Solis on the Road

There’s a very informative FaceBook group for the Winnebago Solis, an invaluable place for just about anything pertaining to this Class B RV. Someone in the group was asking for video from people who have traveled, the places they’d been etc. Say no more, this is Willis Wall Multimedia after all. From my 17,000 miles of travel in 6 months comes these snippets in a 5 minute video. For those who also want to read my review of the Solis, check here. For those who want to see some of the things I’ve done while traveling in the Solis, check here. I hope you enjoy!

USAFA Falcon Trail

Wanna do steps? Air Force Academy Mini Incline

I was undecided about posting this. However, this is a unique and beautiful trail so I wanted to present it for those who might be interested. As I’m living in Colorado Springs for the winter, I have found that the Air Force Academy has been an excellent resource; I’ve stayed at the FamCamp (RV Park) which is very nice with all the plugins. I’ve recently started biking the roads on base, as the main drag has wide shoulders and the rest of the roads enjoy low traffic during the weekdays. I (and my daughter) have utilized the Mini Incline, consisting of over 300 steps. I can get in over 2000 feet of climb with 11 transits. I’ve hiked the Stanley Canyon trail to the now empty Stanley Reservoir. And finally, there’s the Falcon Trail, listed as a 13 miler but Strava consistently puts my hikes at 13.4 miles with a little over 1400 feet of climb. I’ve seen primarily mountain bikers on this trail but careful selection of weekdays and weather means I have seen few people on my transits. Being retired Air Force, I have access to the base during COVID; regular public access has been temporarily put on hold, so crowds are non existent. When my daughter and I did the Falcon Trail during her visit here, we saw just a couple of hikers and a handful of bikers pass over the 13 miles. Simply put, the Academy is proving to be an excellent and enjoyable outdoor playground and covers most of the exercise and training options I would want. Bonus: the weather so far has proven to be quite different from the PNW; most days are sunny and cold is easy to deal with. But I’ve been outside running or hiking on many occasions where the temperatures are in the 50s.

On one of my Falcon Trail jaunts (November 27th, 2020) I recorded various parts of the trail to see how the new GoPro Hero 9 performs. Most of the videos in this OFF TRAIL section were recorded on the first iteration of GoPro’s software stabilization, the Hero 7. I’m embarrassed to say I lost my Hero 8 to the bowels of the under seat area of my Solis; the camera was there when I lifted up the seat to access a storage tray, sending the Hero 8 into the deep recesses of the rear area where the heater is located. But I digress.

In editing the footage I cut most of the clips to 16 steps (shoulder mounted as usual), keeping the video to about 10 minutes. This is a beautiful trail in and of itself, as you will see. I usually see deer and wild turkeys on these grounds, adding to the delights. I hope you enjoy….no music or narration, just footsteps, wind and beautiful views.

Dunes and Cacti

My daughter was able to spend a month with us here in Colorado so I made the trip to LA to pick her up and then take her back, logging over 5000 miles. Hey, toys are made to use, and this one’s getting a workout. Supplemental insulation made it nice and toasty for us, and we took the southern route to avoid storms and frigid weather. Our first stop was Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Although a little chilly, the weather was fine and the people sparse. We only had a few hours for this visit so did the classic High Dune hike, and it was a blast. This was a unique hiking experience for both of us, and on our return it was humorous to see how much sand we poured out of our shoes.

Climbing to High Dune

Frozen surface layer near the summit of High Dune

Our second stop was White Sands National Park, where we had enough time to do the Alkali Flat hike in the afternoon. The white gypsum sand dunes weren’t as high as those in the previous park, but sand is sand and travel was….sandy. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. The weather was warm and the skies were glorious, and we took great pleasure in experiencing this unique patch of earth, making our own way along the general direction of the Alkali Flat trail (indicated by markers along the way), avoiding people by weaving along parallel dunes. Plus we were able to repeat the “pouring sand out of our shoes” end of hike ritual like the day before. This was the most crowded place we visited, being a Sunday with great weather, but the parking lots were relatively empty and it was easy to avoid coming anywhere near other people by making our own way off the more traveled “trail.”

Making our own way amongst the dunes of White Sands Alkali Flat trail

Dense ridges form on the lower, flatter sections between the dunes

Untracked expanse at White Sands

Our third stop on the journey took us to Saguaro National Park, yet another that we had never been to. When we arrived it was raining so few souls were seen during our visit. Luckily the rain stopped and, as we drove the dirt Bajada Loop Drive, the sun came out for a bit to accentuate the green of the Saguaros. We were surprised at the multitude of flora here, with lots of ground cover and different species of cacti, all sprouting thorns and spikes for the unwary hiker. It was a treat to finally see the Saguaro cactus in its natural habitat as it has been a symbol of the desert southwest in many a photo and movie. We were pleased to see that they were abundant outside the park, making appearances along the roadside as we continued our journey westward.

Click here for the video “DUNEs!” in the OFF-TRAIL section.

