Author Topic: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast  (Read 6544 times)

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Offline wet__burrito

4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« on: April 03, 2015, 05:31:29 pm »
Hey Everyone,

Don't know if this is the right place for this but 4 of us will be traveling 5/31-8/12 Portland to New York.

Just putting it out there to see if anyone has cool spots to stay that are cost effective and cool.

Open to suggestions.

Lewis and Clark

to

Northern Tier

to

Great Lakes

to

Northern Tier

to

Atlantic Coast


indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2015, 08:57:50 pm »
The Bike Camp in Twin Bridges, MT on the L&C route. A must-stay.

Offline wet__burrito

Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2015, 01:27:07 am »
in terms of Lewis and Clark later sections doing the full loop? or which way to go?


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indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2015, 07:07:44 pm »
Huh? Clear questions elicit more responses.

Offline wet__burrito

Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2015, 02:20:24 am »
section 4,5 and 6 have some alternate routes. if you had 3 months traveling west to east which way is best?

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2015, 07:36:40 am »
Like the Big Hole Option through Jackson and Twin Bridges on Section 5. Don't do the Gibbons Pass Alternative unless you have sturdy, wide tires and like narrow, bumpy roads, which is what you will encounter on the west slope. The descent of the east slope is mostly smooth dirt with some gravel, but the west slope is rough. The scenery is worth it (and the climb is shorter than U.S. 93/MT 43) as long as you have the right equipment. Free camping in Wisdom. Good restaurant/bar (The Crossings at Fetty's) and a small grocery store that closes relatively early. Around 6 p.m. believe. Further on, the hot springs resort in Jackson has camping on nice grass and you fee includes use of the hot springs pool.

Offline wet__burrito

Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2015, 01:35:25 am »
how about a couple of 80's touring bikes all riding 32c's or more?

we love dirt btw.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/87713011@N04/9wo182

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2015, 02:26:29 pm »
32c might do it as long as the tires are not cheap. I rode 37c.

If you want to take a nice detour from the route with some dirt, consider this: East of Jackson you will cross Big Hole Pass. About 6-7 miles down the other side, you will see a brown and white sign for the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. Hang a left there. Very nice road that takes you up to nearly 8,000'. Most of the climb is pretty gentle at first. It's really only the last 5 miles that pose a challenge. Then there is some 26 miles of mostly descent to one degree or another. It's a very pretty ride that includes a beautiful mountain meadow zone. The road ends in Wise River, where there is a bar/restaurant and a small but adequate mercantile for groceries. From there, you head east on MT 43 through a cool canyon carved by the Big Hole River. About 9 miles east of Wise River, just before you cross the bridge over the river, there is a gravel road leading to Divide Bridge Campground. (Go past the day-use area to get to the camping area.) IIRC, sites are only $6 or so/night. Good water and pit toilets. You can wash off in the river. The next day, continue east on MT 43 a few miles until you get to the frontage road for I-15 and hang a right towards Melrose. You can have breakfast at the Hitching Post in town. There is also a motel and campground there. On the south end of Melrose you will see a sign for a left turn to Twin Bridges. That's Melrose-Twin Bridges County Road (a/k/a/ Melrose Bench Road.) Twenty-three or so lonely dirt miles later you will hit pavement again just outside Twin Bridges. After you cross the river, make a right at the T to get to the center of town. If you see three steer (which is likely) you will likely see more steer than motor vehicles. You will also encounter some good ups and downs, and some portions of the road can be rough. Jackson to Divide Bridge may seem like a long way, especially with two passes, but it's not as hard as the mileage suggests. Once you get to the summit, the way into Wise River doesn't require a whole lot of effort. And Wise River to Divide Bridge is a net elevation loss. If you have the sort of tailwind I had the first time I did that stretch, it will go by in a flash. Divide Bridge to Twin Bridges is short (only about 35 miles), but it would give you a chance to rest up at the Bike Camp, which is very relaxing, and check email at the library.

IMO, this route is more interesting than staying on the official route. It also avoids a stretch of road between Dillon and Twin Bridges that has no shoulder and some truck traffic. The downsides are that you miss the town of Dillion, which has many services, and you miss Beaverhead Rock, which is a significant Lewis & Clark related monument.

Offline wet__burrito

Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2015, 01:20:47 am »
this is incredible. thank you so much! we will definitely do this. we all race cross. #crossiscoming

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2015, 01:48:26 pm »
Here is the route from where you would turn off the ACA route after descending Big Hole Pass:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7891909

It ends right at the driveway/path on the left that leads to the Bike Camp. Follow the path closest to the river and you will see the enclosed shelter.

The Google Maps overlay for the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is a bit odd as it sometimes shows two different roads. I think it does because part of the road was relocated, possibly when it was paved around 2008. Just follow the pavement. On the way up you will pass the Grasshopper Inn on the left, which may or may not be open for business. If you take the dirt road to the right for a short stretch you will come to Ma's Country Store. You can almost see it from the main road. The place was surprisingly well stocked when I popped in in 2011. Didn't need to stop there last year. The sign reads "If you forgot it, Ma's got it."

There is no pass sign at the summit. When you reach the first cattle guard and share the road sign you will know you are basically at the top. There are some developed U.S.F.S. campgrounds on the north slope of the highway. 4th of July Campground has drinking water if you need to fill up. I think at least one other does. The location of Divide Bridge Campground is shown in MT 43, but the icon for the Wise River Mercantile way wrong. The store is in the center of town, just east of the Wise River Club, which is the bar/restaurant on MT 43.

Offline wet__burrito

Re: 4 Dudes Headed East L&C/North T/Great L/North T/Atl Coast
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2015, 12:08:54 pm »
this is so great. Exactly the type of info I'm looking for!

keep it coming.
keep it interesting. 
keep it cutty.