Author Topic: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?  (Read 16377 times)

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Offline jamawani

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2018, 01:47:32 pm »
I ask because I am an ocean waves to ocean waves kinda guy.
Some people are o.k. with just heading out from PDX - - but not me.

Take a look at my trip above.
You end up on the Atlantic at Sandy Hook Natl Rec Area -
Then you can take the fast ferry right into Manhattan - crusin' past Miss Liberty.

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2018, 04:01:21 pm »
What lower crossings of the CD in Montana are you referring to? So far the lowest I've found is Roger's Pass (5,600') on HWY 200 between Missoula and Great Falls.

Marias Pass (U.S. 2) between W. Glacier and E. Glacier is 5,213'. A local in E. Glacier told me it is the lowest paved crossing of the CD. It's on the NT route as the alternative to Going to Sun, which almost assuredly will not be open.

Offline differener

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #17 on: March 12, 2018, 04:15:12 pm »
I ask because I am an ocean waves to ocean waves kinda guy.
Some people are o.k. with just heading out from PDX - - but not me.

Take a look at my trip above.
You end up on the Atlantic at Sandy Hook Natl Rec Area -
Then you can take the fast ferry right into Manhattan - crusin' past Miss Liberty.

Well I'm with you there. I'd definitely prefer doing the full thing rather then skimping myself a fraction of it.

I spent some good time checking out your trip. The route looks awesome beautiful and my guess is it'll have less traffic than the ones I've been looking at so far.

Looks like you started in June and finished in August which, again, is the potential road block I'm running into with trying to do this so early in the season. Any thoughts on how that route would do form mid April to late June?

thanks

Offline differener

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #18 on: March 12, 2018, 04:17:49 pm »
What lower crossings of the CD in Montana are you referring to? So far the lowest I've found is Roger's Pass (5,600') on HWY 200 between Missoula and Great Falls.

Marias Pass (U.S. 2) between W. Glacier and E. Glacier is 5,213'. A local in E. Glacier told me it is the lowest paved crossing of the CD. It's on the NT route as the alternative to Going to Sun, which almost assuredly will not be open.

nice, thank you

Offline jamawani

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #19 on: March 12, 2018, 05:07:15 pm »
Marias Pass has gotten dumped on. Megasnow.
Although it is a few hundred feet lower than Rogers Pass, it gets more snow.

Montana 200 from Missoula to Great Falls would be the best route weather-wise - but rather "Meh!"
Taking MT 200, then MT 141 to US 12 over McDonald Pass (6362 ft.) would offer a more scenic crossing of MT.

<<<>>>

And if you noticed, US 12 in Idaho west of Lolo Pass will be torn up all season.

Offline John Nelson

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #20 on: March 12, 2018, 07:29:37 pm »
My heart pains to think of anybody skipping Going To The Sun Road. It's the crown jewel of the Northern Tier. I realize that your constraints make GTTSR impossible, but my heart pains nevertheless. I scheduled my entire NT around the expected opening of GTTSR, and I was prepared to just sit there in Avalanche Campground for as long as it took if necessary.

Offline differener

Re: Planing a Trip on the Northern Tier or GDMBR This Summer?
« Reply #21 on: March 12, 2018, 07:58:28 pm »
My heart pains to think of anybody skipping Going To The Sun Road. It's the crown jewel of the Northern Tier. I realize that your constraints make GTTSR impossible, but my heart pains nevertheless. I scheduled my entire NT around the expected opening of GTTSR, and I was prepared to just sit there in Avalanche Campground for as long as it took if necessary.

Wow that's some commitment.

I would love to bike GTTSR. I've already driven it and thought how awesome of a bike ride it would make. But alas, not this trip.