The majestic Saguaro Cactus

The classic silhouette of Saguaro against sky

A short sun break illuminates the Saguaro

Our last stop before hitting LA was a short visit to Joshua Tree National Park, arriving late in the afternoon with a plan to camp right outside the southern park entrance on BLM land. Soon after we started hiking and bouldering, we could see a storm approaching right up the road. Not excited about being drenched with rain, we beat feet back to the parking lot right into the teeth of the storm, which luckily turned out to be a snow squall. We reveled in the blowing snow and enjoyed the ride back down the road to our camping spot. As we buttoned up the van it was raining and blowing outside, so I was surprised to awake the next morning with bright sun streaming in through a crack in the front window shade. We opened up to crystal clear skies and beautiful weather, enjoying our ride through the park to the northern entrance before the final few hours to LA. This trip was a great opportunity to sample some of our national parks that we might not otherwise have visited. On my return trip there was no recreating for me, driving upwards of 8 hours a day to return to Colorado. Another bonus for us turned out to be a dearth of people, always a bonus in the throes of this pandemic.

Didn’t get far before an incoming snow squall hit us (Joshua Tree National Park)

Teddy Bear Cholla in Joshua Tree National Park

New ornament for my van (Joshua Tree National Park)

Winnebago Solis Review (2020)

Freeze before the thaw: Plugged in at Gardiner, MT

I took possession of a Solis P in July of 2020, purchasing it in Montana and driving it back to Seattle. The van had 1470 delivery miles on it. To date I have about 14,000 miles on the coach. I have driven to and from California, across the western states to Colorado, and to and from California again. I lived in the Solis for over 3 months straight, August to November. The coach has seen baking sun, torrential rain, snow, winds and experienced temperatures from over 100 to minus 9 degrees F. Let’s see how she has held up so far.

EDIT: This blog post is still getting eyes on: Here’s a quick connect to my 25,000 mile follow up post. As of this EDIT (October/2024) I have 36,000 miles on the van with essentially no problems. I have upgraded a few things like seat covers, Inhabit Mats, insulated window covers etc, but essentially the van is pretty stock.

RAM PROMASTER 2500 CHASSIS Not bad. Basic. This is not a luxury interior, but it gets the job done. I can connect my phone for hands free talking and media. The steering wheel telescopes but does not tilt, which I find annoying but have adjusted to it. No electric mirrors, no heated seats. The (swiveling) seats are OK, but I wish for more lumbar support. The passenger seat also lacks an armrest. Visibility is decent up front, but the rear view mirror only gives the driver a nice view of the door frames….you cannot see the lane behind you, only the periphery. The rear seat(s) further block the view aft. The 2021 RAM models have fixed this problem with a camera rear view mirror, but I have not looked into the possibility of an upgrade for the 2020. Speaking of rear view camera, I find the high mounted backup camera on this van provides a nice view, and you can select the rear view camera when driving, if only for a limited time before it defaults away. There are tire pressure sensors but this model only provides low pressure warnings, not the ability to see the actual pressures. If you have the tires rotated, ensure they have the proper pressures before driving away like I did…the fronts should be 65 PSI and the rears 80 PSI. The dealer I went to did the rotation without adjusting the pressures and I had to return.

Rear door pillars block view of the lane behind: photo during stop with vehicle close behind.

• Sumo springs are necessary on this chassis, IMHO. I have taken this van on some very gnarly roads, the worst being the Mineral King Road (Sequoia NP), which has 398 curves in 25 miles. The stock suspension had me feeling like the van would topple if I had any speed going into a tight curve. The Sumo springs made a huge difference in cornering feel and side wind gust handling, if not in the actual ride. Get ‘em.

• Transmission: pretty nice. There is enough pep in this 6 cylinder 6 speed to hang in, although on long or steep climbs I find myself in the second to right lane, able to maintain 50 to 60 mph without stomping on the gas excessively, trying to keep the RPMs in the 3000 range. The transmission shines on the downhills, intuitively down shifting to maintain speed, usually in the 3000 range but on steeper grades it may go to 4000. No need to cook the brakes.

• Snow: I’ve only had it on packed snow, and the stock Nexens were OK; they are not all season or snow tires. Growing up in Maine means I am very experienced with winter driving (4WD/RWD/FWD) and this makes quite a difference. YMMV. If you are seriously considering a Solis, join the Solis Facebook group; it’s a treasure trove of information, constantly updated by the members.

• Bonus: the under 20 foot length allows me to park in regular spaces. This is hugely important. I also debadged the 4 cheesy “Winnebago” branding letters for a cleaner look when I had protective film installed on the hood…the W’s remain. The shorter length may allow owners to park in their driveways, depending on neighborhood covenants, vice having to always store the van in a separate facility. However, the exterior height of 9 feet precludes me from using the Starbucks drive through (usually capped at 8’6”) or most underground or undercover parking. I already mentioned the nightmarish Mineral King road…no RVs to be seen except my Solis and a few 4WD Sprinter vans, so the Solis did well here considering. The Promaster has an excellent turning radius. One should always be suspect of undercarriage clearance though; this is not an overlander rig. Lastly, the mileage is quite acceptable; so far I have averaged just under 18 MPG (19.5 as of October, 2024). You may squeak out slightly better if most of your driving will be on highways. Mine has a lot of miles on difficult or slow roads.

