Route Advice
02-25-20, 08:19 PM
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Route Advice
I’m planning a trip from Chicago—> Jackson Hole —> Moab—>Yosemite. Starting around 9/1 and ending around Halloween. Avg. 60 miles/day. Will be fully loaded with camping gear. Do I need to be worried about weather? Advice from anyone who’s taken this route?
02-25-20, 08:41 PM
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Admittedly I have not done that route, but in actuality it does not matter. Yea, you need to worry about weather. You are embarking at the end of the touring season. If it turns out that you are part polar bear, that you would be o.k. I suspect that at 50 miles a day, your trip may take longer. Yosemite closes at some point, I would recommend checking into the date. This is just my opinion and I am entitled to it. I am sure others will soon in soon.
02-25-20, 11:53 PM
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As part of a cross country trip, my wife and I rode from Yellowstone National Park to Chicago. We tried to keep our ride on U.S. 20 as much as possible. It is the longest contiguous highway from cost to coast. It was good route, and was often Highway 20/26. Jackson is not far from Yellowstone. This would get you to jackson Hole, but I can't help you from there to Moab. I've driven through Moab, but did not see any places I'd like to ride. The speed limit is 80 mph in Utah!
Yellowstone's elevation is 8000' , and Jackson's is around 6000'. There is a real good chance of experiencing some cold weather in Sepember. It will be almost October when you get to Jackson, and getting close to November by the time you get to Yosemite NP. The passs over the Sierra Mtns in that area is 10,000'. That is averaging 60 miles a day for 43 consecutive days. I'd bet you a beer you will see some snow. However the way the weather in our mountains is going you might just glide right through
We experienced below freezing weather riding through Lassen NP in late October. Luckily it was dry. By the time we dropped several thousand feet to the Cental Valley it was in the mid-eighties.
Good luck on your ride, and don't forget to take warm clothes.
Yellowstone's elevation is 8000' , and Jackson's is around 6000'. There is a real good chance of experiencing some cold weather in Sepember. It will be almost October when you get to Jackson, and getting close to November by the time you get to Yosemite NP. The passs over the Sierra Mtns in that area is 10,000'. That is averaging 60 miles a day for 43 consecutive days. I'd bet you a beer you will see some snow. However the way the weather in our mountains is going you might just glide right through
We experienced below freezing weather riding through Lassen NP in late October. Luckily it was dry. By the time we dropped several thousand feet to the Cental Valley it was in the mid-eighties.Good luck on your ride, and don't forget to take warm clothes.
02-26-20, 04:22 AM
#4
Hooked on Touring
Matt -
You are new here and offer no info about yourself.
Would this be your first tour?
Are you just out of college or newly retired?
Do you have much experience in the remote West?
Or have you rarely strayed far from Atlanta?
Your route & dates does have some risk of severe weather.
Flipping the route - Calif to Chicago -
Would give you near-ideal riding conditions throughout.
Early snows in Wyoming after Labor Day are common.
The first big snow is usually late Sept / early Oct.
Moab is unlikely to have snow -
but it is the lowest point int the West.
You would have many mountain ranges to cross.
Speaking of remote -
The roads in Nevada leading to Yosemite are extremely remote.
Do you have experience riding 100 miles with no services?
Not even water. In bad weather?
I have 100,000 miles of touring - much in the West.
Have lived in Wyoming and Montana since 1990.
I've rescued many a cold, wet, miserable rider over the years.
Fed them, warmed them up at my house, then sent them back out.
The West in autumn is truly beautiful -
But profoundy and dangerously changeable.
It can go from 75F and sunny to 20F and a blizzard.
In a matter of hours.
Catching hunters from St. Louis in the high country.
PS - Tioga Pass into Yosemite usually closes in early Nov.
But it can and has closed in late Oct.
Which means a 300-miles detour.
You are new here and offer no info about yourself.
Would this be your first tour?
Are you just out of college or newly retired?
Do you have much experience in the remote West?
Or have you rarely strayed far from Atlanta?
Your route & dates does have some risk of severe weather.
Flipping the route - Calif to Chicago -
Would give you near-ideal riding conditions throughout.
Early snows in Wyoming after Labor Day are common.
The first big snow is usually late Sept / early Oct.
Moab is unlikely to have snow -
but it is the lowest point int the West.
You would have many mountain ranges to cross.
Speaking of remote -
The roads in Nevada leading to Yosemite are extremely remote.
Do you have experience riding 100 miles with no services?
Not even water. In bad weather?
I have 100,000 miles of touring - much in the West.
Have lived in Wyoming and Montana since 1990.
I've rescued many a cold, wet, miserable rider over the years.
Fed them, warmed them up at my house, then sent them back out.
The West in autumn is truly beautiful -
But profoundy and dangerously changeable.
It can go from 75F and sunny to 20F and a blizzard.
In a matter of hours.
Catching hunters from St. Louis in the high country.
PS - Tioga Pass into Yosemite usually closes in early Nov.
