Hi Slim. The key to keeping warm, I have found, is keeping your underside warm. I'm a 73 year old woman living in Saskatchewan. A couple of years ago, I decided to try sleeping outside in the winter. I set up a tent within a tent. I put down foam pads and a foam mattress. Under my sleeping bag, I put down an electric heating pad, which I would turn on an hour before bedtime. I did this all that winter. Slept like a log.
My friend does it and he's a married man. Sometimes he will sleep in the backyard in a swag or small tent after a period of having had trouble sleeping. It's both a mental and physical refresh sometimes to sleep in a more natural setting.@@ForkNLeans
YES! In the southern parts of New Zealand it gets very cold so lying on an electric blanket does really help for sleeping. Also I know lots of ppl don't like wearing socks to bed but if you do, it keeps your feet warm and allows for far better sleep.
Lol. I guess I just assumed the weather in NM would be similar to the weather in southwest Arizona. But as another traveler pointed out… Quartzsite is at like 840 feet above sea level…. I just forgot to take the rise in elevation in NM into consideration.
I’m staying in the South east US and wouldn’t live anywhere else. With that said last couple of years have certainly been different. Still got some strange weather .
The water there definitely is scary , the sign said it is a "Waster water evaporation pond" it seems that what ever is in the water becomes more concentrated as water evaporates. Definitely a good call to not recommend that site as a good place to camp at. Really nice video Slim , thanks for taking us along.
The Sands looked amazing. But it is baffling that there are campgrounds right on toxic land. Can’t be good for anybody… Thanks for another interesting video.
Hello Slim, when you showed how cold the un-heated part of your camper was , it reminded me of some cold nights I spent in my semi. I hated listening to the Diesel engine running and would get under a bunch of blankets and turn the engine off. Sometimes I would wake up and a bottle of water on my nightstand would be frozen. I would get up, start the engine, go back to bed. Let things warm up.
Hey Slim....I just found your page and listened to what you had to say. Now, being a Mum and a Grandma and having learned a few things from my own Ma and G'ma, just thought I'd give you a wee clue about keeping in the warmth. I NEVER put beds under windows, but in your case, you don't have a choice, so I would make a suggestion that you put Bungee cords Don't know what you call them) at the bottoms of your windows and when you close the curtains, tuck the bottoms into the Bungee so that they pull the curtains close to the wall. 80% of heat goes out through windows. Hope this helps.
Somewhere out there in White Sands, are some of the oldest human Fossilized Footprints along with mammoth and Giant Sloth. Thanks for sharing your adventures Slim.
We took a grandson to White Sands last March and taking his younger brother next week. We stay at a state park just south of Alamogordo. For the viewers who don't know, the sand is comprised of gypsum instead of quartz sand so that is why it is so dazzling white. We buy a plastic sand sled and they have a grand time sliding down the dunes.
that sound of the jets is called the "Sound of Freedom"! I am a retired USAF Major and I love it when jets fly overhead! I do realize many people, such as yourself, don't like or want to hear jets, but that does raise the question--why would you boondock at a place that is right next to an active Air Force Base that has fighter jets? My last assignment was Albuquerque and I will say that New Mexico is a great state to visit--safe travels.
I thought I explained the obvious: It was right beside White Sands National Park, which does not allow camping right now. As for the jets, I felt important to tell the noise issues as well as the toxic ones to others who may wish to camp there. SP
Early in my 4-year AF stint, I was housed in the BOQ at Ellsworth AFB, SD. The building was at the north end of the main runway. There was no sleeping when the B-52s stationed there took off, always an inspiring spectacle. I have fond memories of those "oil burners."
Another good thing with the sleeping bag divider is that it creates really nice accoustic properties with no reflections, kind of like a recording booth.
This American thanks you always, Slim, for giving us the temps in Fahrenheit …. I can never convert C quickly in my head. Lol. It’s funny…. As I was planning my own journey back to the a east coast from Quartzsite, I delayed it several times due to the weather in New Mexico…. I was surprised to see how cold it got there. I finally found a reasonable weather window and got back on the road. Only problem is it’s a small window and I won’t have time to explore several places that were on my list this trip. Next time. Also!! I promise it gets better…. The weather in Q for just about all of February was PERFECT! I didn’t need any kind of heat at night the last 3 weeks. Also, the desert is on bloom… lots of color! Enjoy!!
