Northern Tier next summer

[bobwillis]

My wife and I are planning on doing the Northern tier next summer and I have a couple of questions at least for starters.  Is there a start date that will minimize the chances of encountering snow at higher elevations in the mountains?  When doing one and two week tours in our part of the country we have averaged about 65 miles a day which might be useful to know in answering the question.

To shorten the route somewhat has anyone taken the Luddington ferry across Lake Michigan and crossed into Ontario north of Detroit?

Bob Willis
Cincinnati, Ohio

[Westinghouse]

I did 2600 miles west to east on ACA's N-tier. I started around June if my memory is correct. In July there was no falling snow at all on that route in the Rockies, but of course it was cold at the higher elevations. There were still chunks of ice as big as  cars alongside the road at places, but weatherwise it was all right.

[RussellSeaton]

Late June 2007 I rode over Loveland Pass in Colorado.  About 12,000 feet.  It was snowing on the top.  And half way down the western side.  Miserable descent.  Maybe from mid July to mid August you can sort of maybe count on no to minimal snow when going over the tops of mountains.  Otherwise, bring some minimal gear just in case.  Northern tier does not go over the tall mountains so you will likely not encounter snow in mid summer.

[Peaks]

Per map 2 of the Northern Tier, Going-to-the-Sun Road between West Glacier and Saint Mary is closed to all traffic from approximately mid-September through mid-May.  So, if you are early in the season, (June), you will probably see snow banks along the passes in Washington State, and Logan Pass in Glacier. but, the road should be open.

[CMajernik]

Logan Pass in Glacier National Park is sometimes closed beyond mid-
May. It depends on the season's snowfall - in 2008 the pass was not
open until almost the 3rd week in June. If it is closed there is an alternate,
lower elevation pass you can cycle over.

 

[jimbarb]

2006, we left Anacortes on May 10th. Rainey and Washington passes loaded with snow but road was dry and open (had opened only the week before)
. Averaged 50+ miles/day and when reached Glacier NP Going to the Sun Hwy. was still closed due to snow. We took alternate route over Marias Pass which was fine. At Rugby, ND we left NT route and headed due east thru Duluth, MN and across Upper Penninsula of MI crossing into Ontario at Sault St. Marie, N of Lake Huron to Mannitoulin Islands then ferried across Lake Huron to the Bruce Penninsula. South to Niagara Falls where we rejoined the NT route. Ended up with 3850 miles. Some road segments in Canada were shoulderless and fairly heavily travelled but only for short distances and very doable.

[DavidBurggraff]

I cannot answer your question about the ferry but was wondering the same. I am going this summer and need to trim the Northern Tier route somewhat shorter. We are looking to take the ferry and  then not curve up to Maine to finish but finish in New Hampshire. If you have worked anything further out about the eastern part of the route I would love to hear about it. Good travels!

[bobwillis]

David,

I have the NT maps and once Christmas is out of the way will begin seriously studying the route.  Right now my thought is to leave the NT at Winona, MN and cross Wisconsin to north of Milwaukee to take the ferry across Lake Michigan to Luddington.  Then I will cross Michigan to Port Huron north of Detroit and enter Ontario at that border crossing.  From there we (my wife and I on a tandem pulling a BOB)will proceed basically due east to Niagra Falls to rejoin the NT and head on to Bar Harbor.

If you would like, I'll get back to you when I know more.

Bob Willis

[jimbeard]

Yes i took the  Luddington ferry in 2001 good trip .
At that time only once per day i believe the crossing took about 4 hours.

link

http://www.ssbadger.com/content.aspx?Page=Schedule

Jim
FWIW also a ferry across the lake from Milwaukee

This message was edited by jimbeard on 12-17-08 @ 12:36 PM

[DavidBurggraff]

Hello Bob - Christmas is past and now I also need to get serious about nailing down a route. I would be interested to hear what you come up with - it sounds similar to what we are considering except we will probably not curl up to Bar Harbor but finish somewhere further south - perhaps Portsmouth,NH. I look forward to hearing from you as the route develops.
David

