. Having camped in one form or another for 36 yrs. we pretty much know what our comfort level is and bring whatever it takes to reach it. Porta pot, shower house with hot water and a heater for the tent are some of the nessecities we take. I'll be posting some lists later when my typing finger gets rested. SUPER DAVE

Do you think 24 gallons will really get the smell out?

Careful now, you know I'll only use 12 gal., the rest is for Kathy!!!!!