Unasked, but here’s how I do C to F. 0c = freezing 10c = sweater (50f) 20c = room temp (70f) 30c = hot (85f) -10c = cold -20c = really cold -30c = really really cold
What a beautiful scenery! Thank you for all you do! I appreciate your work, it makes my days! Safe travels and peaceful journeys! I wouldn't be walking around the dunes, I know I'd get lost out there and think I'm walking back to my van and probably get lost further away! lol Peace & safe travels & thank you so much for doing this! I appreciate you!
Thank you for taking us along on the road trip to New Mexico! The snow in the previous video was beautiful but kind of scary! Since I’m in central Florida, I love the mountains! 😊💜
Hi Slim. Another interesting video. Dividing the camper in half with blankets is a great idea. I have a small pop-up camper and have been doing that for several years. In my case, I don't sleep on the bunk ends under the canvas. I don't put up my inside table. But instead, I put my sleeping bag down there and sleep. I then hang shipping blankets over the ends to basically cut the camper in half. Fortunately, in a pop-up camper, all of my living space is between the two blankets. I sleep in a zero-degree sleeping bag so I stay pretty warm. In the morning I just have to reach down by the head of my bed and turn the furnace on or up a little higher to heat the space up before I get up. The heater is down near the floor. I put my clothes down there on the floor in front of the heater. That warms them up nicely for me. One problem you might have in the future, if not already, is getting up in the night to answer the call of nature. If you know what I mean. Answering that call is difficult in a confined space. I look forward to your next video.
So, the topic of Holloman Lake is a political can of worms. As a undergraduate I studied the White Sands Pupfish, a native endangered species that thrives in alkaline lakes and streams within four habitats in the area. I would be more worried about the amount of salts a dog might ingest from licking their paws than the amount of PFAS. Is it a concern? Yes. Is it a concern across the Western US and Canada? Yes. It is not just a concern of playa lakes in New Mexico. One of the underlying reasons they want to close it down is the same reason they are looking at closing access to public lands across the United States-people are trashing it. If people would just clean up after themselves and leave it better than how they found it Holloman Lake might actually get the love it needs. I'm sorry if I offended anyone-I'm just tired of the finger pointing and no one lifting that same finger to actually resolve the issues.
Thank you for the heads up on this lake...sad...white sands is amazing... Those jets in front of those mountains were awesome.... Thanks Slim...stay safe, be well and happy
Another excellent video. I hope to be able to travel, just as you do. Slim, your videos show me the good, the bad, and the ugly of small camper travel. I am happy to see that it is mostly good. I am looking forward to being able to travel in a similar fashion. Good travels, and a safe journey.
That's the worst possible place to camp in an area that's otherwise home to many scenic, well kept campgrounds. The Holloman lake is not heavily advertised or recommended at all. Yes, avoid it, but don't cheat yourself out of visiting the Tularosa Basin and White Sands.
Thanks for trying to satisfy everyone Slim by giving both temperature systems, much appreciated. As for the lake yeahh... probably there are remnants of nuclear radioactive waste even , should get a geizer reading.
Aways enjoy seeing all the variables you control in your experiments Slim 🙂 Thank you for mentioning and respecting drone protocols 🙂 I visited the White Sands several years ago... they reminded me soooo much of the prairie snowscapes in Manitoba 🤩 We stayed in a state park about 20-30 mins west I think
❤❤❤ Sometimes it's cold in NM, however I'm preparing to leave it after 8 years, boondocking and on my way to the Grand canyon, then on to Lake mead for 3 months, then to Yellowstone until early September, and finally on to Quartzsite. I do like you insights and your exploration. I'm in a Hummer, which I affectionately called Bumblebee.❤❤❤
Definitely a lake that does not look good. I feel so bad for the wild life. So sad to see how we are destroying our earth. That being said I do enjoy your videos.
Slim, what we carry in our trailer are extra military wool blankets and in alaska we did the same thing you did with your sleeping bag. We clip the wool blankets around our bed frame on three sides , because the temperature was in the low teens but we were nice and toasty in our cave. 😊😏👍😍
I lived in my small trailer at 11,000 feet in Alma, Colorado in the winter and would turn on my heater to warm things up but sleep on an electric heating pad and blanket. I had a timer for my heater to turn on a few hours before l had to wake up. I often slept through temperatures well below freezing and negative single digits.