Debadging the Solis: removed 4 “Winnebago” branding letters for a cleaner look

THE WINNEBAGO PART I bought the Solis in July 2020, when there were delays in the supply chain for the pop tops. COVID probably played a part in various QC problems, but nothing too serious, depending on your view:

• Incorrect main breaker installed for coach power: I didn’t discover this until my daughter and I returned from a difficult 4 day loop hike in Sequoia NP. Showers were the first thing on the docket, and the main (thankfully auto reset) breaker would trip every time the water pump came on for more than about 4 seconds. This had not cropped up before as I was staying in parks that always had 30 amp service, so no problem plugged in. We finished our trip taking “off grid 4 second burst showers” (or 4 seconds of dish washing). I hired a roving RV technician to come look at it when we returned to LA. He narrowed it down to the main breaker, which is under the van in a box, very hard to access; don’t ask me how I know. Turns out the installed breaker was a 5 amp one, so someone in the construction phase either took the breaker out of the wrong bin, or this 5 amp was misplaced in the wrong bin and not noticed in the process. All the roving technician had on hand was a 40 amp manual reset breaker, so that went in until I was able to get some warranty work done with the proper one installed (20 amp auto reset). In the meantime, the roving technician cost me $350 (but worth every penny). I have yet to submit this to Winnebago for reimbursement; we shall see if I get a refund. When I tried to book an authorized service dealer in the LA area, the manager laughed and said the earliest he could see me was late October. This was towards the end of August. I finally got it in at an authorized service dealer in Colorado. At least for now, just like general COVID supply chain backlogs, Winnebago service is hard to get with any immediacy, although my experience may be regional.

• Rear door bars: I never could get them to lock in place; no big deal as they still worked. However, the end caps continuously fell off, which hold the bars onto the rings. I finally used electrical tape to hold them in place. And the locking pin would disconnect, or rattle against the aluminum bars. I just detached it as it didn’t work anyway.

• Shower pan leaked: After living in the van for upwards of two months of chassis flexing, I noticed the cassette compartment underneath was filling with water. Thankfully there were suds there, so I knew immediately that the cassette toilet itself was not the problem. The caulking job in the shower was pretty shoddy, so I applied silicone sealant on two occasions around the base of the toilet and other suspect areas. Maybe this worked (after the second time) but this was on the warranty work and was supposedly addressed. I won’t know the efficacy until I get water back in the van.

• Loose screws and nuts: I have about 4 screws/nuts that showed up on the floor that I haven’t been able to discover where they came from….yet.

• Finish screws: Two screws protruded for wall/ceiling attachment points. I could not screw these in….the holes were misaligned. The warranty work fixed this problem when they redrilled. But why was the coach allowed to leave the factory like this?

Solis misaligned finish screws needed to be redrilled

Truma vent: it’s cold outside!

• Winter Use You must take precautions! Although the Solis is billed as “winter capable” there are some serious insulation problems….meaning it lacks in this department. I’ve seen photos where people have removed the rear and side door panels to reveal a ragged cut rectangular piece of foam insulation. Is this supposed to be “Automotive Grade?” No insulation has been placed into the nooks and crannies of the doors. Makes me wonder about the rest of the coach. But my nightmare came when I was driving from Seattle to Colorado at the end of October. I encountered single digit temperatures for upwards of 3 days, but I was always plugged in at night on 30 amp service and never let the coach get below 60 degrees inside, plus I constantly ran the grey water tank heater. Somewhere around the second day…no water. Turned on the sink: nada. On day 4 things started working again, but the T fitting in the INTERIOR (meaning the heated area) water panel had frozen and cracked. Another $100 later (roving RV technician in Jackson, WY) found the problem and we completely drained the water out of the van. This was on November 2nd, and I’m still waiting for the part to come in (they have to replace the entire assembly, due in @Jan 15, 2021). When the RV technician found the problem, he pointed out the complete lack of insulation in this area. Despite the front side of the coach staying well above freezing, the low temps got to this highly important area under the bed, near the meager insulated rear door and the uninsulated quarter panel area and floor. Conductive heat loss, not good. When the water is finally up and running, I will insulate this area myself…but why me? In my opinion, don’t tout an RV as “winter capable” without thoughtfully insulating the interior, especially around the most critical part of the water system with plastic T fittings. I was told that the flexible tubing used in the RV industry is capable of expanding up to 3 times without breaking or cracking. Also, my wife has made me insulating panels to go in the (single pane) window areas and the entire rear of the van.

Another point of interest: you may have a grey tank heater but in low temps the dump valve may freeze, as it did on me. The entire mechanism there was covered in frozen road grime. TIP: in low temps open the valve and put in RV antifreeze, this will keep the water in the drain pipe from freezing. No assurances on the valve T handle working if it’s covered in frozen goo though. Beware, plastic parts so use caution trying to force the handle.

The T handle for the grey water tank was completely frozen and inoperable in low temperatures

OFF GRID Really good. I could get 4 days out of the van before I had to worry about the fresh water and grey tank. Again, YMMV. A few times I cranked the engine to juice the house batteries when the van sat in forest cover for 3 days or more, as the solar panel wasn’t very exposed. Up to this point I’ve been airing some cons, but overall I was able to comfortably live in the Solis for 3 months straight.

Winnebago Solis: despite some problems I was comfortable living full time in the van for 3 months

City water requires the rear door to be open

• Elecrical and Water I’m assuming anyone looking at this van knows there is no inverter. You can ONLY use the 110 plugs if you are hooked up, but not restricted to 30 amp….I have parked in friends’ driveways and just used their home electrical. Buy a 30 amp adapter and a heavy duty regular electrical extension cord (mine is 30 ft). I also bought a small DC plug in inverter for my laptop, through which I also power external portable drives. Otherwise, my phone and iPad (and GPS/headlamp/InReach/bluetooth speaker etc) can be charged from the various USB outlets. Another consideration is to purchase a 30 amp surge protector, such as this one.

