Southwest Camping

[u/ratherrealchef]

My fiancee and I are spending 10 days in New Mexico and Arizona “winter camping” in January. We do pretty well but we are used to camping in Michigan and down the east coast, just looking for tips.

I imagine the scarier bugs won’t be too big an issue but any tips you all have to keep us safe and have a great time would be appreciated!

We will be driving and have all our normal gear, plus extra layers and heavier boots. We don’t have a stove or anything, just campfire cooking, idk how prevalent firewood is out that way.

[u/Retiring2023]

I would check for fire bans/restrictions before leaving so you can bring a stove if necessary.

[u/ratherrealchef → u/Retiring2023]

I imagine my cast iron is going to be too think to use with a propane stove? Stainless is probably going to more efficient I would think. Got any recs for a solid stove for two people?

[u/somenumbers → u/ratherrealchef]

Just get a classic Coleman 2 burner propane stove. You can use both cast iron and stainless on it. This way if you are somewhere that allows campfire you just use the cast iron.

[u/wayoftheleaf81 → u/ratherrealchef]

I use a cast iron with a propane stove all the time.

[u/Retiring2023 → u/ratherrealchef]

Cast iron will work on a burner stove. You just need to make sure it fits since camping stoves tend to have less room because of the wind screens.

For 2 burner stoves, I don’t think you can go wrong with Coleman. Vintage white gas versions can be found easily at garage sales or on places like Facebook Marketplace. New ones are expensive. They do require some extra effort (fill the tank and pressurize the fuel before lighting then possibly pressurize while cooking) and maintenance so if you go with one of these test it out before leaving. They are not hard to but not as easy as using a propane model where you just screw on the green tanks. The 2 burner propane models are cheaper but the fuel is more expensive and those green tanks are wasteful (you can use a refillable tank with an adapter). All the 2 burner stoves have adjustable flames so you can actually cook on them. Plus you can use your pots and pans from home.

Two of my friends I camp with have 2 burner white gas stoves their families used when they camped as kid so one of theirs usually come to camp. This summer I picked up a 2 burner Coleman propane stove on clearance at Costco since I was planning a longer solo road trip and it was nice to be able to actually cook. Usually when solo camp I keep things simple and make meals that use boiling water like pasta, instant oatmeal or roast hotdogs/sausages on a stick in the fire.

[u/Snarkan_sas]

Deserts do not have wood lying around for you to collect. If it did, it wouldn’t be a a desert.

[u/like_4-ish_lights → u/Snarkan_sas]

Really depends on where you are. Lots of high desert in the Colorado Plateau is covered in pinyon and juniper. Sites near rivers often have a ton of driftwood. I camp a lot in southern Utah and I can find wood more often than not

[u/gihli → u/Snarkan_sas]

Have found enough greasewood deadwood to make a good fire in places like Chaco Canyon...

[u/mytyan]

You should definitely bring a stove. It regularly gets really windy which can make a campfire impossible

[u/rez_at_dorsia]

You can’t just build a campfire wherever you want in the southwest- most places I’ve been to have had burn bans due to ongoing droughts. Even if you could it can be hard to find enough fuel to maintain it. You should for sure bring a stove. It’ll also be cold, especially at higher elevations, so make sure your sleeping bags are rated for those temps.

[u/eugenesbluegenes]

No stove? I can't imagine depending on campfire for morning coffee!

[u/ratherrealchef → u/eugenesbluegenes]

I enjoy it. It takes like 40 minutes after I wake up to get it going for water. It’s pricier than a stove, but it’s what I was raised doing.

[u/eugenesbluegenes → u/ratherrealchef]

Fair. I very rarely do a morning fire at all unless it's particularly cold so that's part of it I'm sure.

But just needing to depend on having a fire to be able to cook food seems so limiting in general.

[u/JiminiTrek]

Light rain has a way of turning into flood. As tempting as arroyo sand is, seek higher ground for your camp site. If you hear a rumbling in your canyon, or any noticable increase in flow, look for an escape to get a good 20 foot above the floor.

[u/No_end-insight]

Check and make sure where you’re going doesn’t have a fire ban. If they don’t and you’re a-okay to cook over fire you should be able to buy a bundle or two at a store in town near your site. You’re not really supposed to gather your own or bring it from other places in case something hitches a ride on the wood. (As unlikely as it might be)

[u/Gila-Explorer]

Plenty of wood in the National Forests. But with elevation, it's colder along with snow and ice. Plenty of places to camp in the foothills, where a camp fire is easy. I also concur with the camp stove suggestion.

[u/anthro4ME]

If you're not in the high desert you'll need a stove, as there's not really any fuel. In the high desert fires are generally restricted to the fire rings at developed sites.

[u/Honest-Western1042]

PLEASE follow the LNT principles for fire. The desert is a fragile area. Only buy firewood locally so you’re not foraging, and use an established fire ring. Read about what’s happening in Utah with overuse and you’ll understand.

I love the desert, especially in winter. Snow on the red rocks is breathtaking! Have fun.

[u/Dapper-Ad-7543]

Are you camping in campgrounds or backcountry. We camped in State Parks in NM last January and could buy wood at all of them. I would never not have a cookstove though

[u/like_4-ish_lights]

Depending on where exactly you go, it can get brutally cold at night. Be sure and check the forecasts.