Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
jessicaselser
08-26-04, 05:00 PM
So I am getting a late start planning to cross the Rockies in October- East to West. Any chance I can get over without hitching a ride on four wheels and where might be the best place to cross? I will be in Colorado and New Mexico.
jamawani
09-05-04, 11:28 PM
Jessica -
Yep, that's late - you should be prepared for cold, short days, headwinds going west, and be willing to wait a few days for a storm to pass. That said - I'm guessing you're trying for the Grand Canyon rather than going further south - i.e. Southern Tier route which would be best.
Here are some possibilities along COLO/N MEX border - -
From La Junta, COLO: to Walsenburg then along US 160 - beautiful, but Wolf Creek Pass is often snowed in early, and passes E & W of Durango may be snowy too. But the 1st pass - La Veta - is usually clear, then you can head south thru San Luis to Taos and connect with N MEX route.
From Raton, N MEX: to Taos on US 64 (best to access Raton from Boise City, OKLA)
then from Taos you can follow US 64 west to Farmington to the Four Corners area
or zig-zag via Espanola, Abiquiu, Cuba, Pueblo Pintado to Window Rock - remote!!
You are still at high altitude on the Navajo Res and can get some rough weather.
Avg mid-Oct temps:
La Junta - 72/39
Alamosa - 63/24
Wolf Cr - 48/24 - with 2 ft of snow
Durango - 66/31
Cortez - 67/34
Raton - 67/32
Taos - 66/32
Chama - 62/28
Farm'ton - 69/39
Abiquiu - 67/38
Chaco - 69/32
I've ridden W to E along the border in early Oct - beautiful!! - cobalt blue skies - got dumped on, too.
Have a safe and wonderful ride - if bad weather is coming in - - WAIT.
John