Author Topic: North Nevada & Utah in summer  (Read 43374 times)

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Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2013, 03:20:42 pm »
Hi Guys!


Finally I bought my airplane ticket to Portland. I decided to start my adventure on the coast of Oregon, could be Astoria or Newport, I have to decide. The road I will do follow the TransAm until West Yellowstone, where I will take one or two days to visit this fantastic NP. About Yellowstone, there are some risks for cyclist regarding Grizzly and other animals? In the park I will stay in the lodge and in Grant Village campsites.

After Yellowstone (from the coast of Oregon, with the TransAm trail, are about already 2000 km done), I will go to east accross BigHorn NF and accross Wyoming, then Rapid City and Sioux Falls in SD. Then Iowa and until Muscatine to take Northern Tier. In Cleveland I will leave the NT to go towards NYC, via Pennsylvania.

What do you think?? The only thing I was thinking is that the central part of my trip seems a little boring..SD and Iowa are flat and with endless road. Suggestions more than welcome ;)

Offline John Nelson

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2013, 03:58:40 pm »
About Yellowstone, there are some risks for cyclist regarding Grizzly and other animals? In the park I will stay in the lodge and in Grant Village campsites.

If you stay in established campgrounds and store your food in the provided bear boxes, you will have no problems with bears or other animals. Be aware that the lodges are quite expensive and require reservations far in advance. If you have camping equipment with you, the campgrounds are very nice and I don't see a need to stay in the lodges.

The only thing I was thinking is that the central part of my trip seems a little boring..SD and Iowa are flat and with endless road.
If you want to see America, then you'll want to see the central plains too. Every place has its own charm. Those flat roads for a while will seem like a nice break from all the hilly terrain you will have been doing. Many towns on the plains will let you camp in their city parks and use their swimming pools for free. And the people are very friendly.

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2013, 04:35:16 pm »
Hi John!

Yes I will have everything for camping, tent, food and camp kitchen! I was thinking to Lodge only to be sure with bears ;) Personally I love to do camping and I would like to sleep in my tent in YNP. For the flat territories I have no problem with them, I love desolated and desert landscapes, after Australia 2012 I think I will have no problem with central america.. just a view of SD and Iowa extremely flat...but as you said, will be a nice break from the very hard terrain did before in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming too! ;)

Can't wait to be there!!

Andrea

Offline BikeFreak

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2013, 05:30:34 pm »
Although too late already ...

+1 on Northern Tier suggestion. I did both the Northern Tier and the Transam and I would choose the Northern Tier any time.

Andrea: You mention hard terrain in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming ... wait till you get to Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia ... it will hit you like a sledge hammer :-).

Many cyclists try to explain the severeness of the hilly roads in the Eastern states. Below I personally think I managed to illustrate what people are trying to explain. In one day you might have 20-30 of those crazy hills - I would prefer 2 Rocky Mountains passes in one day at any time:

Lucas

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #19 on: May 06, 2013, 02:43:54 am »
Hi Lucas

Understand what you mean, I just ended my first Ultracycling event from Paris to Milan and believe me...it was terrible talking about terrain! Exactly hills like yours in photo, I did 1322 km in 6 days and 9102 mt of altimetry! Crazy ;) Better an high pass than 30 hills right! I think that the very hard part of my trip will be in the first part until Big Horn National Forest, then with the central states should be a more relaxed and fast trip. I thought to take northern tier from the start, but Yellowstone and Grand Teton have a very strong appeal!

Andrea

Offline John Nelson

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #20 on: May 06, 2013, 01:15:33 pm »
A high pass is better than 30 hills, mentally at least. With a high pass, it seems like you're actually getting somewhere. With 30 hills in a row, they all seem pointless.

Offline BikeFreak

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #21 on: May 06, 2013, 02:38:09 pm »
Hi Lucas

Understand what you mean, I just ended my first Ultracycling event from Paris to Milan and believe me...it was terrible talking about terrain! Exactly hills like yours in photo, I did 1322 km in 6 days and 9102 mt of altimetry! Crazy ;) Better an high pass than 30 hills right! I think that the very hard part of my trip will be in the first part until Big Horn National Forest, then with the central states should be a more relaxed and fast trip. I thought to take northern tier from the start, but Yellowstone and Grand Teton have a very strong appeal!

Andrea

Andrea:
I think we share some cycling experiences because I have also biked to Nordkapp, I also circled Australia and I also circled Iceland. Moreover I have done the Continental Divide passing the outskirts of Yellowstone, Grand Teton etc. I did the Northern Tier, Southern Tier, parts of Western Express ... I have seen a fair amount.

From ALL what I have seen in my entire life, nothing comes close to the scenery in southern Utah along the Western Express - not even the Grand Canyon. I was completely amazed - I could have taken photographs constantly. It is just SO beautiful and picturesque. The scenery up North in the Yellowstone is well ... something you can find many places - you find similar scenery even in Norway - however without any grizzly bears.

A Utah promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ut9vDAgXk

Lucas

Offline jamawani

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #22 on: May 06, 2013, 07:58:07 pm »
Andrea -

I'm from Buffalo, Wyoming and have some strip maps I made a few years ago crossing northern Wyoming.  The Bighorn Mountains are nothing to laugh at - big climbs - esp. from the West, 2000m.  I am planning to be gone - but some family member should be there at my house in Buffalo - big house on a hill with mountain views - if you need a place to relax and do laundry.

