Getting Closer and Staying Longer

Nothing improves your chances for getting great astro landscapes photos than just getting out as often as you can under a dark starry night sky.

Several years ago I decided to set a goal of not only getting out more often, but finding a way to get closer to my subject (dark sky locations) and being able to stay longer at those locations once I got there.

A "Boondocking" Camper Trailer: For me, the solution was to get a fully self-contained camper trailer—one that does not require water, electrical or sewer hookups. It also had to be small enough that it could be pulled behind my Subaru Outback, yet still have a toilet, shower, kitchen (stove, microwave and fridge), heat, and A/C, as well as roomy sleeping quarters and plenty of storage.

Although the Airstream Bambi 16RB (starting at $62,400) would have been ideal for me, it was also more than three time over my budget, so I settled for the 16-foot Coleman 13b ($12,600). It doesn't have a dining table and sitting area, so I guess I'll have to eat my meals sitting on the toilet (serious, I have found other solutions)!

My plan is to keep the trailer stocked with supplies and equipment, so it is always ready to go. I'm fortunate to live in Salt Lake City, Utah where I have five national parks within the state and four more in Wyoming, Arizona and Nevada—all less than 350 miles (562 km) away—not to mention dozens national monuments and state parks, almost all of which have Bortle skies of Class 2 or darker!

My First Trip: I took my trial run with my camper trailer this past week, where I went to Gold Butte National Monument, which is about 340 miles south of SLC. As you can see from the above comparison photo, even though Las Vegas was only 55 miles (89 km) away from my camp spot, directly behind me was a beautiful Bortle Class 2 sky! I was able to stay for five nights and shoot at different locations each night, only minutes away from my camp—and still get a restful night's sleep (very difficult with early spring Milky Way photography, where the core doesn't rise above the horizon until 2:30 AM)! I'll be posting some results on my Instagram profile in the very near future.

Another Compact Camper Trailer Option: The classic "teardrop" trailers, like the nuCamp TAB 320 provide most of the self-contained amenities you'll need in an even smaller package design, albeit at premium prices per square foot for all their efficiency (packages can range from about $27,000 to $42,000). The teardrops are lightweight and easy to tow with most vehicles.

RV Rentals: Renting a recreational vehicle is another great option. It's also a good way to test out a camper trailer or camper van before you buy to see if it's right for you. Outdoorsy is the largest and safest community-driven RV marketplace for renting RVs directly from local RV owners. Outdoorsy is like an "AirBnB" for recreational vehicles! You can search on specific types of RV's in your area, or in a region you plan to visit. Example: If I wanted to rent the $62,000 Bambi Airstream 16RB in my local area of Salt Lake City (Utah), there's one available for $115/night. Although that particular camper/trailer isn't always going to be available for when you want it, you also don't have to make monthly payments, maintain it or store it in the off-season months.

What are YOUR plans or secrets for getting out more often and staying longer and closer to your subject? Let me know in your comments below.