Going to the Sun Road
09-12-07, 07:03 PM
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Sensible shoes.
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Going to the Sun Road
I'll let the pictures tell (most) of the story. Did it a week ago today. I only wish I'd been there longer. The preceeding two days involved ~15 miles of hiking, so this was therapeutic in a painful sort of way. I did it East to West, starting in Many Glacier. About 40 miles to summit, a dozen down, and some rolling. I stopped at Avalanche Creek as it was getting bit late. A feast of sushi and roast duck awaited me in Whitefish.
Last edited by CastIron; 10-03-07 at 07:34 PM.
09-12-07, 09:17 PM
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Awesome. Congrats on that pull up to Logan Pass! I did it 15 months ago in a mini-van. We met a father-daughter team on road bike and recumbent at the summit...invited them to have lunch with us outta the back of the mini-van and had a great visit. Beautiful spot...congrats again and thanks for sharing.
09-13-07, 06:50 AM
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pan y agua
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Great photos. How was the RV traffic?
09-13-07, 09:30 AM
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I drove this road (from both sides) in July. The road was very narrow and traffic was very heavy then. I saw a couple of cyclists on the road, but they did not look very comfortable in the traffic. Hopefully, traffic drops off a lot after Labor Day and you have some nice cycling time before the snow season starts.
09-13-07, 11:29 AM
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road rash/tree burn
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Nice work, and great pictures. I worked in MGH during the summer of '99, and we had a blast riding Going-to-the-Sun, skiing off of it, hiking, etc. etc. Thanks for the shots- I miss Glacier!
09-13-07, 12:24 PM
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going roundy round
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The tunnel shot really showcases those 6 inch stone "guardrails" with the 1000ft drop offs on the other side. I drove up to Logans Pass from Whitefish in a rental car. It was the most scared I have ever been in a car. I had to stop 3 times to dry the fear sweat from my hands and calm myself down. Being from NC, at least the mountain roads as well as the the Blue Ridge Parkway have trees to stop your fall if you go off the road. I have thought about what it would be like on a bike... and my stomach rolls. Helmets off to you.
09-13-07, 12:44 PM
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road rash/tree burn
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wanders, the year I worked out there we had three cars go off the road. Fortunately for the drivers, they all chose areas where there was enough brush to stop the cars before they went more than a couple of hundred feet down. I imagine they were doing a little more than drying the sweat off of their hands, though 
09-13-07, 01:50 PM
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Sensible shoes.
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Thanx folks.
Traffic wasn't a big concern. I'm used to it and the construction/timing really chokes it down. I did make ample use of the turnouts. I wasn't trying to make a time, just go until I shouldn't anymore. Trailers and larger campers aren't permitted on this road 12 miles either side of Logan Pass, so few worries there. The worst, oddly, was split between a guy on his Harley revving the motor at every opportunity (it echoed across the whole mountain top) and the Miata who wouldn't exceed 20mph on the descent. Still, a grand time. My legs were mush after the hiking but the cycling really helped. The blisters, not so much.
Traffic wasn't a big concern. I'm used to it and the construction/timing really chokes it down. I did make ample use of the turnouts. I wasn't trying to make a time, just go until I shouldn't anymore. Trailers and larger campers aren't permitted on this road 12 miles either side of Logan Pass, so few worries there. The worst, oddly, was split between a guy on his Harley revving the motor at every opportunity (it echoed across the whole mountain top) and the Miata who wouldn't exceed 20mph on the descent. Still, a grand time. My legs were mush after the hiking but the cycling really helped. The blisters, not so much.
09-16-07, 10:01 PM
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You rock!! Beautiful road, drove it at the beginning of August, was jonesing for my bike then!! Road a few trips from Hungry Horse to the west entrance and back, but those were just to get miles in, not the GOING TO THE SUN HIGHWAY!!! I am worthless and weak, and bow before you sensei.....
09-16-07, 10:34 PM
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Baby it's cold outside...
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I love that road! We have visited Glacier NP many times, but I have never ridden it... One day!
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09-16-07, 10:36 PM
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fyi - I just read that the Going to the Sun Road will be closed to cars, but open to bicycles for the rest of the season. Have fun.