EDIT: based on comments and questions on the Solis FaceBook page, I want to clarify further about the 110 system on the Solis P. The PX will allow use of the 110 outlets when running the generator, which is not on the P. The PX also has an air conditioner and is a few feet longer. So to be perfectly clear, the Solis P 110 outlets cannot be used unless some external power is plugged into the van. A comparison spec graph can be accessed here between the P and the PX.

With no high draw items like a microwave or air conditioner, the simplicity of a DC van is more than adequate for my purposes. Adding an inverter and a lithium battery system to a van like this can escalate the price by as much as $30,000. As for water, I find the 21 gallon fresh water tank adequate for up to 4 days with judicious (single) use, which includes washing dishes and showers. As for the shower, I find the pressure is adequate but certainly not strong. I have also found that setting the water heater to ECO is best as HOT can be too hot for the shower. As an experiment, I was hooked up to city water and wanted to see how long I could shower with heated water constantly running. A few attempts came to about 10 minutes before the water heater couldn’t keep up. I strongly advocate using the shut off valve in the shower head for convenience. The HOT setting is best for washing dishes. It may seem obvious, but if you are hooked up to city water the rear right door must be open for access to the water panel….this doesn’t work in the rain, unless you don’t mind your bedding getting wet. If you have no access to pressurized water to fill the tank, the SANITIZE setting will use the water pump to suck water into the tank. I carry a collapsible 5 gallon water jug. When at national parks with no hookups (but with available water spigots), I would fill the container and schlep it back to the van (good workout), then use the 4 foot hose that came with the van (I cut off one end to fit into the container neck) to fill the tank. The 5 gallon container was also quite useful for washing clothes in a Scrubba, which requires quite a bit (of water) to clean and rinse. For drying, I would put the bar across the rear doors and hang, plus use magnet hooks to hang small items like underwear and socks. Remember to pack some hangers for this purpose, as well as to hang in the heated bathroom. Only recently did I discover that the bathroom heater vent actually has a butterfly valve to keep water from entering the channel. Some owners also purchase a water filter for hookup but I deemed this unnecessary for myself. I use a pitcher water filter for drinking. Lastly, the 220 Watt solar panel was adequate for keeping the batteries topped off for extended days during the summer (assuming camping in uncovered areas) when running the fridge and lights and keeping my phone and iPad charged.

• Heat The buyer must be aware that the Solis has a Truma Combi eco, not the eco plus. The Truma in the Solis cannot run on electric mode alone, it must have LP. Most of the summer, heating wasn’t needed, with the exception of cool mornings. But as fall progressed, it was running more and more. When the really cold temps hit, it was running….even more. Consider that the LP tank capacity is merely 25 lbs, or about 5.7 gallons. Also consider that an LP canister can only be filled to about 80 percent capacity, so the usable amount is closer to 4.5 gallons. If the heater is running consistently, one can go through this pretty quickly, especially considering the insulation gaps in this van. I have found that when the basic 4 light quantity indicator is at one light, I have about 1 gallon left. I say basic because these 4 light indicators (LP, battery, grey tank) will not give you very accurate readings, just more of a generality. Add this to Winnebago’s cost saving decisions. I find the front half of the van in good heating stead, as three outlets are here plus one in the shower. The rear, not so much. I had a container of Nutella freeze in a food bin under the bed when the front of the van never got below 60. Also, when it was very cold (below zero), I could feel the cold through the floor. Rugs certainly help. With all this in mind, winter use will probably have you filling the LP before two weeks are out, unless you like it over 70 degrees. Also be aware that the pop top is not insulated, so all that wonderful heat will just escape out the fabric sides. We have not used the pop top in freezing conditions.

Rear passenger side: this cushion is unusable as a bench. Also showing (my) home made insulating panels that fit into zipped window coverings. Also take note of the “extra” room for crossways sleeping provided by the windows: this is not a cut out extension beyond the van’s 6’8” exterior width. There is assuredly no or little insulation around these two windows due to the inset.

• Finally, sleeping and the beds Perhaps you’ve seen the Revels with their rear knockout panels. This is of course to allow crossways sleeping. The Solis has what I would call a “poor man’s” bed. There are no knockout panels to extend beyond the van’s 6’8” width, just the rear window cutouts. I am 6’ tall but find myself sleeping cattywampus as I don’t want my head/pillow and feet to pressure the zipped up window interior coverings. However, I find the firm mattress quite comfortable and have had no problems getting good shuteye. When the murphy bed is up, there at first glance appears to be a bench seat (see photo above) on the passenger side. Don’t be fooled, you can’t sit there (at least as an adult) as the overhead cabinet gets in the way. I usually left the bed down because it’s a bit of a pain to make; you can’t leave the sheets attached on the foot end as they go around the single cushion there while the rest of the cushions fold to go against the driver side wall. When I packed to travel from Seattle to Colorado, I didn’t bring a bike with me mostly because of the hassle of putting it outside every night and making the bed. ((due to supply chain issues I was unable to purchase either a hitch mount or door mounted bicycle rack on the west coast)) My daughter found the “upstairs” mattress plenty comfortable also; I have never used it.

