Author Topic: From east to west starting June 2014  (Read 19840 times)

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Offline dkoloko

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #15 on: April 10, 2014, 08:31:32 pm »
I rode NYRATS, New York Ride Across the State, which went from Niagara Falls/Buffalo to New York City. The only public place I know of to view the maps is at

http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu:8080/findingaids/view?docId=ead/archives/ubar_ms0091.xml

If you get to Buffalo, I suggest going a little further to Niagara Falls. View is better if you cross into Canada.

In general, the route follows a diagonal path through the Finger Lakes region; hilly. You will also cycle though the Catskills; hilly. Catskill: where Rip Van Winkle woke from his sleep.

Going north from NYC traffic is lighter west of the Hudson River; you can ride over bridge at Newburgh.

Offline dkoloko

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #16 on: April 10, 2014, 11:25:12 pm »
Add, I don't recommend NY State bicycle routes; too much follow main roads.

Offline Emilien

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #17 on: April 11, 2014, 02:13:57 am »

According to locals I have spoken with, they love September in Glacier. The bugs are gone as are many of the crowds. Apgar, Sprague Creek and Avalanche Campgrounds, all on the west side of the road, have hiker/biker campsites. A visit to Lake McDonald lodge is a must on the west side. Grab a beer at the bar and enjoying it down by the water.

I would check the park's web site. There has been an ongoing road rehab project in the park. In past years, the park service has closed portions of Going to the Sun for periods in September to allow for uninterrupted constrcution work. Later in the year they will likely post closure information on their web site.

This is the site for the HI Hostel in Seattle:

http://www.hiusa.org/washington/seattle/the-american-hotel

I think there are a couple of others. The HI Hostel was packed in late May. Don't know how busy it is at other times, but a reservation is probably advisable.

This shows the ferries:

http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/

It's been a long time, so I don't remember the exact ferry that took me close to the ACA Pacific Coast Route, but I am pretty sure it was either the Bainbridge Isnand or Bremerton ferry.


Thanks a lot for the detailed information. It seems that September is perfect timing ! And the beer in the water... !

I went thru Glacier last (early) September, the weather was perfect. I came in from the east side, hit Going to the Sun Rd a little after dawn and traffic was so light I don't think I got passed by a dozen cars on the way up. The top 100m of elevation was fogged in but it cleared up again almost as soon as I started the descent.

They had started some road work on the east side, 2 or 3 spots flag people were out and it was 1 lane, but as a cyclist they just waved me through. On the way down volume was building going in the other direction but over the 50± miles I never felt crowded by traffic a single time.

Pete

Thank you Pete, always better when no cars at the horizon. Can't wait to see the foggy top !

And as for the West -
and I must admit as a Westerner there is no place better -
You have incredible options.


Cool. I'll take some time to examinate all your proposition but I already think we'll follow some of your advices. Can't wait to be there reading you.

Yes, about cities, it seems that it's all the same everywhere. I think we're going to take some busses or train to enter big cities.
Detroit : we're meeting some friends there.
Chicago : I don't know why, but I want to see Chicago. I think it's coming from movies or something...
Denver : We put it on the map but it's in Boulder we want to go, meeting friends.

But your comments are going to change our minds about cities I think.

I rode NYRATS, New York Ride Across the State, which went from Niagara Falls/Buffalo to New York City. The only public place I know of to view the maps is at

http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu:8080/findingaids/view?docId=ead/archives/ubar_ms0091.xml

If you get to Buffalo, I suggest going a little further to Niagara Falls. View is better if you cross into Canada.

In general, the route follows a diagonal path through the Finger Lakes region; hilly. You will also cycle though the Catskills; hilly. Catskill: where Rip Van Winkle woke from his sleep.

Going north from NYC traffic is lighter west of the Hudson River; you can ride over bridge at Newburgh.

Can't see the map, just texts and description, you have another link ?
Yes, we'll try to cross to Canada.
I did know Sleepy Hollow but not Rip Van Winkle, thanks for the piece of history !
Cant we access Newburgh by train or something ?

Offline Emilien

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #18 on: April 11, 2014, 02:14:40 am »
And thanks for the pictures !

Offline mbattisti

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #19 on: April 11, 2014, 10:14:18 pm »
Your route seems nice, I would love some more details !