But it can and has closed in late Oct.
Which means a 300-miles detour.
02-26-20, 08:35 PM
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I hope I’m replying correctly...first time. Thanks a lot for the advice...it’s useful. I’ll look more closely at Utah- sounds like it could be rough. Cheers!
As part of a cross country trip, my wife and I rode from Yellowstone National Park to Chicago. We tried to keep our ride on U.S. 20 as much as possible. It is the longest contiguous highway from cost to coast. It was good route, and was often Highway 20/26. Jackson is not far from Yellowstone. This would get you to jackson Hole, but I can't help you from there to Moab. I've driven through Moab, but did not see any places I'd like to ride. The speed limit is 80 mph in Utah!
Yellowstone's elevation is 8000' , and Jackson's is around 6000'. There is a real good chance of experiencing some cold weather in Sepember. It will be almost October when you get to Jackson, and getting close to November by the time you get to Yosemite NP. The passs over the Sierra Mtns in that area is 10,000'. That is averaging 60 miles a day for 43 consecutive days. I'd bet you a beer you will see some snow. However the way the weather in our mountains is going you might just glide right through We experienced below freezing weather riding through Lassen NP in late October. Luckily it was dry. By the time we dropped several thousand feet to the Cental Valley it was in the mid-eighties.
Good luck on your ride, and don't forget to take warm clothes.
Yellowstone's elevation is 8000' , and Jackson's is around 6000'. There is a real good chance of experiencing some cold weather in Sepember. It will be almost October when you get to Jackson, and getting close to November by the time you get to Yosemite NP. The passs over the Sierra Mtns in that area is 10,000'. That is averaging 60 miles a day for 43 consecutive days. I'd bet you a beer you will see some snow. However the way the weather in our mountains is going you might just glide right through
We experienced below freezing weather riding through Lassen NP in late October. Luckily it was dry. By the time we dropped several thousand feet to the Cental Valley it was in the mid-eighties.Good luck on your ride, and don't forget to take warm clothes.
02-26-20, 08:58 PM
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I run an outdoor outfitter in Richmond Va. I mountain bike a lot and am just getting into touring. Have done several overnighters in the blue ridge mountains over the past 6 months and one multi-nighter...but, admittedly, I am just getting started. To answer your question, I have done one 105 mile day on an overnight trip in the VA mountains, but my real comfort zone is more in the 70-80 mile range. This pseudo xc trip will be my 50th bday present to myself with my college-aged daughter...planning it for autumn 2021. She’s an avid trail runner (running her first mountain ultra this Spring) and backpacker and has gone on one overnight bike trip with me this winter.
I like your idea of reversing direction. I was trying to avoid plane travel and packing/reassembling our bikes on the front end of the trip. That’s where the idea came from to rent a truck, drive to Chicago and then fly back from Cali. with help from my wife who would meet us out there. But I certainly like the thought of “ideal weather” so I’ll rethink that. Any other advice is welcome. Thx!
I like your idea of reversing direction. I was trying to avoid plane travel and packing/reassembling our bikes on the front end of the trip. That’s where the idea came from to rent a truck, drive to Chicago and then fly back from Cali. with help from my wife who would meet us out there. But I certainly like the thought of “ideal weather” so I’ll rethink that. Any other advice is welcome. Thx!
Matt -
You are new here and offer no info about yourself.
Would this be your first tour?
Are you just out of college or newly retired?
Do you have much experience in the remote West?
Or have you rarely strayed far from Atlanta?
Your route & dates does have some risk of severe weather.
Flipping the route - Calif to Chicago -
Would give you near-ideal riding conditions throughout.
Early snows in Wyoming after Labor Day are common.
The first big snow is usually late Sept / early Oct.
Moab is unlikely to have snow -
but it is the lowest point int the West.
You would have many mountain ranges to cross.
Speaking of remote -
The roads in Nevada leading to Yosemite are extremely remote.
Do you have experience riding 100 miles with no services?
Not even water. In bad weather?
I have 100,000 miles of touring - much in the West.
Have lived in Wyoming and Montana since 1990.
I've rescued many a cold, wet, miserable rider over the years.
Fed them, warmed them up at my house, then sent them back out.
The West in autumn is truly beautiful -
But profoundy and dangerously changeable.
It can go from 75F and sunny to 20F and a blizzard.
In a matter of hours.
Catching hunters from St. Louis in the high country.
PS - Tioga Pass into Yosemite usually closes in early Nov.
But it can and has closed in late Oct.
Which means a 300-miles detour.
You are new here and offer no info about yourself.
Would this be your first tour?
Are you just out of college or newly retired?
Do you have much experience in the remote West?
Or have you rarely strayed far from Atlanta?
Your route & dates does have some risk of severe weather.
Flipping the route - Calif to Chicago -
Would give you near-ideal riding conditions throughout.
Early snows in Wyoming after Labor Day are common.
The first big snow is usually late Sept / early Oct.