But what about sleeping in high temps? Well, I/we managed to do OK during some nasty heat waves with only the MaxxFan. It usually cooled enough at night, and a few times I purposefully chose camp spots above 6000 feet in my travels. I did retreat to a hotel once with 100+ degree temps, but mostly because of the falling ash. Were I living in more southern climes, I would probably revisit the lack of coach air conditioning. Once I was back in the PNW this was not a concern.

Parked at the end of Mineral King road: Sequoia National Park

Another problem I encountered which would come under QC are the cabinet doors. The fit and finish of my van was somewhat lacking, with doors rattling from poor fit with gaps on one end or the other. Worse was the failure of the “positive latch” on the cabinet over the sink. This released twice at the worst possible times on the road, spilling contents to the floor before I could find a place to pull over. Thank goodness my large bottle of olive oil didn’t break. At first I figured I had just failed to adequately latch the cabinet, but this of course proved to be wishful thinking. Aside from disassembling the latch mechanism and trying to realign it, I simply bought a “child proof” gizmo to secure the cabinet. Looks ugly but does the trick. Now, I’ve had the van in torrential rains and thankfully it seems pretty tight…no leakage from the pop top or into the upper compartment that holds the ladder. Other people have posted of problems here, with leakage through the lights and water incursion from the pop top, especially if the van is parked on a slant. However, be prepared for a barrage of water when opening the slider in the rain. Some owners have glued or stuck on simple strips above the door to prevent this, something I have not bothered with.

• Cassette toilet I wanted this vice a black water tank. The convenience of emptying the tank in a regular toilet can’t be understated, and during winter travel with my water system defunct I (we) could still use the toilet. I just kept a gallon jug handy to manually pour in, mixing in a dash of RV antifreeze.

• Synopsis There will always be problems with an RV at some time, and it helps to be somewhat handy and have a modicum of knowledge about various systems. The Solis is what I would call a “simple” van with less complex architecture. No inverter. No air conditioner. No lithium. No black water tank. This lack of complexity was important in my purchase consideration. I had been using a 2002 Avalanche for 18 years as a base camp. The Solis was a gigantic step up in comfort based on my past experience, so I didn’t need to spend an additional $80,000 for AWD/4WD, a Sprinter chassis, or conveniences or upgrades listed above. Another factor was the ability to take 4 people safely and sleep 4, although this will be a rare occasion. When I traveled with my daughter this past summer, she would sleep in the upper bunk and have her own space, finding it quite comfortable, especially when Dad passed up her morning tea. I have mentioned the Sprinter chassis; they are an expensive platform, especially with 4WD, and I have talked to a few people who owned them; the BlueTec system and the difficulty of finding an authorized Mercedes mechanic was mentioned a few times, but one must consider that there’s a lot of them Sprinters out there. The advantage of the RAM platform (and the Ford Transit) is the plethora of dealers around the country available for service, not to mention the lower service costs. If one looks at the decisions Winnebago made on the Solis to keep the price down, choosing the RAM platform was definitely a factor. Overall I have had a positive experience so far with with about 14,000 miles, despite the problems mentioned above. I purchased mine in July 2020 for under $80,000. However, the current boom in class B vans seems to be steadily raising the going price, with the basic P now with an MSRP of just under $108K. If one is patient I imagine that by fall of 2021 the prices may come down as COVID steadily (hopefully) recedes as a concern and other travel means pick up or come back to the fore.

Laundry day: good drying area using the rear bars and makeshift clothesline

PARTING THOUGHTS I am not what might be considered a typical RVer. I do not spend much time in established RV parks. My primary purpose for buying this vehicle was to be used as a base camp, or moveable man cave, as I am and always have been very active. For instance, during my 3 months of full time in the van, I hiked over 300 miles and climbed over 180,000 feet. I spent a fair amount of time off grid (but plugged in at Pinnacles!) in national parks, getting up early and hiking all day or multiple days, then enjoying the luxury of a hot shower, clean clothes, a scrumptious meal, a glass or two of wine and an ice cream bar, then processing photos and video on my laptop. This is a vehicle that enables my outdoor adventures, and for that purpose it is perfectly suited….just enough lux but simple enough. I don’t need glossy cabinets, satellite TV or a wide screen. Can it be improved? Of course. More ground clearance would be nice for crappier roads. A water panel that can be accessed without having to have a door open. Better insulation. Interior (thus heated) lithium batteries and a 2000 watt inverter. Microwave. But now we’re talking a $150,000 van. Embrace the simplicity and convenience of the Solis. Only you can decide what are must haves versus niceties depending on you and/or your family. I hope this review of my experiences helps in that decision.

Front hose hookup is convenient for cleaning dusty feet (or dogs)

4 days off grid at Lassen National Park: the fan cooled the interior nicely at night.

Solis fits in a regular parking space: parked center frame at Chinook Pass, Mt. Rainier: look for the white dot.

Fixing dinner after a day of climbing: Mt. Shasta wilderness, 8000’

Solis at Olympic National Park, WA: off grid and cozy in the rain

Nunatak shout out (with Nano 40 degree quilt review)

From the Nunatak website: Our Apex synthetic insulated products are no more. We are too small a company to wrangle all these different offerings and guarantee superior designs all at the same time. So only down from here on out.

