Help me decide on this last minute tour.
08-23-14, 10:17 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Help me decide on this last minute tour.
I've taken a September tour each of the last 3 years and have a chance to do it again this year. Problem is, I have not decided where to go. Background info: I live in SC Nebraska. Tour #1 in 2011 was from home to Breck CO. ( https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=10146&v=87). Tour #2 in '12 was to the Black Hills and back (https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=11208&v=GL ), and last year I started on the west coast and pedaled to Yellowstone ( https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=13035&v=g1 ).
1...This year I have a free ride to Billings MT, on Sept. 8, if I choose to take it. From there, I could go North to Glacier, south to Yellowstone and pick up where I left off last year.
2...Or go directly to Yellowstone from Billings and pick up where I left off. Then pedal the TA as far as Breck and go easterly to home.
3...Or I could just pedal toward CO (and leave a week earlier) and hit all the mountain passes and such that I can in 3 weeks or so. Like Trail Ridge, Rabbit ears, Mt. Evans (If I physically can!), and points in Western CO that a friend living out there has suggested.
4...Or take off for Missouri and the Katy Trail.
I'm sitting here pondering and decided I would throw all this info out to the knowledgeable people on BF. Your thoughts please!
1...This year I have a free ride to Billings MT, on Sept. 8, if I choose to take it. From there, I could go North to Glacier, south to Yellowstone and pick up where I left off last year.
2...Or go directly to Yellowstone from Billings and pick up where I left off. Then pedal the TA as far as Breck and go easterly to home.
3...Or I could just pedal toward CO (and leave a week earlier) and hit all the mountain passes and such that I can in 3 weeks or so. Like Trail Ridge, Rabbit ears, Mt. Evans (If I physically can!), and points in Western CO that a friend living out there has suggested.
4...Or take off for Missouri and the Katy Trail.
I'm sitting here pondering and decided I would throw all this info out to the knowledgeable people on BF. Your thoughts please!
08-23-14, 11:05 AM
#2
Banned
Wonder what happens to Sturgis SD, after the Harley guys/gals are gone?
BTW the Pacific Coast aint bad that time of year , vs 21 june, not as long a daylight of course.
BTW the Pacific Coast aint bad that time of year , vs 21 june, not as long a daylight of course.
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-24-14 at 12:39 PM.
08-23-14, 11:38 AM
#3
Hooked on Touring
Based on last year's journal, I would think you might want to continue on your cross-country ride.
But, of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules.
If you got a ride to Billings, you could always catch the bus to Livingston and ride down to Yellowstone.
It would me boxing your bike plus fees - so somewhat of a hassle.
Might be cheaper if you can swing a one-way rental.
Maybe you can get a ride a bit further??
If you are truly insane, you can ride thru Red Lodge over Beartooth Pass and into the NE Entrance.
You can get early snow - but Yellowstone is really lovely in mid-September.
Then you can pck up the TransAm and ride southeast to Colorado.
I suspect that your season will end before you get to Pueblo.
Might be better to swing into the Plains from Walden to Fort Collins.
Best - J
PS - Another option is to ride from Billings to Cody and west into the park's East Entrance.
But, of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules.
If you got a ride to Billings, you could always catch the bus to Livingston and ride down to Yellowstone.
It would me boxing your bike plus fees - so somewhat of a hassle.
Might be cheaper if you can swing a one-way rental.
Maybe you can get a ride a bit further??
If you are truly insane, you can ride thru Red Lodge over Beartooth Pass and into the NE Entrance.
You can get early snow - but Yellowstone is really lovely in mid-September.
Then you can pck up the TransAm and ride southeast to Colorado.
I suspect that your season will end before you get to Pueblo.
Might be better to swing into the Plains from Walden to Fort Collins.
Best - J
PS - Another option is to ride from Billings to Cody and west into the park's East Entrance.
08-24-14, 11:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm not sure about Sturgis, but I did stay awhile in Hill City SD. Was biking the Mickelson trail in early Sept. a couple years ago. Had the look of a motorcycle town with a big Harley Davidson store smack dab in the middle of town. Good crowd, but not overwhelming. Nice stop, with things to see and good food to eat.
08-24-14, 12:03 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Based on last year's journal, I would think you might want to continue on your cross-country ride.
But, of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules.
If you got a ride to Billings, you could always catch the bus to Livingston and ride down to Yellowstone.
It would me boxing your bike plus fees - so somewhat of a hassle.
Might be cheaper if you can swing a one-way rental.
