Trans-Am questions

[leftcider]

I'm a newbie planning on going on the Trans-America trail  to get to Chicago, and I have a few questions.

How many days of food or how much food is good to have on hand at all times (I'm planning on using a BOB trailer)?

How difficult are the Rocky Mountains?

Are thunderstorms a major concern?

Are the dogs in Kentucky a major concern?
Is finding water a major concern?

Thank you!
-Steve

[wanderingwheel]

When I started touring, I carried a weeks worth of food like I was backpacking.  It quickly became apparent that the extra food was just weight and volume that I didn't need because I was constantly passing stores.  Now I carry enough food for about half a day, plus some emergency food like a few powerbars.

Hopefully you will get a lot of responses about the Rockies because it is always interesting to hear other peoples opinions of them.  Personally, I love touring in the Rockies because the climbs are long and steady.  I find rolling terrain with short and varied climbs more difficult, and I find that flatlands are the hardest for me.

Thunderstorms have never been a problem for me as long as I have a chance to dry out afterwords.  A solid week of rain, on the otherhand, I could do without.

I've had more problems with dogs in Virginia than Kentucky, but nothing that "STAY!" and squirt of water couldn't take care of.

Finding water is not a problem, except perhaps in the Great Basin.  See the recent thread about this.  Carry iodine tablets if you want some insurance.

Enjoy your ride
Sean

[BobG]

I've led the trip several times for Adventure Cycling westbound. It's always good to have an extra meal packed away, but you may never have to carry it... aside from buying supplies early in the day when your camp may be out of town. Examples would be Breaks Interstate Park, VA and Rosedale, VA.  If you arrive late you might find little in Hartsel, CO and Jeffrey City, WY. If things are closed in Wisdom, MT go to the bar. Looking at everywhere else on my itineraries there is at least a convenience store if you don't roll in too late.

Rockies? If you're headed to Chicago I assume means that you're travelling east. For westbound riders they don't seem too bad after the steep, hot & humid climbs of the Appalachians and Ozarks. The climbs in the Rockies are longer but more moderately graded. The toughest for me was Currant Creek Pass between Royal Gorge and Hartsel, CO. A long, dry climb with thin air that you haven't acclimated to yet if you're riding west.

Thunderstorms? Two of three trips... not a major problem. One trip, though, we were cycling through tornado alley in KY, MO, and KS during an active season. Every afternoon for a few weeks the sky would turn ominously green and we'd have to decide if it was safe to continue through exposed, open prairie or stop short of our planned itinerary that day. There was lots of waiting out storms on porches of kind locals and lots of stopping early. In KY we had a storm violent enough to damage buildings, bring down power lines and to separate our group for a day. In Larned, KS several tents blew down at the City Park in the middle of the night. The occupants had to seek shelter at a covered picnic pavillion. Yes, t-storms can be a problem.

Dogs in KY? YES! At least one group member got bitten. Not a major problem though. Slow down or stop and the challenge is gone for them!

Water? I agree with Sean. Not a major problem. Places you might run dry? Westbound from KS to Pueblo, CO. Westbound again from Pueblo to Canon City. Also between Rawlins, Jeffrey City, Lander, and Dubois, WY. Carry plenty around Brownlee Dam in ID and also through eastern OR between Baker City and Mitchell.

This message was edited by BobG on 6-12-04 @ 7:43 AM

[Crankin'oldman]

I am looking forward to using Adventure Cycling's Trans-Am maps East to West. In signing on with the group, my question is: Am I to assume that each map that will cover apporximate 40 miles, be that days distance? I'd like to have a better feel for easy days and tough slow climbing days to know where I'll be.