next years tour departure date.....
 

ok so here goes gonna do the tour starting in mount vernon washing ton and end up in livingston montana before turning south what would be a good departure date for the tour i am planning on taking 2 across washington.....

How long will it take? In western Washington it can rain anytime. June is often rainy, though can be warm and sunny too. I think the optimal time for good weather up there is July-September. It can snow in Montana anytime, but the odds are you'll get good weather in July and August. I think if I were doing this trip (it sounds fun) I'd start in late June. After you get across Steven's Pass, which way will you be going? Sandpoint, Idaho? Glacier N. P.? I've ridden a lot in that neck of the woods (though not as far east as Livingston.) It's wonderful country! Have a great tour!

Are you planning to cross the North Cascades Highway (SR 20)? If so, check WADOT's web site for historical opening dates. This year it opened later than any other year I believe due to very heavy winter snow and resultant road damage. It was not until June. I have crossed it twice in late May. It can be very cold and wet:


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=221528

On the flip side, there is very little tourist traffic at that time of year.

Depends on when you can get away. Most people on the TransAm (starting in Yorktown, VA instead of Mt. Vernon, about 100 miles south) leave around mid-April to the end of May. That gives you some confidence it won't be terribly cold in the east, and at least a chance to get across the plains before summer heat kicks in.

i picked mt vernon cause my grandmother is from anacortes and i am going to leave from my aunts house i was wanting to leave in may and was just wondering if it was too soon.....thanks for the ideas

If LongHaulTrucker means Washington DC I agree. If they mean Mt Vernon, WA that is a different matter. It sounds like they mean to start in Washington State.

One other factor that may come into play is that if you are planning to cross Logan Pass in Glacier N.P. you may be out of luck if you go too early. The last couple of years the pass has not opened until late June at the earliest. Last year it did not open until sometime in July. Unless they have an unusually light snowfall this winter (it snowed there yesterday), a mid-June opening will likely be the best case scenario. The Marias Pass (U.S. 2) alternative is a long slog up and not nearly as scenic.

My one time experience thru that area backs up your thought. Had perfect traveling conditions. Mid August would fit well with cooler weather as the op headed south.