Weather on Lewis & Clark and TA

[crosari2]

I'm thinking on doing part of Lewis and Clark from Oregon to Missoula and TA from Missoula to Pueblo, CO. during Aug/Sep time-frame. I have read a few of the travel journals written on Crazyguy....... Question: How's the weather during Aug/Sep? I know is hot but besides that, what about rain, lightning, hail?Anyone care to expand?

[valygrl]

I started the L&C August 1 and had fantastic weather.  Left the L&C in Bozeman and stayed north.  You might get some early storms in CO in the mountains, but odds are in your favor.    Definitely plan on cool/cold nights and chance of real weather in terms of clothing - you can get rain hail & lightning any time of year in the mountains, but you probably won't get days and days of it. 

I think you're fine.  Nice choice of route.

[indyfabz]

It can definitely do anything at any time, especially on McKenzie Pass.  And make sure you stay hydrated east of Sisters.  I did the infamous 2002 Cycle Oregon that crossed the sate in 6 days of riding east to west.  Stayed in Mitchell, John Day and Sisters.  It was crispy critter hot during the day with no shade, and that was during the second week of September.  Coburg was pretty darn hot, too.  The nights weren't that bad, except for Ironside, about 70 miles east of Mitchell, where it got down to 30 degrees.  But since it sounds like you will be in that part of the country earlier it should be warmer at night.  As you will see from the abundant crop waterers and irrigation channels, it's typically very arid east of the Cascades.

As you move into September and into MT and CO, you will almost certainly get cool to cold nights.  Yellowstone was very cold at night even in late June.  I have to imagine that September will be frosty because of its altitude.