Southwest - Weather and I-10 questions for the South West! Southern Tier trip

Alright, first off, any reply would be a great help to me, as I'm trying to soak up any tips and knowledge before embarking on my solo southern tier coast-to-coast trip in May. Now although I've done one of these long distance adventures before, and I live in hot South Florida, I've never experienced the hot, high alt., dry desert summers of the southwest.

So, during the summer, from mid may to beginning june, what are the average day and night temperatures along I-10, and what is the general movement of wind like? I've heard 80-95 highs and 60-80 night lows, and from what I've looked up, the wind is generally moving north/south and not too much wind west/east. Obviously, the magic words I want to hear are "moderate easterlies, 70 at night, 78 during the day" haha.

Also, I see that Southwest Texas, S. New Mexico, and S. Arizona, don't have many towns on the map. I won't be in a single hotel room for this trip, but I would rather pitch a tent/crash on a couch in a town than the desert (i doubt the desert has couches anyway). Does anyone know of any friendly towns I could crash in along I-10. (Also, I'm really trying to avoid going anywhere near Juarez. Would I be in any danger if I stayed in Fort Bliss or Clint or anywhere close-by?).

Last question, thank God for google maps street view, but I havent heard much about I-10 ride-ability. Is it wide-shouldered and less congested for the most part?

Thanks!!!

Wish I could give you better news. Usually, starting in late April, a big high pressure system parks itself right over the four corners. The seasonal winds are usually out of the southwest. Daytime highs range from the low 90's into the low 100's and nighttime lows can run into the 60's to 70's.

In regards to lodging, I can't offer a suggestion for Texas but can assure you that you should be in good shape for lodging or camping in Las Cruces, Deming and Lordsburg, NM as well as Willcox, Benson and, of course, Tucson, Az.

I-10 does have a wide shoulder from my experience.

Keep checking here:

http://www.wunderground.com/US/TX/Fort_Stockton.html

Google maps' bike route planner keeps you off of I-10 and on county roads. I'm not sure if that's any better, though.

The stretch from San Antonio to El Paso is l-o-n-g, and there really isn't a lot out there...I just drove it last month. Traffic is light along 10, but the speed limit is 80. There's really no avoiding El Paso/Juarez, but if you time it right you should be able to push on to Las Cruces, NM; beautiful town and only another 25 - 30 miles.

Balmorhea state park (Toyaville Tx). is really nice, its a few miles off I-10 south of Pecos.
That puts you about 200 miles from El Paso. We go there regularly during the winter to teach Scuba
and we've never had a problem there, either camping or staying in parks cabins.

Marty

You want to make the trip in April. In May you can start hitting some 100+ temperature days. The good news is the nights cool off really well. For a unique side trip, hit Death Valley at the end of your trip.

awesome info, i really appreciate it! I actually plan on heading up to LA to visit friends and grab the gotobus.com $45 round trip to vegas and back. I honestly wish I could take off in mid-April, but I doubt I would be prepared by then. This is a really tough one.

Here, I pulled this off of a New Mexico climate page:

"Winds generally predominate from the southeast in summer and from the west in winter, but local surface wind directions will vary greatly because of local topography and mountain and valley breezes."

This contradicts the forecast that @Scoottay gave me, but I'm not sure if this applies to the far southern part of New Mexico, as well as Texas, Arizona, California.

I'll keep to I-10 for most of it then, maybe break off where I can save some time, but I'm not looking forward to Austin to El Paso. Well, I am, but, you know.

From Austin to El Paso you got about 500 miles of this:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c282/panhead74/100_1501.jpg

Anyway, you will be fully aclimated to any altitude issues you may encounter by the time you get to them. Not that I-10 is extreme in that regard. It is possible to dehydrate before you know you have a problem.

Im actually pretty nervous about the high altitude and dehydration. Ive lived at 0ft above sea level my entire life, and although the desolate hilly/desert countryside seems dull to most, those 500 miles would be plenty adventurous to someone use to South Florida. we'll see what happens!

americaiscashed.blogspot.com

El Paso is one of the safest cities in the US even if Juarez is the most dangerous city in the world. Plan on starting at dawn and you will have excellent weather until 10 or 11 AM. After that it will be hot and very dry with wind, bring lots of water. I ride with a camelbak and 2 bottles in ther summer. You might want to rest from 11 until late afternoon when it cools down. Plenty of room to camp but you need to find somewhere to get water if in the middle of nowhere. Access roads on most of the interstate and wide shoulders. I was looking at it when I came in the car last week.