We pretty much used all Adventure Cycling Routes and maps (TransAm: yorktown to missoula, Great Parks North, section 2: for Missoula to Whitefish, then Northern Tier: from Whitefish to Rockport). Rockport is where we turned off route on Rt 530 to head southwest towards Seattle, and when I tried to create a "map my ride" route of it for you, it wouldn't let me pass through Oso, site of the massive mudslide tragedy you may have heard about.  The road is currently buried under acres of mud, and I'm not sure when it may be cleared (hopefully by this summer).  You may have to go further due west on the NT before heading south, which would be a shame because I recall 530 being a pleasant ride, with the town of Darrington having a great diner and a clean, cheap motel.  530 takes you into Arlington, and the jct. of the Centennial rail trail (paved), which you can take for 25 miles or so due south.  Depending on where in the Seattle metropolis you wish to go, the on-line tool "map my ride" when used in cycling mode will show you other bike trails (seattle is a very cycle-friendly city) and streets with cycling lanes that you can piece together to cover the last 30 or so miles. We headed west around lake washington on the Burke-Gilman trail (another very nice paved railtrail) which heads to the University District.

Offline leo

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #20 on: April 12, 2014, 01:27:18 am »
Bonjour les amis

  A mon avis, mieux que vous passiez au nord des Lacs. Nous l'avons fait par le sud et ç'a été une grosse déception : tout en agglo et rarement une vue de l'eau.

happy days

léo

Offline jamawani

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #21 on: April 12, 2014, 11:36:29 am »
Emilien -

Etes-vous flamand ou walon?
Il importe peu, trois Américains parlent français et personne ne parle flamand.
Je suis né près de Metz.

I was looking at your schedule and think it is more likely that you will be in Glacier in August, not Sept.
Also, like everyone else - you simply cannot miss Glacier and Going to the Sun.
That said, I would strongly urge you to consider a few days at Many Glacier.
Many Glacier is just north of Going to the Sun and the center for great hiking.
There is hiker/biker camping, camp store, showers, boat rentals, a pizza café, and a fine hotel.
And the hiking is out of this world.

Unless you absolutely must visit Missoula, I would suggest riding from Yellowstone to Glacier on US 89.
Between Gardiner and Livingston there is an old road on the east side of the Yellowstone River thru Pray.
Then US 89 via White Sulphur Springs has very little traffic and huge views.
It gets a little busy heading into Great Falls (The waterfalls on the Missouri are "great" but less in August.)
Great Falls has nice bike shops and outdoor services.

Heading north, US 89 has wide-open views of the Front Range and light traffic.
On the west side of Browning, there is an excellent small museum of Northern Plains Indian culture.
If you have plenty of time - I would suggest riding west on US 2, then to Two Medicine.
From Two Medicine you can ride all the way up to Many Glacier on the east side.
Otherwise, I would ride IR 464 from Browning to Babb - then into Many Glacier.

I have ridden Going to the Sun Road many times - it is ALWAYS worth it.
On the east side, I like to camp at Rising Sun rather than at St Mary -
Rising Sun also has a little café and showers - with hiker/biker camping.
St Mary campground has 400 places and is a parking lot full of RVs.

Choosing the best time to start riding Going to the Sun is tricky.
East to west is the best direction because you have the morning sun illuminating the mountains.
But you want to have sun - thus, you shouldn't leave too early.
I usually leave about a half-hour after sunrise.
No big breakfast - but I do snack often on the climb.

When you get to the top there are two possible hikes.
8 million people follow the boardwalk south to Hidden Lake - nice, but.
Highline Trail heads north from the parking lot - wow!
There is a small stretch where you have to hold on to a metal rope.
But you are literally on top of the mountains.

I usually spend a few hours up top, then zoom down.
There are two good camping options on the west side.
(Apgar, like St Mary, is way too big for me.)
Sprague Creek is on Lake McDonald right next to the lodge and services.
Avalanche is a little further away but - -
The trail to Avalanche Lake is a lovely short hike in the evening.

From Glacier I would suggest taking the Northern Tier route westwards.
There is a busy stretch of US 93 NW of Whitefish with no shoulders.
There is a totally empty paved road option from Trego to Libby Dam.
I once changed pants in the middle of this road with no concern for traffic.
Unfortunately, there is no photo to record this important event.

Anyhoo, here's a couple of photos - Along US 89 and in Glacier NP -
Tot ziens!

Offline Emilien

Re: From east to west starting June 2014
« Reply #22 on: April 24, 2014, 04:30:43 am »
Hello everyone,

Sorry for my long silence.

@mbattisti : Thanks for the details !

Emilien -

Etes-vous flamand ou walon?



Ahah, je suis Wallon et ne parle malheureusement pas très bien le Néerlandais. Mon excuse c'est que je suis de Mouscron, juste à côté de la France.
Thank you very much for your advices, I'll look at it very carefuly, I don't want to miss anything about it ! Espacially the pants changing part !
The pictures are beautiful, can't wait to be there !

Bonjour les amis

  A mon avis, mieux que vous passiez au nord des Lacs. Nous l'avons fait par le sud et ç'a été une grosse déception : tout en agglo et rarement une vue de l'eau.

happy days

léo

Merci beaucoup Léo, là c'est assez clair pour la route du Nord !