[bobwillis]

David,

You and I corresponded earlier this year about the NT route.  Mine is finalized as follows.  We will follow the route from Anacortes to Osceola, Minnesota which is on the Wisconsin state line north of St Paul.  We will proceed due east through Wausau and return to the Great Lakes routes near Shawano, Wisconsin from where we will follow the route to Manitowoc.  We will cross on the ferry from there to Luddington, Michigan and then take the connector route across Michigan into Ontario entering at Marine City.  We'll cross Ontario basically along the north shore of Lake Erie and rejoin the NT at Erie Fort.  From there it will be the NT into Bar Harbor.

I've got it plotted out at about 3,800 miles and 65 riding days averaging a little less than 60 per day.  We plan to leave Anacortes on June 2 and hope to arrive in Bar Harbor about August 20.

Bob Willis

[fredlonas]

2006, we left Anacortes on May 10th. Rainey and Washington passes loaded with snow but road was dry and open (had opened only the week before)
. Averaged 50+ miles/day and when reached Glacier NP Going to the Sun Hwy. was still closed due to snow. We took alternate route over Marias Pass which was fine. At Rugby, ND we left NT route and headed due east thru Duluth, MN and across Upper Penninsula of MI crossing into Ontario at Sault St. Marie, N of Lake Huron to Mannitoulin Islands then ferried across Lake Huron to the Bruce Penninsula. South to Niagara Falls where we rejoined the NT route. Ended up with 3850 miles. Some road segments in Canada were shoulderless and fairly heavily travelled but only for short distances and very doable.

    Hi Jim, I'm riding the NT this year and from Escanaba I'm not sure if I should take rt. 2 across Michigan to Ironwood, services are a concern, or follow the NT rt thru Wic. to Hayward and then work my way to rt. 35 and up to Duluth and then on west thru Grand Forks and reconnect with NT in Devils Lake area. Any comments would be appreciated.

     Thanks Fred

[jfitch]

Go to crazyguyonabike.com and search the journals for "Luddington" and "ferry". You'll find several accounts of folks taking the ferry.

Jim

[wildandcrazy]

The ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington runs more often in the summer.  The schedule is at www.ssbadger.com .   We crossed the blue water bridge in 2007 going west from Sarnia, ON to Port Huron, MI.  The bridge authority gave us a pickup ride.  There is also a ferry you could take across the river from Marine City, MI to Sombra, ON about 22 miles south of Port Huron.  Remember that border crossings into the U.S. from Canada are going to be tougher starting in June.  You will need a passport or the equivalent. 

[tomdett]

Bob et al.
I plan to do the NT in 2010.  Thinking of starting in Anacordes in late May with the idea of getting to the Straits of Mackinac around July 8 as I have a high school reunion to attend in Rogers City (US23, Lake Huron shore).   We plan to cross into Ontario at Port Huron/Sarnia and then into NY at Niagara.  Ultimate goal is Cape Cod.  Think the barge canal route across NY state would be nice.   

I would like hear from anyone regarding the timing of the start, branch from NT across Michigan's UP, Ontario crossing, and route from Niagara to Cape Cod. 

Tom

David,

You and I corresponded earlier this year about the NT route.  Mine is finalized as follows.  We will follow the route from Anacortes to Osceola, Minnesota which is on the Wisconsin state line north of St Paul.  We will proceed due east through Wausau and return to the Great Lakes routes near Shawano, Wisconsin from where we will follow the route to Manitowoc.  We will cross on the ferry from there to Luddington, Michigan and then take the connector route across Michigan into Ontario entering at Marine City.  We'll cross Ontario basically along the north shore of Lake Erie and rejoin the NT at Erie Fort.  From there it will be the NT into Bar Harbor.

I've got it plotted out at about 3,800 miles and 65 riding days averaging a little less than 60 per day.  We plan to leave Anacortes on June 2 and hope to arrive in Bar Harbor about August 20.

Bob Willis