Crossing Rockies in September/October?
#26
Senior Member
I crossed the country, East to West many years ago, and found September and October to be glorious, but there is no way to predict the weather now. Weather in New England can be as bad as anything out West, especially for a rear round commuter, which I was.
I don't know if the OP has left yet, but looking at the national weather maps, the West looks pretty hot; perhaps dangerously so. I'll take cold over killing heat anytime. I know how to keep warm outdoors, but not how to keep cool.
I don't know if the OP has left yet, but looking at the national weather maps, the West looks pretty hot; perhaps dangerously so. I'll take cold over killing heat anytime. I know how to keep warm outdoors, but not how to keep cool.
#27
Behold my avatar:
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SW Colorado
Posts: 1,034
Bikes: 2019 Gorilla Monsoon, 2013 Surly Krampus, Brompton folder
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6941 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
289 Posts
jamawani just wanted to follow up with a couple of questions ... were those estimates for TransAm specifically?
Based on all of the feedback on this thread, it sounds like as long as I'm prepared for a couple of cold nights and a day off or two for snow (and not being a hero, taking a transport as necessary), then the timing should be fine leaving from Astoria OR on August 17th ... It's still nearly 1500 miles to Colorado on the route, so probably ~25 days to get through the hardest / most variable parts.
Does that sound right?
Based on all of the feedback on this thread, it sounds like as long as I'm prepared for a couple of cold nights and a day off or two for snow (and not being a hero, taking a transport as necessary), then the timing should be fine leaving from Astoria OR on August 17th ... It's still nearly 1500 miles to Colorado on the route, so probably ~25 days to get through the hardest / most variable parts.
Does that sound right?
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,885
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,088 Times
in
1,182 Posts
Beceause everybody here is aware that at 10,000 ft over some passes, in Sept. and especially in October, you can get enough snow to close you down for a day or more. Maybe didn't happen to you, great.
Likes For Steve B.:
#30
Behold my avatar:
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SW Colorado
Posts: 1,034
Bikes: 2019 Gorilla Monsoon, 2013 Surly Krampus, Brompton folder
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6941 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
289 Posts
Odds are, no problem. But snowstorms do occasionally strike that time of year in the CO Rockies. My sense is its well worth chancing it. But everybody's risk tolerance is different.
#31
Hooked on Touring
SW Colorado - Mesa Verde NP - El. 7100 ft.
94 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 76.4F, Lo 48.7F, Snow 0.1 in.
OCT - Hi 64.5F, Lo 38.3F, Snow 1.3 in.
NW Wyoming - Yellowstone NP - El. 7300 ft.
112 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 64.2F, Lo 29.4F, Snow 1.7 in.
OCT - HI 51.1F, Lo 22.2F, Snow 7.6 in.
94 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 76.4F, Lo 48.7F, Snow 0.1 in.
OCT - Hi 64.5F, Lo 38.3F, Snow 1.3 in.
NW Wyoming - Yellowstone NP - El. 7300 ft.
112 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 64.2F, Lo 29.4F, Snow 1.7 in.
OCT - HI 51.1F, Lo 22.2F, Snow 7.6 in.
#32
Senior Member
SW Colorado - Mesa Verde NP - El. 7100 ft.
94 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 76.4F, Lo 48.7F, Snow 0.1 in.
OCT - Hi 64.5F, Lo 38.3F, Snow 1.3 in.
NW Wyoming - Yellowstone NP - El. 7300 ft.
112 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 64.2F, Lo 29.4F, Snow 1.7 in.
OCT - HI 51.1F, Lo 22.2F, Snow 7.6 in.
94 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 76.4F, Lo 48.7F, Snow 0.1 in.
OCT - Hi 64.5F, Lo 38.3F, Snow 1.3 in.
NW Wyoming - Yellowstone NP - El. 7300 ft.
112 yr. Averages
SEP - Hi 64.2F, Lo 29.4F, Snow 1.7 in.
OCT - HI 51.1F, Lo 22.2F, Snow 7.6 in.
#33
bicycle tourist
As far as averages go, I like to use weatherspark.com which also gives 75% and 90% percentile bands for temperatures. In general, I look more at the 90% percentile band and make sure I am set for that. There still can be outliers beyond that of course, but when those situations happen, I resort to other fallback methods like waiting out worst weather, rerouting on the fly, etc.
With that said, weather in mountains can always be volatile, but I pay particular attention in shoulder seasons for early/late storms.
With that said, weather in mountains can always be volatile, but I pay particular attention in shoulder seasons for early/late storms.
#34
Senior Member
I tend to use those as well. I don't necessarily plan for comfort at the 90 percentile numbers, but it is important to be at least safe at them. Survival and keeping all your fingers and toes at an absolute minimum
Likes For staehpj1:
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Posts: 2,483
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1237 Post(s)
Liked 324 Times
in
249 Posts
I would just ride if it's a nice day. 2 easy days to get used to the load, if going hwy 30 or 47. No idea of those road conditions myself.
I rode the Can/Am NW in 2018, was in Astoria on July 7. I then rode a short day to Seaside. There's a bugger steep climb going to Cannon Beach. I went up it with some walking and then said forget it to going down to the ocean and back to Seaside. LOL. From there to Forest Grove was 65 miles or so on hwy 26, 1 steep and 2 moderate climbs I think. Maybe 15 miles with slim or none shoulders, half is thru forest. Was pretty easy riding thru Portland, not counting the hills. LOL. I guess it's 45 miles from Forest grove to the airport. Not saying it's where you sould go.
Getting to CO mtn tops in late Sept. is iffy IMO.
I rode the Can/Am NW in 2018, was in Astoria on July 7. I then rode a short day to Seaside. There's a bugger steep climb going to Cannon Beach. I went up it with some walking and then said forget it to going down to the ocean and back to Seaside. LOL. From there to Forest Grove was 65 miles or so on hwy 26, 1 steep and 2 moderate climbs I think. Maybe 15 miles with slim or none shoulders, half is thru forest. Was pretty easy riding thru Portland, not counting the hills. LOL. I guess it's 45 miles from Forest grove to the airport. Not saying it's where you sould go.
Getting to CO mtn tops in late Sept. is iffy IMO.
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 07-22-21 at 11:19 PM.
#36
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,368
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6220 Post(s)
Liked 4,221 Times
in
2,367 Posts
I'm planning on biking across country fully self supported, starting mid-August (one of my childhood best friends is getting married so can't miss or start earlier =)
My current plan is to do the Transamerica route with some small modifications, going East to West (partly because of some wanderlust to reach the West).
I think I'll end up averaging 60-80+ miles a day, allowing me to hit the West coast in probably 60 or so days.
My biggest concern is crossing the Rockies in September. Do people think this is a terrible idea or worth the adventure? Any experiences about crossing the Rockies later in the fall would be super helpful!
My current plan is to do the Transamerica route with some small modifications, going East to West (partly because of some wanderlust to reach the West).
I think I'll end up averaging 60-80+ miles a day, allowing me to hit the West coast in probably 60 or so days.
My biggest concern is crossing the Rockies in September. Do people think this is a terrible idea or worth the adventure? Any experiences about crossing the Rockies later in the fall would be super helpful!
On a positive note, afternoon thunderstorm activity is significantly reduced in September. They can still happen (just like it can still snow) but they are less intense and less prevalent.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#37
Behold my avatar:
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SW Colorado
Posts: 1,034
Bikes: 2019 Gorilla Monsoon, 2013 Surly Krampus, Brompton folder
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6941 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
289 Posts
Yeah, on average I think Sept is better than high summer in CO for weather and for car traffic.