Messages

1

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Grand Canyon Connector 2010

« on: June 04, 2010, 01:20:48 pm »

This certainly puts a new wrinkle in the route.  THE NPS suggested route detour is over 90 miles.  It looks like there might be a better alternative for those heading East to the North Rim Connector

From Springdale, UT (west side of the park)
Take Rte 9 - W to Bridge Lane
Turn down Bridge Lane in Rockville, cross a single-lane bridge and follow the road for two miles before it eventually becomes the Smithsonian Butte Road.
Follow Smithsonian Butte Road to Rte 59
Rte 59 to Rte 389 to Fredonia

This routing is only 54.5 miles

Anybody out there able to give more insight on actual conditions?

EDIT:

Further research has revealed:

Smithsonian Butte National Back Country Byway

"This unpaved route cuts between Gooseberry Mesa and Smithsonian Butte, just southwest of Zion National Park. Access points are Hwy 9 near Rockville and Hwy 59 near Hildale. There are no facilities along this road. The road may be impassible after heavy snowfall. Four-wheel drive may be needed during winter and early spring."

"Eight of the drive's nine miles wind over a maintained dirt road that's car-appropriate, except during snow or after heavy rain."


This seems much better than the suggested detour.

2

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Boston to San Francisco, Direct route from Boston to Pueblo Co, then Western Exp

« on: May 11, 2010, 02:56:11 pm »

Not sure if this is too late, but here's a suggestion

Boston,MA to Albany,NY - your preference but I prefer Rte 20 west of Worcester.
Albany,NY to Seneca Falls,NY - basically stay on Rte 20.
At Seneca Falls you can pick up ACA Northern Tier and follow it to Oberlin, OH.
At Oberlin,OH  you can pick up ACA Underground Railroad and follow it to Maysville, KY.
From Maysville,KY to Bardstown KY, you're on your own, but there aren't a lot of options so I doubt if you'll get lost.
At Bardstown KY, you can pick up ACA TA route to Pueblo,CO.

Not all of this will be pleasant but it is a fairly direct diagonal, taking advantage of intersecting ACA routes.

Have fun and try not to focus on speed (unless you MUST)

3

General Discussion / Re: Monument Valley in July

« on: April 05, 2010, 12:01:11 pm »

Thanks all.

Just finished making camping reservations for Zion and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  I hate being on a schedule. What ever happened to hiker/biker walk up camp sites?  First come/First served sounds nice but not when you're a day's ride away at Check In time. 

Sorry for the minor rant just had to get it out.

4

General Discussion / Re: Monument Valley in July

« on: April 03, 2010, 05:02:20 pm »

John:

Time is one factor I have on my side.  Just want to get off the bike somewhere by the time the snow starts to fly. Right now I plan on getting to Boston by October, so 4+ months to do what took me 59 days travelling the NT to Seattle.  Monument Valley has been added to the route.

Aggie:

Oops, my bad eyes.  Yes I meant 95.  I assume the dirt road is passable.  At worst, its got to be walkable.  Although walking my bike downhill will be a new experience.

5

General Discussion / Re: Monument Valley in July

« on: April 03, 2010, 08:49:20 am »

Thanks, that's about what I thought. Too bad I can't carry a cooler of beer so that I can add to the archeological collection as I pedal.

I am planning on taking 261S from 96E connecting to 163S to the Navaho resort, then returning 163 to Bluff and 191N to Blanding.

6

General Discussion / Monument Valley in July

« on: April 02, 2010, 11:29:45 pm »

I'm in the final planning stages of a solo self contained trip Fresno-Boston leaving in June 2010.  I'll be using AC's WE and TA routes with some wandering thrown in to keep it interesting.  From the main route through eastern Utah, I noticed that Monument Valley is "only" a 55 mile detour.  But it'll be July and it's the desert.  I'll be carrying plenty (?) of water and a filter (if it'll do me any good in the desert) and I know enough to leave before the sun really rises.  So is there anyone out there with relevant experience that says that I'm more than a normally crazy guy on a bike to try this.

Thanks and may the wind always be at your back.