I also have route guides for crossing Idaho through the Sawtooth Mountains.  I know you only have about 60 days with stops - so saving 4 or 5 days with a more direct route may be helpful.  Plus, the Payette River has hot springs and the Sawtooths are stunning.  Not to mention that it puts you on a course to see both the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone without backtracking.

As for the Great Plains - if you ride through the Black Hills of South Dakota you will be surprised how lovely they are - plus by late July they are MUCH cooler.  You may want to do a sunrise ride thru Badlands N.P. - but remember as you get out on the Great Plains it will be HOT!!  40C or more.  Best to ride super early - from sunrise to 11am - then quit.  There is a fabulous route - Nebraska Hwy 12 - that runs right on the NE/SD border and has very little traffic.

Your choice of the Oregon state is much better for the time of year and your plans.

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #23 on: May 06, 2013, 11:18:19 pm »
Lucas you can't imagine how I wanted to do Utah and Nevada! But now is not the better period to do Western Express. I suffer extreme heat ;(


Hi jamawani,

I traced a route in Idaho from Baker City to Missoula in Montana, can you say me what is the route through Sawtooth Mountains? In my route, after Missoula, I should back to south towards YNP and GTNP, could be better follow your route. My route until YNP and GTNP is the TransAm.

I don't find Nebraska 12 between NE/SD.. along the border I see only the 18..?

Andrea

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #24 on: May 09, 2013, 07:16:29 am »
After many many valutations..I have decided to do the Northern Tier and cut some miles where is possible, maybe even ferry on Michigan lake. So Glacier NP, no Yellowstone no Grand Teton..may be next time;) For the logistic I have to resolve how to go to Anacortes from Portland, I think the best way is Greyhound, just checked their website and no problem to go to Mt.Vernon/Anacortes (even good fares!). Somebody knows the policy about bicycle? Last year with Greyhound Australia I prepared the bike for the transport without the front wheel and it was enough. How does it work with Greyhound US?

Andrea


Offline tsteven4

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #25 on: May 09, 2013, 08:10:55 am »
Andrea,

Have you considered the train from Portland to Mt Vernon?   We took this train from Seattle to Mt Vernon with our bikes last year.  If you do this I would highly recommend you make a reservation for your bicycles using the "Walk-On Bicycle Service".  With this service you do not need to disassemble or box your bicycle in any way.

http://www.amtrak.com/cascades-train
http://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard

Steve

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #26 on: May 09, 2013, 08:57:54 am »
Thank you Steve!!

I thought that trains would accept bicycle only in a box..good news!! I'll take a look ;)

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #27 on: May 09, 2013, 09:27:09 am »
FWIW, Anacortes is close enough to Mt. Vernon to be an easy day round trip.  Doing it as a day trip saves you making the connection out to Anacortes, a nice shuttle but it takes an extra hour.  Starting in Mt. Vernon would give you a good shake-down ride after assembling everything, and there's bike shops in both towns should you need something fixed or adjusted.  If you must make progress that first day, extend the return trip to Sedro-Wooley or even Concrete.

Offline John Nelson

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #28 on: May 09, 2013, 11:40:04 am »
I suppose it's too late to change your flight to go to Seattle instead of Portland? Bellingham would be even better. It's about a 40-mile ride from Bellingham down to Anacortes. If you want to skip going to Anacortes itself, it's only 25 miles from the Bellingham airport down to join the Northern Tier in Bay View along the beautiful Chuckanut Drive.

There are many ways to cut miles, but IMHO one you should not cut is Going To the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Do not take the Marias Pass alternate or you will miss the absolute best part of the whole route!!!

You can cut out 35 hilly miles by staying on 89 from St Mary, MT to Cardston, AB and 40 more by skipping Alberta entirely and heading straight for Cut Bank from St Mary. You can save some miles by staying on I-94 across North Dakota, but I recommend against it unless you really like interstate riding. You can cut off 125 miles in Minnesota by taking the Little Falls Alternate (and a few more by taking the Donn Olson modifications to the Little Falls Alternate). You can save 215 miles by taking the ferry across Lake Michigan (assuming you're taking the North Lakes route), but you'll lose the better part of a day on the ferry itself. There are lots of places where you can save 10 miles here or 10 miles there (particularly in Ontario if you're taking the Lake Erie Connector), at the expense of busier roads and missing some charming back roads. You can cut off another 150 miles by finishing in Portland, Maine rather than going to Bar Harbor. I don't recommend any of these shortcuts, but if you need to cut time, then compromises need to be made.

Spend an hour to take the $20 ride on the Maid of the Mist when you're at Niagara Falls. It's worth it. And camp along the Erie Canal across New York--the towns are charming and the hospitality is great.

Offline CarmignanoCaponord

Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer
« Reply #29 on: May 09, 2013, 02:03:35 pm »
Hi John!

mmhhh....it's too late to change flight. ;) Few time to organize and many things to keep in mind..something wrong. But there will be no problems to reach Anacortes. I hope to keep the Northern Tier as much as I can without cut. Possibly I will cut something when I will be close to Michigan lake but instead to take ferry I could also go down, along the lake, until Chicago. Glacier NP surely is a place that I want absolutely see and enjoy.

In every case I will go to NYC, In Cleveland or Ashtabula I'll leave the NT to accross Pennsylvania and go to NYC, so my NT will be shorter than original, I think could be within the 5500-6000km. Tomorrow I'll start to trace the road.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2013, 02:08:37 pm by CarmignanoCaponord »