Thank You for being Honest about where you stay! They need to shut that place down! Glad the blanket worked. We have curtains blocking the front of our RV keeps it warm when needed!
Sad story on the lake. I quickly past White Sands a few years back, but had no time to camp. Perhaps that was a blessing. I can only hope the area will not just be closed, but also cleaned up. The harm this age of humans have done to the good earth. Once again thanks for your latest chapter.
Turned out you were spot on when you hung the top bunk sleeping bag , as a temp wall ! Good job. ‼️🇨🇦 Many a night , I camped out on my Trillium Trailer
I just wanted to thank you and your viewer for the window vacuum recommendation. I purchased one for my 13' Scamp and it works great! No more smears and soggy towels!
We have thermal curtains or shades, as we have single pane windows. Our curtains have two outer panels and a loose hollow lining, and work really well, as you lose so much heat through your windows. Love the program.
I am so glad l experienced White Sands before it became a national park, in December 2016. There was barely anyone there and l backpacked to a site on the dunes and slept under the stars without a tent. It was wonderful.
Really like your jacket. Even comes down a bit in the back, and the zipper has the wind chill covering over, a plus. Great little sleeping area. Wow, yes the rest of the ROOM that is cold. Food ok, can beer? No freezing out bursts. Surprised you did not end up with any Squatters taking up Camp in your camper. Some people did end up with such a problem Thank YOU
I love your cinematography, running around the sand dunes and your skill making it look like someone else took the video! Thank you for bringing up the concern about the environment.
Very useful information about this place where you stopped for a while. So unfortunate for his close neighbour. The Little prince of St-Exupéry immediately came to my mind… a special moment to feel the effect of the desert and let the memory whispers the story to the ears of the spirit.
I’ve always wanted to go to White Sands! If it’s that gorgeous on video, I can’t imagine how gorgeous it is in person. And I love how you’re a staunch conservationist 💝 Thanks so much!
Hi, slim. Well, your sleeping bag is very similar to my shower curtain idea that I gave to you a few videos ago. Maybe you didn't see it, but there you go, great thinking!! Safe journeys and stay warm.❤
For the hinge, I think a stripe of wood on the inside of the cabinet to anchor the hinge-screw to would work best--the fiberglass cabinet walls (not sure what they are made of, but neither fiberglass nor particles board anchor well) are too thin support anything. Another enjoyable vd with useful info--thanks.
When we visited White Sands a few years ago, a huge lightening, wind and rain storm came up suddenly. Needless to say, everyone had a blast... As in SANDBLASTED! We felt sorry for those souls who had ventured deep into the dunes. It was hard enough getting back to shelter and we were only at the first set of dunes. Absolutely beautiful however.
Don’t miss the White Sands mistakenly believing it’s all toxic. It’s one of the most beautiful sites in New Mexico next to my home town Alamogordo. And I see Cloudcroft had lots of snow.
I subscribed to a lot of channels and love all of them but i can say without hesitation that Slim is my number one. Thank you so much for all your work!
I live in New Mexico. Our saying is...if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change. But.. this winter has been weird...winter was short...spring weather now but be careful...high winds are headed our way. Looking forward to your next video to see where you are in New Mexico next time.
Wow...I too hope that the lake will get cleaned up. Seeing those birds swimming in there really brings it home. Wildlife has no way of knowing good from bad.
I use blackout curtains and a tension rod to section off the bed area in my A-liner. It’s not for helping with the heat. I like the way it breaks up the space. Feels like I have a bedroom.
Thank you for being honest,concerned for the wildlife, the land , and fellow humans.How truly a masterpiece this same area would be if man had never intruded so hideously.Eat well boy that sand sure is white...does it glow at night like snow when you look out the window?
Oliver Lee State Park is the place to stay, but it is a good half hour from White Sands NM. I believe in the past there is boondocking outside the state park. Some hiking in the area and interesting local history.
Good afternoon Slim. Holloman Lake, I've never stayed there, same as the Salton Sea because I know how bad both are. What, no kayak paddling there? Be adventurous. ;-)
Hi Slim. I have been watching you for a while now. I too thought of you when I saw the wild fires in Texas also think of you when there is a snow storm in the east.
Mildew is usually the result of a warm mattress and…a cold trailer. Keep a watch out for moisture forming nightly on the underside of your mattress. Thanks for taking us along.
