Temperatures on the Northern Tier?

[hirakukibou]

Hi,
My partner and I will be riding across from Massachusetts to Oregon via the Northern Tier and the Lewis and Clark Routes. We will be leaving MA in mid-June.   I am wondering how cold it gets?  (I have some issues with cold.)  Any specific recommendations on clothes to bring?
Thanks,
Hirakukibou

[esassaman]

Great question, I'm leaving about the same time on the N. Tier route and heading in the opposite direction. I thought I'd take my summer bag with a silk liner and bring some wool long undies and top to wear at night (god bless merlino wool). I was amazed that last summer riding down the pacific crest route in the redwoods area we had some 80 degree days that dropped down near the 30's at night, so I picked up a down bag because I was tired of the cold nights. Thankfully I had plenty of room for both bags so I had the luxury of a choice every night. I'm still debating which bag to bring on this trip across the northern tier.

[John Nelson]

If you have the ACA maps, you can find the answer to your question on the back of the maps. It looks like most of the average lows on the NT in the summer are in the 40s and 50s. Of course, you will almost certainly encounter some days below the averages.

[indyfabz]

Starting from MA in mid-June, I'd be more concerned about the heat. July was brutal in IA, IL, and IN. Daily highs were at least 90. A couple of days near 100 degrees and at least two days over 100. In Fletcher Lake, IN the low was 85. And every day was very humid. Sleeping on the concrete floor of the airconditioned facility in Monroeville, IN was heaven. The next day, the heat broke as we headed into OH.

Note that corn provides little shade.

[mtnbiktn]

ME NH and VT may be comfortable , my first 100 degree day was in NY.   I started mid June.