HardSell
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2019
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 432
- Reaction score
- 335
- Location
- New Mexico
- Vehicle(s)
- 05 Built Rubicon replaced modestly built stolen '87 XJ
- Occupation
- Nose Picker
The past three years, Needles has been difficult to camp in without prepaid reservations because of the Euro invasion. Increasingly affluent (thanks to our military support) E'peans, with inside help from RV promoters reserve this place a year or more in advance. Facilities there are best utilized by experienced campers. The only families I've seen there the past 30 years were with pre-teens and that was uncommon. While hiking and Jeeping are extraordinary, It's hot and dry June thru Aug, but evenings are wonderful. I've never seen brighter stars and milder nights. Lots of bugs July-September. Used to go in with sensible FCFS policy and find plenty of sites, but no longer. Park service changed its policy three years ago requiring paid reservations. People don't show, then sites go vacant while visitors without reservations are being denied access. Needles is fairly remote and Canyonlands is presently closed indefinitely with COVID. When and If COVID ends, best enjoyment for family is to commute to trails from Moab. You'll have long days filled with life time memories with a bed and shower waiting. If real estate busts again, you'll get great condo deals from owners trying to keep from losing their investments. 2009-2011 were unbelievable years for stay deals. Do a lot of research before going.
Colorado is even more challenging for getting sites. If you have $$$, condos will fill up fast once this pandemic fades and things open up. I mentioned Blanca Peak: That's best driven in groups of 3 - 5 vehicles by experienced drivers. The San Juans and Collegiate range are best for new vehicles. Holy Cross, Blanca Pk, Chinaman's Gulch are for medium core drivers with built beaters. Your new Rubi, wile built, is not yet a beater. Rule: Wheel your Rubi into the kind of trouble a Sahara can get into; use your capability to get you out of the trouble a Sahara cannot.
Attached is a photo of us, last March, in line ;-) to tackle a somewhat hard core route just outside of town while Sahara owners watched from above, LOL! FCA just hates it when we test drive their new models.
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