Author Topic: Wheather and departure date  (Read 7845 times)

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Offline ynameismbh

Wheather and departure date
« on: September 25, 2006, 12:58:59 am »
I a new to this so am looking for some advice.  My question:  Would I be
foolish to try a March 1st West to East transamerica departure date?  I am
ok with adversity but not ok with death in a snow storm.  



Offline RussellSeaton

Wheather and departure date
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2006, 11:00:31 am »
Yes you would be very foolish to start the Transamerica route in early March traversing West to East.  You cross the Sierra Nevada mountains in Oregon in the first week or so of the ride.  Then into the Rockies in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming in the next few weeks.  Then for good measure you get to the tallest parts of the Rockies in Colorado a week or so later.  The first 2000 miles of the Transam are pretty much in the mountains.

But by the time you get to Pueblo, CO in late April or early May you will be sort of OK.  The plains of eastern CO and western KS won't have any snowstorms on them that late.  But they will be windy and can be very cold.

I've beein the Rockies in Colorado in mid July and early September and had wet cold weather.  Not every day but enough to know the weather can be awful at any time of the year in the mountains.  I would not want to ride in the mountains when the chances are much greater for bad weather, like March or April or even May.


Offline DaveB

Wheather and departure date
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2006, 09:30:09 am »
I think you wouldn't be foolish, you would be suicidal.  Russell is absolutely right about the March/April weather in the mountains.  I've driven over some Rockie Mountain passes in early June and there were still 10' snow drifts at the side of the road.  Even April/May weather in the Great Plains can be harsh and that's about when you would get there.  

Leave later.


Offline biker_james

Wheather and departure date
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2006, 10:21:04 am »
I'm not totally familiar with the route this takes, but I do know of someone doing a cross Canada ride starting in February fromn the west coast. Its not suicidal if you prepare for possible cold weather, and make sure you keep up on the weather info and be prepared to wait out bad weather in town. Perhaps not risk free, but I don't think it should be considered suicidal if you plan wisely. That being said, if I had the option of doing it a bit later, I'd take that option.