The desert will alwyas have spring winds. You will either love them or hate them-you know what I mean. NM actually has some great little villages off the beaten track. I wish I could break away for the tour you describe, it has a ton of possibilities. Except, I would cut out the TX part.

The desert will alwyas have spring winds. You will either love them or hate them-you know what I mean. NM actually has some great little villages off the beaten track. I wish I could break away for the tour you describe, it has a ton of possibilities. Except, I would cut out the TX part.

haha the texas part can't be too bad! except for sierra blanca haha, but that should be beautiful for me, someone whos never been west of tennessee, and has grown up in South Florida, with not a hill around.

and mrardo, thanks a lot for the encouragement and info as well, Ill have two camelbak systems, and a water bottle. So far I've found plenty of little towns to camp at/refill water along the stretch from austin to el paso, and from there to tucson.

I check the weather at some of these towns and it just seems like a day to day difference in weather, not a general trend of movement. Some days its nothing in Austin, other days its 25 mph from the east in sierra blanca, etc...

At this point, instead of winds and temperature, the loneliness is troubling me the most, as well as lack of funds.
Im being told that this type of trip should require at least $3000.
My total budget for food and emergencies on the trip is about $300, with another $300 being invested in bike parts and supplies to start with.
eating freegan the whole time haha, any dunkin donuts along I-10?

Quote;
My total budget for food and emergencies on the trip is about $300, with another $300 being invested in bike parts and supplies to start with.
eating freegan the whole time haha, any dunkin donuts along I-10?

Wow. That kinda worries me. You will need good nourishment on this kind of ride if you don't want to Bonk all the time. You will find that it's no fun
to be in the middle of nowhere and bonking. Please don't skimp on meal planning, if you don't properly fuel the engine, it will give out on you.
This is an ambitious undertaking, and can be a wonderful experience, but careful preparations is the key to success. Good luck and happy ridding.

Quote;
My total budget for food and emergencies on the trip is about $300, with another $300 being invested in bike parts and supplies to start with.
eating freegan the whole time haha, any dunkin donuts along I-10?

Wow. That kinda worries me. You will need good nourishment on this kind of ride if you don't want to Bonk all the time. You will find that it's no fun
to be in the middle of nowhere and bonking. Please don't skimp on meal planning, if you don't properly fuel the engine, it will give out on you.
This is an ambitious undertaking, and can be a wonderful experience, but careful preparations is the key to success. Good luck and happy ridding.

Yeah...that is kind of troubling. You are planning a road trip of over 3,000 miles with 300 bucks in your pocket?

3000 miles with 300 for food! Rice and beans from a grocery store will fill you up on the cheap and get you a long way down the road. You will need lots of calories riding your bike. If you don't have food and water don't start out when the next town may be 75 miles down the road. Make sure you have a spare tire and 3-4 tubes and lots of patches. Dunkin donuts along I-10? Most of the small towns in west texas you will be lucky to find a general store.

I want to know, that the reason I was able to reach the other side of America, had nothing to do with a credit score. I know that burning 5000+ calories a day requires replenishment, and I will be replenishing, just not lavishly like most. This isnt some bike "tour", this is a survival adventure; my favorite type of vacation, where one can focus on finding food and the destination, and that alone. I am trying desperately to find sponsors locally though, it might happen, depending on a couple little marketing strategies I have planned, but if not, **** it, the less money i have, the more this will go from "southern tier trip" to "epic journey". relax guys, ive done this plenty ;)

and by "this" i mean survival, not touring

Anybody know if Jscan started his journey?

He has a blog farther up in the thread...

Looks like he's in Texas

http://americaiscashed.blogspot.com/

Never even noticed that...

No posting on his blog since the 28th... This is a late night Saturday the 5th of june...

JR

Sunday, August 22, 2010 he was back home... http://americaiscashed.blogspot.com/

He made it to the Pacific Ocean, but reading his blog, seems he is asking him self a lot of questions...

JR