Moab is unlikely to have snow -
but it is the lowest point int the West.
You would have many mountain ranges to cross.
Speaking of remote -
The roads in Nevada leading to Yosemite are extremely remote.
Do you have experience riding 100 miles with no services?
Not even water. In bad weather?
I have 100,000 miles of touring - much in the West.
Have lived in Wyoming and Montana since 1990.
I've rescued many a cold, wet, miserable rider over the years.
Fed them, warmed them up at my house, then sent them back out.
The West in autumn is truly beautiful -
But profoundy and dangerously changeable.
It can go from 75F and sunny to 20F and a blizzard.
In a matter of hours.
Catching hunters from St. Louis in the high country.
PS - Tioga Pass into Yosemite usually closes in early Nov.
But it can and has closed in late Oct.
Which means a 300-miles detour.
02-26-20, 10:14 PM
#7
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Can't comment on the eastern part of your planned trip, but I can say northern Nevada gets cold in the early fall, and can experience snowfall as early as late September/early October. .
Hwy 120, the back entrance to Yosemite NP, can close as early as mid-October. The other routes over the Sierra Nevada Mtns (80 being the most traveled) can get impacted by snowfall and be closed for extended periods, too. You can get into Yosemite Valley year-round; its only about 2000ft-2500ft in elevation, so any snow that does fall doesn't stick around long on the valley floor. Maybe someone back east could suggest some multi-day trips closer to your home area?
If you want to come out west in the fall season I'd suggest the San Francisco-Los Angeles ride (one way, maybe 10 days), or maybe San Francisco to Yosemite and back to SF? Both are pretty nice rides with some great scenery.
Hwy 120, the back entrance to Yosemite NP, can close as early as mid-October. The other routes over the Sierra Nevada Mtns (80 being the most traveled) can get impacted by snowfall and be closed for extended periods, too. You can get into Yosemite Valley year-round; its only about 2000ft-2500ft in elevation, so any snow that does fall doesn't stick around long on the valley floor. Maybe someone back east could suggest some multi-day trips closer to your home area?
If you want to come out west in the fall season I'd suggest the San Francisco-Los Angeles ride (one way, maybe 10 days), or maybe San Francisco to Yosemite and back to SF? Both are pretty nice rides with some great scenery.
02-26-20, 11:32 PM
#8
Hooked on Touring
About shipping your bikes - -
Yes, it can be challenging.
1. More than once I have tossed my bike and gear into the back of my pick-up -
Driven to where I wanted to start, And asked around for a place to leave the truck.
There's time and gas money, but I have everything just like I want it.
2. Almost as easy - Amtrak. They have giant bike boxes and charge, like $20.
Plus you have oodles of luggage allowance - checked and carry-on.
It is almost as easy as using my pick-up - and it gives me mellow time before the trip.
3. Airlines - Yuccckkkk! - Expensive and unreliable.
I have waited, more than once, at the baggage carousel when it stops.
You almost have to allow for an extra day in case of delays - either you or the bike.
4. Shipping - Bike Shop to Bike Shop
Whenever I fly, I choose this option - no more expensive than airline fees.
You get to your destination bike shop and the bike is assembled and checked out.
<<<>>>
PS - If you start in SFO, you can have a couple of days on the coast
And then head inland to Yosemite. BTW - Tioga Pass is almost 10,000 ft.
PPS - I've hiked the John Muir up to Tuolumne and had my bike shuttled up.
Went back to the concession warehouse and asked if they had trucks going up.
It used to be easier to finagle things - everybody is so regulation-bound these days.
Pic - Stone Cabin Valley east of Tonopah, Nevada
Note the heavy traffic.
Yes, it can be challenging.
1. More than once I have tossed my bike and gear into the back of my pick-up -
Driven to where I wanted to start, And asked around for a place to leave the truck.
There's time and gas money, but I have everything just like I want it.
2. Almost as easy - Amtrak. They have giant bike boxes and charge, like $20.
Plus you have oodles of luggage allowance - checked and carry-on.
It is almost as easy as using my pick-up - and it gives me mellow time before the trip.
3. Airlines - Yuccckkkk! - Expensive and unreliable.
I have waited, more than once, at the baggage carousel when it stops.
You almost have to allow for an extra day in case of delays - either you or the bike.
4. Shipping - Bike Shop to Bike Shop
Whenever I fly, I choose this option - no more expensive than airline fees.
You get to your destination bike shop and the bike is assembled and checked out.
<<<>>>
PS - If you start in SFO, you can have a couple of days on the coast
And then head inland to Yosemite. BTW - Tioga Pass is almost 10,000 ft.
PPS - I've hiked the John Muir up to Tuolumne and had my bike shuttled up.
Went back to the concession warehouse and asked if they had trucks going up.
It used to be easier to finagle things - everybody is so regulation-bound these days.
Pic - Stone Cabin Valley east of Tonopah, Nevada
Note the heavy traffic.
