North Nevada & Utah in summer

[CarmignanoCaponord]

Thank you John! Thank to all guys

OK, I will decide there but if the back roads are sealed, surely I'll take back roads.  In Montana & North Dakota there are many pieces of road without big towns and so I plan to stop even in some lonely and nice little towns (Nashua, Circle,Kindred and others) but in many of these there isn't campground neither motel and other facilities, as last choise can I do free camping? Did you do sometimes?


Andrea

[John Nelson]

The ACA route through ND is all paved, but it warns you that if you try to make up your own route on the fly, you might have to deal with dirt because many paved roads go on for many miles before they suddenly turn to dirt.

I spent nights in ND in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (not free, but well worth the $10 camping fee), Hebron (free camping in the city park), Bismarck (Warm Showers host), Napolean ($10 to camp in the city park), Gackle (free camping), Enderlin (free camping in the town park) and Fargo (where I was spontaneously offered a home to stay in while riding down a residential street). In some cases, I camped in the town park even though the ACA map did not list the town park as a possible camping spot. I think the chances that somebody will run you off from some of these small town parks are very low.

[CarmignanoCaponord]

I think the chances that somebody will run you off from some of these small town parks are very low.

The answer I wanted! For the road ya, from Google Maps satellite view I saw some back roads that after some miles become unsealed. Is not a big problem in every case, in doubt I will follow the main. I will stop even in Enderlin for one night And what about shops or place for food and water? Do you have had some problems to find supplies?

[CarmignanoCaponord]

Hi guys!

Finally I'm here and tomorrow I'll start my trip from Anacortes. Before to go I would like to ask you wehere I can find alcool for my Trangia Camp Kitchen. I try at Walmart but they have only propane and other fuel. Which is the name of the product here in the US? For us in Italy is simply alcool, pink colour.

Thank you!
Andrea

[Pat Lamb]

You'll be looking for "denatured alcohol" or perhaps, if you're desperate, grain alcohol.  Almost any hardware store will have it (look for a big red Ace Hardware), or you can look at the big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes.  Come to think of it, Walmart or Kmart might have it in the paint section -- not sure.

Grain alcohol will be at a liquor store.  It costs more, because it's taxed way more, because you can drink it -- if you're desperate.

[adventurepdx]

...where I can find alcohol for my Trangia Camp Kitchen. I try at Walmart but they have only propane and other fuel. Which is the name of the product here in the US?

Besides looking for denatured alcohol in hardware stores, big box stores, or the Walmarts of the world, look in gas stations for "HEET". It's methyl alcohol and comes in a yellow bottle. (It's important that you get the one in a yellow bottle. Sometimes they have one in a red bottle, but that has isopropyl alcohol in it as well, which doesn't burn as well.) It's usually by the motor oil and all that stuff. That's what I use for my Trangia.

[cheesehawk]

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 also have route guides for crossing Idaho through the Sawtooth Mountains.  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.

Hi Jamawani,

I've been searching old posts for route information. I'm heading West from Virginia to Madison, WI, and then more or less due west from there (home) to Yankton SD. I think this is where you might be able to help me.

I'm thinking about taking 12 or the Cowboy Trail across northern Nebraska, and then cutting north at Valentaine to the Badlands, and then west to Rapid City/the Black Hills.

From the Rapid City I'd like to head South on the trail with a detour for Mt. Rushmore, and from there I would like to make my way to Yellowstone/Grand Teton. I was thinking about skipping the Big Horns and making for Douglas, Casper and Jeffrey City, there joining up with the TransAmerica Trail to Yellowstone/Grand Teton. My concern is that there appear to be few towns or services between the Black Hills and Jeffrey City, with a huge stretch after Casper with much of nothing. Am I picturing this correctly? Is there a better route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone?

I'll likely be solo after the Badlands, if that makes any difference. I'll probably arrive in the Badlands around the third week of June, 2015. I'll most likely be on a recumbent. I tend to tour loaded, but I don't tend to carry my own cooking gear, preferring to stop at cafes etc., especially where I'm solo.

Thanks for any advice.