Messages

1

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Great Divide, Section 3, Maps A&B – 2014

« on: August 16, 2014, 08:47:54 am »

Current information on this project can be found on
http://map.wyoroad.info/hi.html

Note the phone number provided, 307-200-9188. They actually called us back.

In mid August 2014 we did this (southbound) by arriving at the construction at 5pm and riding until dark, then rising early to get through the rest. In most of the 27 miles the surface was adequate to good. The closure barriers were not up when we passed, but it appeared that the southermost 8 miles were the actual closure area.

We have heard of angry workers and conflicts from other travelers trying to cross this, but we had no trouble, nor did another couple on the same day.

If I had it to do again I'd just do the suggested reroute if only because of the length of the construction zone.

Here is a copy/paste from today's info on wyoroad.info:
WY 71 Sage Creek Road
Project Number: WY PFH 26-1(3)
Scheduled Completion Date: 2015-Jan-01
WY 71 (Sage Creek Road) has construction starting Monday May 12, 2014. The road will be CLOSED to vehicles Monday-Saturday 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm excluding federal holidays. If you need accommodations call 307-200-9188. construction expected to last 6-7 months.
Road   Milepost(s)   Surface   Delays and Scheduled Closures
US26   26.0 to 34.53   Gravel, Dirt   
Closed, on -MTWTFS, from 1300, to 1700
Closed, on -MTWTFS, from 0800, to 1200
Last Updated: 2014-06-25 00:17:52.428

2

Routes / Re: Great Divide Montana: Basin To Butte New (Excellent) Route - not in addenda

« on: August 07, 2014, 08:11:15 pm »

Thanks -

Might it be possible to mention important reroutes like this in the 2011 map addenda?

I had been under review mistaken impression that since I bought my maps from aca just before my 2014 trip that I had the latest, but apparently the 2014 maps started shipping after that.

Thanks,
-Randy

3

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Great Divide Canada Map B road closure June 2014

« on: July 30, 2014, 07:27:52 pm »

Kind of off topic, but you could start from the south then and go north until you froze, probably in Colorado or Wyoming. The introductory  chapters of Mike McCoy's book have suggestions about seasons to ride, and the maps show average temperatures and rainfall in related areas. Both will help you.

4

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Great Divide Canada: Adding Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks

« on: July 26, 2014, 12:10:46 am »

It was rugged, but very doable. Many downed trees and large mud puddles. For the adventurous, but much of the trail to Akamina is rideable. Would be miserable with a Bob, but I had bike packing setup and my buddy had panniers and we did fine. He walked more than I did.

5

Connecting ACA Routes / Great Divide Canada: Adding Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks

« on: July 25, 2014, 10:46:43 pm »

When riding the Great Divide Canada it can be a nice option for many people to ride over the Continental Divide into Waterton National Park and then enjoy Waterton and Glacier National Parks before returning to the route north of Whitefish, MT.

Southbound:
- From intersection of Flathead Road and Border roads at mile 84.2 (very near Butts Cabin), continue south (cross over the Flathead River on the bridge straight ahead)
- Follow this road, which becomes Kishemena road, as it runs south exactly to touch to US border (you can go visit the official clearcut at the border when you get to the southernmost point.
- The road then continues northeast again. Follow it until the last bridge, a fairly large one. (If you get to where the road is blocked by a dike, or the cabins on the right just before that you've gone too far.)
- Immediately after the last bridge, there is a road that comes in from the left, and immediately there's one on the right. It's marked "no motor vehicles". Take this road/track/trail/stream to the right up to Akamina-Kishemena Provincial Park, which is adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park's Cameron Lake area. Akamina-Kishemena Provincial Park has a nice campground just 3 km before you exit the park and come out at Cameron Lake.
- Enjoy Cameron Lake and then ride down to Waterton Town and enjoy the park.
- Ride the Chief Mountain road and cross US customs to get to St. Mary, Montana, then ride over the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass.
- On the west side of Logan Pass, at Apgar, head to Fish Creek and take the Inside North Fork road (low or no vehicular traffic, may be closed to vehicles) north to Polebridge.
- Ride north from Polebridge to rejoin the route and ride over Red Meadow Pass.

Northbound:
- Take the off-route visit to Polebridge.
- From Polebridge cross the river and ride south to Apgar on the Inside North Fork Road.
- Ride over Logan Pass (Going-to-the-Sun road), then head north toward the Chief Mountain Highway
- Take the Chief Mountain Highway, crossing customs, to Waterton Lakes National Park.
- Climb to the Cameron Lake area, and take the trailhead that goes to Wall Lake. Do not go to Wall Lake, just continue straight.
- When you get to a road, it's the Kishemena road to the Flathead Road. It goes south before going back north. Turn left and go down.
- Pick up the route at the intersection of Border Road and Flathead Road, a few hundred meters from Butt's Cabin.

I captured the route from Butts Cabin to the Akamina-Kishemena Provincial Park Campground at https://www.dropbox.com/s/7jc9s7trwjlrvl4/Butts%20cabin%20to%20Akamina%20cg.gpx - you can see the search for the turnoff in blip on there. Questions? randy@randyfay.com or here.

6

Routes / Great Divide Montana: Basin To Butte New (Excellent) Route - not in addenda

« on: July 25, 2014, 10:32:22 pm »

FYI, the excellent new route from Basin, MT to Butte MT described in the latest version of "Cycling the Great Divide" by Mike McCoy  is *not* shown on the most recent map and is not mentioned in the addenda. It's highly recommended, as it avoids a bunch of interstate and interstate-frontage-road riding. Great new route. (Congrats to Mike on the excellent new routing).

Adv Cycling folks: Please mention the new route in the addenda at least, thanks! I'm sure it will be in the next version of the map, but it would be great to at least have it mentioned in the addenda now.

Note that the Tour Divide 2014 gpx *does* follow the new route. (See http://www.topofusion.com/divide/gps.php, the 2014 10K file, http://www.topofusion.com/divide/TourDivide2014_v2_10k.gpx). I also captured the route from Ladysmith Campground (mile 2.6 of Day7 21) to Butte at https://www.dropbox.com/s/qvjru11qzcp2tz2/New%20route%20Basin%20to%20Butte%20.gpx

7

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Great Divide Canada Map B road closure June 2014

« on: July 25, 2014, 09:20:38 pm »

Do *not* try to go this way. We talked to one Tour Divide racer (July 2014) who didn't read the addenda or "didn't get the email" and spent 4.5 hours hanging above the river before getting across. It was not a pleasant or reasonable experience. Apparently Tour Divide has a workaround for that section, but nobody needs to endanger themselves above a running river, and if you're not racing, just use the easy highway route.