What is your favorite time of the year to overland?

[El-Dracho]

Hi,

What is your favorite season for your overlanding trips? And why?

Of course, all seasons have their advantages and disadvantages and special characteristics.

I really like winter travel, for example. By that I mean winter in the northern hemisphere. The silence, fairy-tale winter landscapes with lots of snow, frozen waterfalls, warming campfires, etc.

What do you like best? I am curious.

Bjoern

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[Tundracamper]

I like winter as well. Being from the south, that doesn’t involve any snow, though I wish it did.

 

[grubworm]

winter

less people and less pests.

 

[Ceg]

Summer. I can get high in the mountains after the snow melts. I love the views from the top of the ridges and high lakes.

I don't do cold weather very well anymore with my old bad back. I do spring and fall camping with the truck and camper.

 

[NMBruce]

I like spring to fall. Being in the mountains of Colorado, spring and fall can get down right cold, under 15 degs at night. It nice to see the high mountains flowers and wild life out and the streams running. Most of the places I go, I can’t get after the first couple of snow falls or until the snow melts.
I have a friend that wants to start doing some winter camping, but as of right now I am not prepared for winter camping. Maybe some day
For overlanding, it could be year around, summers up north and winters down in parts of NV, AZ and CA

 

[KAIONE]

WINTER, big camp fires are the best!!! Sunrises and sunsets are a bit crisper and the drinks flow longer…..

 

[K12]

I like any time I can get out amd enjoy nature. Every season has its advantages as you said. Late fall is probaboy my favorite. It hasnt gotten too cold, snow hasnt blocked the routes yet. but there can still be a sheet of snow covering everything around. Not to mention the leaves have fallen and it clears up your view from the mountains.

 

[RatAssassin]

"Overlanding" is about being mobile.
Its not like backpacking, for example,, where you deal with the hand you've been dealt.
Nobody is more than a 2 day drive from finding the weather they like.
There really is no "season". Its more about allowing yourself the time to get what you want, where you want in order to spend your time in the conditions of one's preference.
I like all seasons, myself and do not mind a night or two in a snow cave along Lake Superior.
And then 3 weeks later, I'm driving down along the gulf coast.

 

[Tundracamper]

"Overlanding" is about being mobile.
Its not like backpacking, for example,, where you deal with the hand you've been dealt.
Nobody is more than a 2 day drive from finding the weather they like.
There really is no "season". Its more about allowing yourself the time to get what you want, where you want in order to spend your time in the conditions of one's preference.
I like all seasons, myself and do not mind a night or two in a snow cave along Lake Superior.
And then 3 weeks later, I'm driving down along the gulf coast.

I agree with this logic. The reality for me is that I can only take the week or two off necessary for that two-day drive to a destination at most twice per year. As a result, I will typically drive two or even three days to get to that prime destination where the weather is in the zone I want.

 

[WilhelmB]

our summers are too hot and wet (40c+) with storms many afternoons, Winters are relatively dry and mild. most days around 24c and cool nights for sleeping.

 

[MegaBug]

On the ”wet” coast of Canada winters are dreary, wet and muddy. In my advancing years I much prefer a warmer, drier climate - shorts and t-shirts are far preferable to sweaty rain gear. The birds and animals have had it figured out forever. Migrate with the seasons and get the best of both (all) worlds. Life permitting of course .... ahhh, the joys of retirement :-)

 

[Downs]

Early Fall through late spring. I'll only camp during the summer at higher altitudes. The heat just makes the experience miserable to me.

 

[socal66]

In California its the deserts in the winter, the mountains in the summer, and everywhere else in between, in between those seasons.

 

[Billiebob]

I love autumn, cool temps, the tourists are gone, the ground is dry and solid.
Spring is good too. But often the ground is still thawing and treading lightly can be an issue.
Winter is fabulous, I do it rarely, keeping warm is a challenge, a welcome challenge but an extra effort is required.
Summer is the worst. Fire season is raging, foriegn tourists abound, bugs are at their peak, summer is when I refine my camper from lessons learned in the spring.

Then theres this....
who wants to camp at 40C...
Summer is the worst time for overlanding.

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[Truckee]

Overall, I prefer late Spring. Not as crowded as the summer. T-shirt weather in the snow. Deserts are bearable. Waterfalls are at peak flow.

Generally, winter is my least favorite due to possibility of rain and the limited daylight hours.

 

[Downs]

In California its the deserts in the winter, the mountains in the summer, and everywhere else in between, in between those seasons.

That's what I miss most about California. Being able to comfortably camp year round by varying your altitude lol.

 

[Get Out GO]

All year round! :)

 

[OVRLNDX]

Living in Southwest Texas I’d say late fall and winter ( winter being normally around 70* during the day). But I’ll take Northern New Mexico and Colorado in the summer all the time.

 

[OldManJack]

On the ”wet” coast of Canada winters are dreary, wet and muddy. In my advancing years I much prefer a warmer, drier climate - shorts and t-shirts are far preferable to sweaty rain gear. The birds and animals have had it figured out forever. Migrate with the seasons and get the best of both (all) worlds. Life permitting of course .... ahhh, the joys of retirement :-)

Amen! Retirement is so nice.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Autumn. Best overall time of all. Crisp air, apple season, pumpkin season, leaves change color and look like fire, nice to be around the girl

Thanksgiving, football, beef stew season

Not too hot and sticky.. .I could go on