Maybe you can get a ride a bit further??
If you are truly insane, you can ride thru Red Lodge over Beartooth Pass and into the NE Entrance.
You can get early snow - but Yellowstone is really lovely in mid-September.
Then you can pck up the TransAm and ride southeast to Colorado.
I suspect that your season will end before you get to Pueblo.
Might be better to swing into the Plains from Walden to Fort Collins.
Best - J
PS - Another option is to ride from Billings to Cody and west into the park's East Entrance.
But, of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules.
If you got a ride to Billings, you could always catch the bus to Livingston and ride down to Yellowstone.
It would me boxing your bike plus fees - so somewhat of a hassle.
Might be cheaper if you can swing a one-way rental.
Maybe you can get a ride a bit further??
If you are truly insane, you can ride thru Red Lodge over Beartooth Pass and into the NE Entrance.
You can get early snow - but Yellowstone is really lovely in mid-September.
Then you can pck up the TransAm and ride southeast to Colorado.
I suspect that your season will end before you get to Pueblo.
Might be better to swing into the Plains from Walden to Fort Collins.
Best - J
PS - Another option is to ride from Billings to Cody and west into the park's East Entrance.
08-24-14, 12:25 PM
#6
Hooked on Touring
Yes, I have ridden Beartooth Pass in mid-summer and frozen my tush off.
Not to mention that it is beyond killer in gradiant and braking downhill.
And it got a good chunk of snow this weekend already.
Doable - yes - but this late - iffy - not to mention brutal as a first leg.
I would suggest heading via Cody and the Wapiti Valley into the east entrance -
Looks like you drove the route from the east entrance to Cody last year.
Or ride/drive/hitch to Livingston and bike thru the North entrance and down to Yellowstone Lake.
Then you can bike down to Jackson Lake and connect back up with last year's route.
I know you got bad weather last year - there are no guarantees -
Although your timeframe would be a little earlier this year.
You probably will have a snow spell in Wyoming or Colorado no matter where you ride -
You just have to sit it out and wait for the next patch of nice weather.
<<<>>>
I think skipping Glacier is a good idea at this point -
Also, the Katy will still be too hot.
But given the ride offer - and getting there is always a hassle -
I don't see why you shouldn't take them up.
(Any chance they can drop you in Cody or take you all the way to Livingston??)
Best - J
Not to mention that it is beyond killer in gradiant and braking downhill.
And it got a good chunk of snow this weekend already.
Doable - yes - but this late - iffy - not to mention brutal as a first leg.
I would suggest heading via Cody and the Wapiti Valley into the east entrance -
Looks like you drove the route from the east entrance to Cody last year.
Or ride/drive/hitch to Livingston and bike thru the North entrance and down to Yellowstone Lake.
Then you can bike down to Jackson Lake and connect back up with last year's route.
I know you got bad weather last year - there are no guarantees -
Although your timeframe would be a little earlier this year.
You probably will have a snow spell in Wyoming or Colorado no matter where you ride -
You just have to sit it out and wait for the next patch of nice weather.
<<<>>>
I think skipping Glacier is a good idea at this point -
Also, the Katy will still be too hot.
But given the ride offer - and getting there is always a hassle -
I don't see why you shouldn't take them up.
(Any chance they can drop you in Cody or take you all the way to Livingston??)
Best - J
08-24-14, 06:20 PM
#7
Senior Member
I'm a fan of the KATY Trail. I've done it the last 4 years in June. It can be hot still in September; however, it's usually dry then. That's a bonus.
08-25-14, 08:04 AM
#9
Senior Member
08-25-14, 08:41 AM
#10
Senior Member
Beartooth can be closed pretty much on a moment's notice due to snow, so I wouldn't plan a September trip around that without a fall-back plan.
08-26-14, 10:46 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
08-30-14, 02:52 AM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Well, I couldn't get Glacier out of my mind. So I'm using my free ride and traveling to Billings MT on Sept. 8. If the forecast for Glacier area looks bad, I will have him drop me off in Cody and I will bike to Grant Village in Yellowstone to continue my cross country tour. If all looks a go, I will grab a rental car and get a little closer to the park. At this point looking at Great Falls. The car will cut a couple hundred miles off the ride and get me a couple days away. So should start the Going to the sun road on Sept. 11 or 12. Road closure for construction doesn't begin until Sept. 22 I believe, so should be ok there. I have the Great Parks map #2 , which I will follow from St. Mary to the TA. Just hoping the weather holds!