I was waiting to do a write up on the Nunatak Nova insulated bivy and Nano liner quilt combo, but the point has become moot. I certainly understand that the company is adapting to a changing marketplace along with the difficulties stemming from COVID. However, I can talk about the Nano quilt (“liner” has been removed from the description as there’s nothing to line anymore). After using the discontinued Nova insulated bivy with an EE quilt on the Inca Trail, I ordered the 40 degree Nano quilt to nest inside this bivy. This chart, now deleted, shows how the combo would work:

My 50 degree insulated Nova (10C) with 40 degree Nano (4C) equates to 25 degrees F coverage (-4C)

Indeed I found the combo, used on backpacking trips to Yosemite and Sequoia this summer, to be toasty (caveat, temperatures never got below mid 30’s F). An important feature I found was that the fit was so good that no straps or methods of retention were needed for the nested Nano quilt, despite constant side to side turning during the night. The quilt stayed put. When it was warmer I unzipped the Nova center zip and left my head outside with a light balaclava, or nothing at all. So much for the moot point.

The Nano quilt is still produced, and my 40 degree iteration was used on a 3 day Wonderland Trail trip without the Nova. I employed a Borah 4.7 oz bivy mainly to keep the mice and bugs out of my bag, as the weather forecast was excellent. Although I also carried my JMT Sweater (also discontinued) it never got chilly enough to wear as a supplement to my sleep system. I was concerned that the 15 to 16 hour days, covering in excess of 30 miles per day and 22,000 feet of elevation overall, would render my old bod lacking in the heat production department when crashing at 10 PM every evening. Luckily, no chills came my way and on my last evening, once I fell asleep on top of a picnic table, I didn’t awake until 4:40 AM, feeling refreshed enough to get going (my alarm was set for 5). The Nano stuffs easily into a small sack, lofts amazingly well for such a light package, has an excellent hand and drapes well. This may be due to the fact that I’ve only used the Nano inside the Nova or the Borah bivy, which probably plays an essential part in keeping the quilt in place. Per my usual experience with Nunatak products, I think the 40 degree Nano is conservatively rated….it looks about twice as lofty as my old EE 50 degree sewn through quilt. I also used the Nova/Nano combo on an open bivy above 6000 feet on the Northern Loop Trail (Mt. Rainier National Park).

Nunatak Nova insulated bivy, now discontinued

I must say that Nunatak’s decision, from a selfish standpoint, is disappointing. Strategically combining the down quilts with the Apex synthetics (including the jackets) make an excellent system, and the Nova insulated bivy is a marvelous piece of equipment in and of itself. I don’t spend many nights out per year, but when I do 90 percent of the time it will be an open bivy. I purchased the prototype zPacks Plexamid two years ago and have yet to use it. Shelters only come into play for me in iffy weather….which I avoid on shorter trips thru planning (however, I always carry a tarp for emergencies or unforeseen weather).

Now for the shout out….I have purchased a number of items from this company, which now make up my insulated tops and sleep systems. Without exception, every item is meticulously sewn and conservatively rated; inquiries were always addressed promptly with outstanding customer service. Plus everything is made here in the US. There is always something Nunatak in my pack, for good reason. Certainly not inexpensive, but I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a Nunatak purchase. Disclaimer: everything I have purchased has been full price.

Willis Wall 2020 Year In Review

2020, the year of COVID. Lots of changes in the Willis Wall World….retirement, selling our house, purchase of a Class B RV a few years ahead of schedule, and temporarily residing in Colorado. I traveled and lived full time in the RV for 3 months, traveling from Washington to California (spending two weeks hiking with my daughter), then back to Washington. While back in my home state I spent some time in the Olympics but the majority of my hiking was in Mt. Rainier National Park; peak bagging, hiking the Northern Loop Trail and my 32nd time around the 93 mile Wonderland Trail. I departed at the end of October and made my way to Colorado to rejoin my wife, stopping in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. From 9,000 miles of driving, 1000 miles of foot travel and over 174,000 feet of climbing come snippets packed into a 6 minute video. My thanks to my son and my friends who allowed me to spend a few nights in their driveways during this time. Please enjoy, and stay safe!

Yellowstone NP: 10/26-27/2020

Yellowstone and Grand Teton were the last planned stops before ending my 3 month long sojourn in the Solis. I encountered severe low temperatures as soon as I left the Seattle area, with 3 days of single digits during the day and down to as low as -9 (F) at night. I had to skip my last planned day in Yellowstone and 2 days in Grand Teton due to a cracked T fitting in my water manifold, but I was able to spend two great days in Yellowstone NP before calling an end to recreating.

One of the many sights at Mammoth hot springs, Yellowstone NP

I stayed at an RV park outside the North entrance for two nights in Gardiner, with the first day quite chilly. Yellowstone had recently received a bit of snow followed by the freezing temperatures, which was a blessing of sorts. My arrival found few people in the park, and I was able to wander the Mammoth Springs area with no one else around. A ranger told me that just a few weeks before there were thousands of people crowding the walkways and trails there, but as soon as the snow came….poof. I was also lucky in that the roads were mostly clear, and the van was able to negotiate the sections of compacted snow and ice with no problems. Probably helped that I grew up in Maine and the RAM Promaster is front wheel drive. I even managed a short hike, in the snow of course, up Specimen Ridge. Yellowstone is a huge park and I barely scratched the surface, but it truly is a land of wonder, with so many thermal features; hot springs, bubbling mini cauldrons and geysers. One could spend weeks exploring here. And so many Bison! I stopped for one in the road and backed up slowly when one emerged right in front of me from the woods in an effort to maintain a respectful distance. I was also lucky to arrive at Old Faithful within ten minutes to the next eruption. The only “disappointment” I could register was at the Grand Prismatic Spring, as the cold temperatures caused so much condensation over the spring that I was not able to see most of the deeper blue and green colors (from the different bacteria).

