Touring in October
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 62
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Touring in October
Hey guys, planning my trip from the Oregon coast to Eastern North Dakota and I have a couple questions. Just ordered up the ACA maps to plan the route, taking the Lewis and Clark trail for most of the way. Working on my gear list for the trip and I am wondering what kind of weather conditions to expect with taking a tour in October? Anyone have experience touring in the late fall months?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 8,546
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Really, that is the wrong time of year for that route. Expect snow in Yellowstone. I've had snow there in early September a couple times.
#3
Banned
If you are already On the Oregon coast, in October, snow will not be expected ...
but as you are going east and gaining altitude all the time no Promises ..
I'd go south down the Coast , that time of year , If I were You.
but as you are going east and gaining altitude all the time no Promises ..
I'd go south down the Coast , that time of year , If I were You.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
i think i would be concerned about cold weather, but than again, cold weather makes me miserable. i did the Southern ACA in Dec, Jan, and found it acceptable... the northern ACA was May-Aug and was great.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NE Tx
Posts: 2,766
Bikes: Tour Easy, Linear USS, Lightening Thunderbolt, custom DF, Raleigh hybrid, Felt time trial
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are you a gambling man? If so, do it and hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Or strike out in mid September. It'll all work out.
Fall is the best time to tour. Just make sure it's Fall and not Winter at your touring latitude.
Fall is the best time to tour. Just make sure it's Fall and not Winter at your touring latitude.
#6
Senior Member
I began the Trans Am route last year on the Oregon coast around the second week of September. Got as far as Yellowstone, when snow, wind, cold temps and an even worse forecast forced me to pull the plug. Not saying you cannot do it. It just wasn't worth it to me. My journal:
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=13035&v=fv
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=13035&v=fv
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I began the Trans Am route last year on the Oregon coast around the second week of September. Got as far as Yellowstone, when snow, wind, cold temps and an even worse forecast forced me to pull the plug. Not saying you cannot do it. It just wasn't worth it to me. My journal:
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=13035&v=fv
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=13035&v=fv
but, in any case, you could always catch a ride over the Yellowstone, or Glacier (if you are going that way).
In '82, i was on foot, and even though there was plenty of snow and cold in Yellowstone and at the top of Togwotee Pass, for the rest of my travel through Wyoming and Colorado, it was glorious up until Thanksgiving.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts
The L&C route doesn't go through Yellowstone.
OP: Do some weather research re: places along the route. For example, searching for average daily temperature three forks, montana yields a chart from TWC showing an average daily high in October of 61 and an average nightly low of 32. Again, those are averages over the entire month. It's likely to be below those averages later in the month. Dickinson, ND is 58 and 28 respectively. Only you can decide whether you would be comfortable with those (and possibly worse) conditions, keeping in mind that you could hit some snow on mountain passes.
OP: Do some weather research re: places along the route. For example, searching for average daily temperature three forks, montana yields a chart from TWC showing an average daily high in October of 61 and an average nightly low of 32. Again, those are averages over the entire month. It's likely to be below those averages later in the month. Dickinson, ND is 58 and 28 respectively. Only you can decide whether you would be comfortable with those (and possibly worse) conditions, keeping in mind that you could hit some snow on mountain passes.
#9
Senior Member
IMO the main thing is to know what you might be up against and how you will react to such. That will be a function of many things. Time allotment, aversion to weather extremes and plain old want-to. I had some good advice when I began a tour that I knew was much later than it ideally should be. That being that the weather can turn on a dime and you may have to wait it out on occasion. Otherwise you end up hating life, fighting the elements. While I did wait, the situation and moreover the forecast for where I was heading was even worse. While I could wait out a few days, the ten day forecast held no such promise. Then it becomes a time element problem. How much time do you have to do the ride? For me, my window of opportunity was not big enough to wait it out. And with advancing time, days get shorter etc. Bottom line, I did the tour for my enjoyment. When that wasn't happening, being home with family and work(yes I love what I do for a living) provided greater utility than enduring the balance of the tour.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 62
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the advice guys. I have about a month to do the entire trip and I will be taking off from Oregon at the end of September and touring through October. From what I can tell from the maps I've looked at so far, it seems like the Lewis and Clark route follows the Amtrak train route relatively close so there is that option to bail from the tour if for some reason the weather turns for the worst.
I've been doing research on average temps and whatnot for different points along the tour route and the averages don't seem to be too bad. I think if I pack some cold gear for those just in case moments I should hopefully be alright, and if it turns for the worst just hop on the train and take that home.
I've been doing research on average temps and whatnot for different points along the tour route and the averages don't seem to be too bad. I think if I pack some cold gear for those just in case moments I should hopefully be alright, and if it turns for the worst just hop on the train and take that home.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts
If you are planning to go the southerly way across Lost Trail and Chief Jospeh Passes and down into Dillion, etc., I would expect those "just in case" moments to be "more likely than not" moments. Chief Joseph is around 7,300', and Wisdom, in the valley, is right around 6,000', which is why the average low in October is about 20. When we were there in '11 it got down to about 39 the last night of June. The nice thing is that if it's clear and sunny that helps take some of the chill off.
Not trying to discourage you at all. I am sure it will be very pretty. Just want to let you know what you might encounter. BTW...If you find yourself in Twin Bridges, make sure to check out the Bike Camp there. It's a very nice facility.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 56
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I toured in the winter in Canada and I didn't find it at all that bad, but I was able to stay indoors almost every night. You should definitely check out warmshowers.org, if you haven't already. Also there was a thread about winter touring last year, not what you will face, but it may be helpful. Winter Touring Help
Definitely do some test runs in the spring, when the weather would be somewhat similar to October. 1-2 day loaded tour would be great too.
As for enjoyment, its really just about how you look at it. But as gif4445 said, if you don't enjoy it you can always pull the plug, there is no need putting yourself through something you hate just for completing it.
Definitely do some test runs in the spring, when the weather would be somewhat similar to October. 1-2 day loaded tour would be great too.
As for enjoyment, its really just about how you look at it. But as gif4445 said, if you don't enjoy it you can always pull the plug, there is no need putting yourself through something you hate just for completing it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lis
Touring
15
11-11-10 02:46 PM
Alex85
Touring
5
02-09-10 06:46 PM