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« Last post by hikerjer on December 11, 2019, 03:50:58 am »
Gotta weigh in on this one. I live in Billings and have ridden your route, esp the Beartooth Pass, on numerous occasions. First, concerning Yellowstone. I've ridden just about every road in the park and while they aren't great, they are certainly doable. As has been mentioned, much depends on your timing. After Labor Day would be best but the weather can be iffy the later the season gets.You just don't know but I'd bet on the good side. Weekends and mid-day are not the best but I've ridden during those times without much trouble but I have a fairly high tolerance for traffic. You don't say if you're camping or not but both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park campgrounds have hiker/biker campsites which run $5-7 dollars and there is always room. The Lamar Valley is, ideed, beautiful. I wouldn't let the negative vibes deter from the ride. Now the Beartooth Pass. One of my favorite rides and like you, I'm an old retired guy but still try to the ride pass once every summer although I didn't make it last summer for some reason I'm not sure of. I've crossed it twice fully loaded on my touring bike and numerous times on my road bike. Guess I have to disagree with the previous post about the Beartooth Pass being particularly brutal. High, yes. Hard, yes. Long, yes but brutal depends on you and the situation I guess. We all have different experiences. I've ridden far worse. The Lost Coast of California comes to mind. The grade on the Beartooth Highway is rarely more than 6% and there are plenty of places to pull over and rest amid outstanding scenery. Slow and not particularly heavy traffic and good shoulders for the most part. Of course, at that elevation, weather is everything and I mean everything. On both of my tours across the pass I've lucked out and had great weather but I've been up there when it was absolutely miserable. As you probably know, the pass is almost 11,000 ft and above timberline muchof the way so there is absolutely nothing to hide behind if the weather goes south. It can be horribly miserable and even downright dangerous so if there is any hint of sketchy weather wait it out in Red Lodge (great little town) or plan an alternative route, perhaps through Cody, WY and the east entrance to the park where the elevation is not so great and it's still gorgeous riding along the Shoshone River. Also, the advice about altitude sickness is worth considering. I've seen it disable really fit riders and hikers at lower elevations than the Beartooths. Might be another reason to spend a day in Red Lodge to acclimate a bit. Anyway, for what's it's worth, that's my opinion.
If you'd like, shoot me a PM and we can discuss it in greater detail. I may even be able to help you out when you get into Billings. Are you flying in? Help you out - that is if I'm around. My tentative plans have me on my own tour around then. But you never know.
Best of luck and go for it.
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