Munching elk, Yellowstone NP

I have now rejoined my spouse in Colorado, where we will spend the winter. I am scheduled to drive to LA in December and retrieve my daughter, where we will stop at appropriate places on the way back to CO. Also, anticipate an in depth review of the Winnebago Solis, after 10,000 miles of driving over 3 months and weather ranging from 100 degrees plus to -9. Throw in driving rain, crappy roads and days off grid….well, I think I’m qualified to give the reader something beyond the usual walkarounds one finds on YouTube. Until then, Happy Holidays!

Grand Prismatic Spring periphery, Yellowstone NP

Steamboat geyser, Yellowstone NP

Path to steam, Yellowstone NP

Old Faithful eruption, Yellowstone NP

Mt. Rainier NP: Tamanos Mountain (6790') 10/04/2020

I woke at 3:30 to tend to old man matters. Soon after crawling back into bed, I heard "rustle scritch scritch rustle." We all know what that means; a mouse had found its way into my castle. My day pack was up between the front seats and it still had a bag of snacks in it. Lights on, shoe in hand, I saw the little b@stard scurry under the drivers seat. I opened the door and slammed the floor with a shoe, trying to force him outside. I still don't know if it worked, but I went back to sleep with the lights on and awoke to my 6 AM alarm. The White River overnight parking lot was still pretty full, being a Sunday morning with this incredible weather. I wanted to get to the Owyhigh Lakes trailhead early to have a parking spot. I needn't have worried. I was the only one there when I left, and the only one there when I arrived back from the hike. I checked my container of food under the bed for evidence of mouse chewing but found none, so I got to work cooking up a huge breakfast to last me the day.

With my earliest start since doing the Wonderland, I set off at 7:23 AM to Owyhigh Lakes and soon found the way trail that would lead me to the saddle for Tamanos. I had been here before so knew the view that awaited me, climbing the golden meadow as Rainier crowned and arose in the distance. What a view, with Goat Island Mountain, Summerland, the Sarvant glacier with Banshee and the Cowlitz Chimneys stealing the show below The Rock. I also had a clear view to Whitman Crest and the ski route I did last year. As impressive as the saddle view was, I was hoping for a topper on Tamanos so set off in that direction. There is a nice clear path most of the way to the top, skirting the rocky outcroppings on the left when necessary. Even with little exposure I felt a little giddy transiting the rocks to the summit. I never have enjoyed heights, but I sure enjoy the views! And in keeping with what is now tradition, I FaceTimed my daughter and shared the views with her, this being another 4 bar summit. The skies were severe clear, the breeze was light and cool, the body was tuned to all the sensory input (big bird caws and howling coyotes!). A day in the mountains doesn't get any better than this. The descent was just as enjoyable and when I arrived at the saddle again, I laid in the grass for 30 minutes munching on peanut butter M&Ms and double stuff Oreo cookies, all the while taking in the vast expanse before me. I had already decided on a single peak, putting Barrier aside...I needed to get back to civilization and get some mouse traps, just in case. Stats: 11 miles/3400'

Mt. Rainier towers above Summerland from the summit of Tamanos Mountain (6790’)

Fall is upon us below Tamanos Mountain, Mt. Rainier NP

Owyhigh Lakes with Governors Ridge, Mt. Rainier NP

The weather, it be a changin’ (October 4th, 2020)

Mt. Rainier NP: Tahtlum Peak (6567') 10/03/20

After a recovery day in Packwood on Friday, I went back into the thick of weekend traffic in beautiful weather with a trip up 123 to Chinook Pass. I really only had one peak in mind, that being Tahtlum, with Seymour (6337’) as a maybe. My feet were still slightly off kilter, despite soaking them in hot soapy water for 30 minutes the day before. I found a nice spot to park and headed south on the PCT. Although I use a guidebook for these peaks, the descriptions are sometimes vague….”at 5900’ head left for Tahtlum Peak.” It’s probably a good thing, one must make decisions and discover their own way sometimes. That wasn’t really necessary for this peak, as a climbers trail made the navigation quite easy. If I can use poles all the way to the summit then the way isn’t so bad, and Tahtlum fit the bill. I made my way over two bumps and started the ridge upwards. If the trail disappeared it was soon rediscovered by scouting best terrain and using one’s noggin. I was quite pleased to pop up on the summit and find a van sized level spot with astounding 360 degree views, unimpeded by trees. Speaking of van, I was able to see my white beauty glistening in the sun down at Chinook Pass. Soak up them rays, Mr. Solar, gimme dat energy! I rotated constantly….east to Rainier, north following highway 410 as it arrowed towards Yakima, south to Mt. Adams and Goat Rocks….hey look, what a nice view of Dewey Lake! Let’s turn off airplane mode and see if there’s any coverage…..4 bars! Time to FaceTime my wife and my daughter and show them the views. It’s a thing for us now. I sat on the pointy rocks and had a snack, taking in the views and the soft breeze. I studied Seymour and wondered if I could fit it in, so departed and made my way back from whence I came. I turned left (south) on the PCT and thought I might at least check out the way trail to Seymour. After some distance but before Dewey Lake, I spied a faint path that seemed like the right place and launched into the unknown. Although I lost it a few times I soon found it again, and I continued on it for a while until I came to a large blowdown. By now it was 1:30 and I hadn’t even come to a place to head up to the Dewey-Seymour saddle. I just didn’t want to go that late and push it, so I retraced my steps back to the PCT and regained my mobile abode at 2:30. There were (as could be expected) throngs of people on the way back. However, I had lots of alone time when off the main course so didn’t mind. I had a sudden thought to check out Naches Peak, very close to where I parked. Then I read the description….”difficult scramble, short, very exposed section near the top.” Not today. I drove down to the White River entrance and parked in the overnight lot at the campground, which officially closed last weekend on September 27th. One thing about a van that is under 20 feet….I can fit in regular parking spaces. Here I sit, typing this after processing photos and video with a clean body and full belly. What should I do tomorrow? Stats: 8 miles/2600’

