Routes / Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« on: March 12, 2018, 03:44:30 am »Diff -
Since this is your first post and you give so little info about yourself, it is hard to offer any effective advice.
It seems that this is going to be your first big trip and that you know little about the West.
Not sure, but I suspect that you live in the urban East or Southeast.
I've got, perhaps, 100,000 miles on the bike (don't count) most of it in the West.
I have lived in the Northern Rockies for the past 30 years - Wyoming/Montana.
It is not to be trifled with.
Spring does not arrive in the Northern Rockies until June - regardless of what the calendar says.
Some of the biggest snowfalls in Denver have taken place in April - because the moisture feed picks up.
I have x-c skied on fresh snow in May every year and into June some years.
Not to mention that a winter's worth of snow on the ground has to melt out.
Crossing the Rockies in early May is asking for trouble.
You probably won't die, but you'll likely be cold, wet, and miserable.
The average high in Yellowstone in early May in 48F, avg. low is 20F. With 7 inches of snowfall in May.
https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wy5345
Although Breckinridge, Colorado is 500 miles south, it is about the same because it is higher.
Average elevations are lower in Montana, higher in Wyoming, and highest in Colorado.
So winter persists about as long throughout the Rockies.
I offer you the same advice I have given many others -
Two basic elements you can alter are your route and your timeframe.
Electronic media give the impression you can do anything, anytime. You can't.
If your timeframe is fixed - then choose your route accordingly.
If this is going to be your first - perhaps only - big bike tour, why make it a bummer?
PS - This year is likely to be colder and snowier than those averages, too.
Thanks for the quick reply jamawani,
A little more about me:
I'm actually from, and still live in, Portland, OR. Yes this is definitely my first big bike trip.
I'm 26 years old, feel like I'm in pretty good shape, and am naturally a long distance runner.
My idea to bicycle to New York arose recently as I've been feeling more and more inspired to practice modes of transportation that are fossil fuel free. I'm going to New York to visit my Grandparents before flying to Sweden to visit my partner who's from there.
I totally get that the rockies are a serious undertaking on a bicycle. That's why I'm seeking the advice of those who've had some experience with this.
Basically what I hear you saying is: "Don't try it at this time of year."
I'm okay being cold for a little while on this trip. I spent last winter living in a teepee in North Dakota. That was cold! Ideally not cold AND wet tho. That sounds tough...
Yes my timeframe is fixed. My route is not fixed but my end destination needs to be somewhere close to New York. At least on the East Coast.
I just don't see any other options for crossing the country West to East without going so far South. I guess I'm curious if you can think of any other options on how to pull of this type of trip during this timeframe.
thanks again
Hey man, I rode from Portland to New York City in 2014. Let me know if you have any questions. I used the Lewis and Clark Trail, as well as the Northern Tier. The ride from through Oregon, Idaho and Montana was UNREAL! So beautiful. I am stoked for you!