Slim, I’m here watching on low brain power so I appreciate the temp conversions! Also you make filming these videos look easy but it is for sure a skill! Cheers.
White Sands looks amazing. This was the best video I have ever seen off it so far. Nice work. It is quite disturbing how some people totally disregard the sanctity of nature and are ignorant to the destruction they are causing it. Mankind will never learn. Look what happened to the Salton Sea. Is really quite sad. Thank you for making us aware of what is going on at this camping area. It breaks my heart that its obviously effecting the wildlife. Safe travels SP.
Very interesting video! I have always wanted to go to White Sands Natl Park, and I will soon. Thank you for taking us along and telling us about the poisonous lake ❤
Oh my gosh, I remember staying there. Also poop everywhere and noisy aircraft. Other than that there were only four other vehicles when I went, but that was a few years ago I love White Sands, great for photography I had a ball! Thank you, ❤ your videos!
We use pieces of Refectix insulation that I stuff between the shades and the glass windows. It makes a heck of a difference in keeping the trailer warm at night. With your sleeping bag trick that refectix in the windows you’d be toasty.
Cold RV adventures. What a difference a few hours and miles can make. I spent three days on a job in early June in Redmond, Oregon sleeping nude on the overhead bunk in my truck camper because of the overnight heat. I left Redmond and drove 150-miles _south_ to Klamath Falls, Oregon arriving late in the afternoon a the new jobsite. The contractor's super asked me if I wanted to sleep in the Gym that night cuz it was going to be cold and I said "no thanks. I would be fine in the camper". Little did I know how cold it would get and that my furnace wouldn't fire. Klamath Falls has geothermal heat and as I went to dinner steam was rising from cracks in the road and the storm drains and it was beginning to snow lightly. What a scene as I drove back to the construction site. steam and snow. The last time I saw that was on top of Mt. Hood. Well, the furnace didn't fire and the wind came up and the temps in the camper dropped like the proverbial rock so... I was soon in a winter work jacket and then another pair of pants over the ones I had on plus three pairs of socks while looking at the locked gym door and wondering if there was another way to get in. There wasn't. The next morning it was below freezing(about 25*) in the camper and the thermometer in my fridge was 34* and my mustache had icicles on it. I should have slept in the fridge. Turns out my propane switch over valve... didn't. Note; Follow the advice of 'donnamiller'. RV campers have little to no insulation in the floors or under the bunks or dinette. closed cell mattresses or seating cushions help alleviate intrusive cold. Adding a heating mattress/pad is a big help. I even use one on my home bed cuz I like the bedroom very cool for sleeping.
Slim, I watch all of your videos and there is nothing better than sitting down to a Slim creation with my morning coffee. I can't remember where you store your "solar" battery. I hope it and your camera batteries are on the warm side of your camper. Freezing temps can kill those batteries.
White Sands National Park is amazing! Three times I have backpacked out in the dunes to spend the night when it was a full moon. Incredible, but not allowed since it became a national park. There is a 5-mile loop trail to Alkali Flats that is also a great hike. And at the southern end of the park is Lake Lucero (only occasionally has water in it though). You can only visit on monthly guided hikes.
@@SlimPotatohead Yes, I mentioned that in my comment. When White Sands first became a National Park there was talk of making a campground there. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, and I haven't heard anymore about it.
I lived in NM Slim, all told a bit over a year. Lost most of the hair on my head in NM. I'd be a lot less worried about the toxic water - that you can avoid, than the background radiation that you can't. Still, thank you for educating us all about that lake.
Slim great heater test! The pond. It's not blowing to the shore. It's already there, it's just churning it up. If they close it (If) being the operative word, could end up a Super Fund site! Safe travels!
Thanks for another great video. Love playing at White Sands! Can you imagine what it would be like there if even 1/2 the folks you saw there had drones up? I’m relieved that it is NOT allowed. Thanks for sharing your excellent content.
My sister and I were at White Sands Nat'l Park back at the end of August, we camped at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park - not too far from where you camped.
Hi Slim, I stumbled across your isolation video, while at home with the flu! Literally doing a Covid test as I watched. I’m watching your New Mexico videos now. I’m in Australia, and have never seen falling snow, so am enjoying this footage. I’d be one of those drivers skidding and pulling over, too. Cheers to your further adventures! 🇦🇺