Dewey Lake from Tahtlum summit, Mt. Rainier NP

Mt. Adams and Goat Rocks looking south from Tahtlum summit

Mt. Rainier NP: Northern Loop Trail 9/30-10/01/20

Day 1. With a permit in hand, I parked in the appropriate spot for overnights and spent some time cleaning out the vehicle, taking a shower and packing for my 2 day trip. There was a possibility of climbing two more peaks, Tyee Peak and Old Desolate, which would require a transit of the Elysian Fields. However, upon waking the following morning and starting off, it soon became clear that I was still somewhat thrashed from my previous two days so I soon came to grips with doing a pure backpack, kicking back and basically doing active rest. Unlike my previous Wonderland trip, I packed my burly eVent roomy bivy and a NeoAir xTherm. I did retain my Nunatak 40 degree quilt tho, based on the predicted freezing levels. With food and water I was probably more than 12 pounds, but not by much….although I did have my 2 pound camera this time. Let’s call it 15 pounds, as this will become a factor on the following day. Once past Windy Gap, I took the way trail towards Tyee and set up to bivy on a higher spot above the tarns. Basically it never got dark. As soon as the sun went down, a glow appeared behind me portending the moon’s arrival. Despite somewhat smoky skies, this bivy in the open with a constant cool breeze and bugling elk though out the night was supremely enjoyable and relaxing in my comfortable warm cocoon. I was still thinking an early getup would allow me to do Tyee Peak, but I didn’t wake until 7 AM. Todays stats: 18 miles/4000’

Grand Park on the Northern Loop trail, Mt. Rainier NP

Sunset in the Tyee cross country zone, Mt. Rainier NP

Smoky bands on the Northern Loop Trail, Mt. Rainier NP

Day 2 (rescue). On this CCW loop I soon came to the Yellowstone Cliffs, always a highlight. Despite lingering smoke, they were sublimely lit by the sun. The rest of the trail is hard on the quads with almost 3000’ of constant down, but the trail is quite pleasant with no foot impedimenta (like rocks, roots etc). Once I reached the intersection with the rerouted Wonderland, I was essentially repeating ground I did two weeks before. Upon arrival of the meadow in Moraine Park, at least the mountain was visible this time, although with ghostly lack of details. The day only really got interesting at Mystic Lake, where I ran into a woman asking if there was a ranger at the cabin. I said highly improbable, being this time of year and not on a weekend, but I soon learned why she was asking. Seems a woman had just arrived at the camp but fell and possibly broke her wrist. The couple attending to her had contacted the rangers through InReach to her mom who in turn called them. It was now late in the afternoon and there seemed to be only one good option, for her to hike back out to her car at Sunrise. I gave my InReach address to the couple and prepared to escort her out. Our best guess was she severely dislocated her thumb, rendering her left hand useless. Unfortunately for me, her 35 pound pack was an extra small, which we somehow got on my back with my pack on my front. Her pack straps were so short that they barely covered my clavicle. The poor thing was in a bit of pain but was a real trooper, so with one pole in hand and the other tucked into her jacket, we set off for Sunrise. The only real problems I faced was the inability to high step with my pack in front, and a bit of discomfort from her teeny pack straps and super tight hip belt (on purpose). On a stop at Granite Creek I had to help put on her jacket, pants and set up her headlamp. It’s amazing how something that at first glance might not seem so bad, but in reality severely hinders your ability to do anything. Tie your shoes? Nope. Zip up your jacket? Nope. Set up a tent? Nope. And so on. We labored up to Skyscraper Pass and even took a minute to enjoy the fabulous evening. Let’s just say that dropping those packs at the vehicles was…liberating. On the way in the park service got in contact with me via InReach so they knew she was exiting that night. I even got a message saying to use the SOS button if the rangers were needed before morning. We arrived at 10 PM and she felt good enough to drive out then, wanting to avoid traffic to get home to Seattle. Good for her to be in such great shape and obviously have a high tolerance for pain. I gently suggested that she might want to look into lightening up her load, which was a contributor in slamming her to the ground when she tripped. I also think she became a convert on getting an InReach. Y’all be careful out there! Stats: 22 miles/6200’

Windy Gap, Northern Loop Trail, Mt. Rainier NP

Yellowstone Cliffs, Northern Loop Trail, Mt. Rainier NP

Mystic Lake, Mt. Rainier NP

Ghostly view of the Willis Wall, Mt. Rainier NP