Please help - Montana route

http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

hello, i'm an ijit who went on a bike trip. this ijit is now stuck in
frigid casper, wy trying to figure out whether to give up or continue.

my original thinking had been to continue from casper on i25 north to
sheridan then billings where i would stay on the interstate all the way
into seattle. the problem as i see it is that it's too cold and i'm
ill-prepared for it. i have with me only my bike jersey and a
windbreaker. i'm not a very good cyclist either and riding a 60 mile
day up in these parts is an enormous effort, 40 miles is more
reasonable. partly this is because i'm starting late in the day (say
about 10) to wait for it to warm up outside. and then i like to be done
by about 4-5pm. it doesn't help matters that i'm going broke and my
bike (a fuji touring) is a piece of crap.

what's the easiest, fastest, flatest route from here to seattle?

many thanks,
ras

You need to take the Lewis & Clark return trail to the
Oregon coast then the Pacific Coast Highway north to Seattle

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...er&context=all

Trip Journal: 2004
California
McKinleyville to Florence, OR
Oregon
1: Florence to Richardson Park Campground, Veneta
2: Richardson Park to McKenzie Bridge
3: McKenzie Bridge to Sisters
4: Sisters to Ochoco Reservoir
5: Ochoco Reservoir to Mitchell
6: Mitchell to Dayville
7: Dayville to John Day
8: Layover - John Day
9: John Day to Baker City
10: Baker City to Richland
11: Richland to Oxbow
Idaho
12: Oxbow to Council, ID
13: Council to Riggins
14: Riggins to Grangeville
15: Grangeville to Lowell
16: Lowell to Powell
Montana
17: Powell to Stevensville, MT
18-19: Layover - Hamilton
20: Hamilton to Sula
21: Sula to Wisdom
22: Wisdom to Dillon
23: Dillon to Alder
24: Alder to Madison River Cabins and RV Park
25: Madison River RV Park to West Yellowstone
Wyoming
26: West Yellowstone to Grant Village (Yellowstone
Park)
27: Grant Village (Yellowstone Park) to Hatchet
Campground (USFS)
28: Hatchet Campground to Dubois
29: Layover - Dubois
30: Layover - Dubois (cont'd)
31: Dubois to Shoshoni
32: Shoshoni to Casper

http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/

wrote:
http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

hello, i'm an ijit who went on a bike trip. this ijit is now stuck in
frigid casper, wy trying to figure out whether to give up or continue.

my original thinking had been to continue from casper on i25 north to
sheridan then billings where i would stay on the interstate all the way
into seattle. the problem as i see it is that it's too cold and i'm
ill-prepared for it. i have with me only my bike jersey and a
windbreaker. i'm not a very good cyclist either and riding a 60 mile
day up in these parts is an enormous effort, 40 miles is more
reasonable. partly this is because i'm starting late in the day (say
about 10) to wait for it to warm up outside. and then i like to be done
by about 4-5pm. it doesn't help matters that i'm going broke and my
bike (a fuji touring) is a piece of crap.

what's the easiest, fastest, flatest route from here to seattle?

many thanks,
ras

wrote in message
ups.com...
http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

hello, i'm an ijit who went on a bike trip. this ijit is now stuck in
frigid casper, wy trying to figure out whether to give up or continue.

my original thinking had been to continue from casper on i25 north to
sheridan then billings where i would stay on the interstate all the way
into seattle. the problem as i see it is that it's too cold and i'm
ill-prepared for it. i have with me only my bike jersey and a
windbreaker. i'm not a very good cyclist either and riding a 60 mile
day up in these parts is an enormous effort, 40 miles is more
reasonable. partly this is because i'm starting late in the day (say
about 10) to wait for it to warm up outside. and then i like to be done
by about 4-5pm. it doesn't help matters that i'm going broke and my
bike (a fuji touring) is a piece of crap.

what's the easiest, fastest, flatest route from here to seattle?

many thanks,
ras


US 2 is a good route across Montana. It crosses the continental divide at
Marias pass, which is only 5200 ft above sea level. The trouble is that US
2 isn't very good in Washington state. The flattest route there is the
Columbia river gorge between WA and OR, generally I-84. But there's no easy
way to get down there from US 2. And also, I understand that the prevailing
winds through the gorge are decidedly westerly.

Perhaps the best alternative in your situation is to take South pass across
the divide and work your way over to the gorge. I don't know how that
compares to what the previous post suggests. On my ride through there in
1996, we went west to east, took the gorge, and then veered northeast
through WallaWalla and across the Snake River, eventually reaching US 2 at
Spokane, which we then took all the way to Wisconsin. But that route has a
lot of up and down west of Spokane. I'm not familiar with the South Pass
route or the Lewis and Clark trail, or even with whether they're different.

Don't be too intimidated by the big mountains ahead. Pick a good route and
the climbs are long but not frequent. You do less net climbing than on the
much lower peaks of the Appalachians.

"Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message
...

US 2 is a good route across Montana. It crosses the continental divide at
Marias pass, which is only 5200 ft above sea level. The trouble is that
US 2 isn't very good in Washington state. The flattest route there is the
Columbia river gorge between WA and OR, generally I-84. But there's no
easy way to get down there from US 2. And also, I understand that the
prevailing winds through the gorge are decidedly westerly.

Gorge winds can be really nasty. There's a reason why so many people do
windsurfing through there. If you do take the gorge, is your goal simply the
West Coast, or is it actually Seattle? If take the gorge and then you need a
good route from Portland to Seattle, use the STP route in reverse:
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/stp_routemap.cfm

The last time I was on Hwy 2, in an automobile, I was looking at the
shoulder rather carefully. I've never ridden it myself, but I know people
who have. It didn't look great, but I've also ridden worse.

Lots of folks do use I-90. If you do ride I-90, there's alternatives as you
get closer to Seattle to the actual freeway. I've even done these If you
decide to go this way I can provide details.

If you need a place to land in the greater Seattle area, let me know. I've
read your adventures for some time, and would be happy to host you for a day
or two.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

wrote:

http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

hello, i'm an ijit who went on a bike trip. this ijit is now stuck in
frigid casper, wy trying to figure out whether to give up or continue. .....


snip

Besides the route info you are getting - you should know that a cold
front is passing down from Canada right now and affecting the weather
here in the Rocky Mt area, but in a couple of days the weather is
supposed to get 15º to 20º warmer (i.e., the weather forecast for
Jackson Hole, Wyoming indicates that the high temperature should be 60°
on Thursday and 65º for the next several days after that). There is no
predicted precipitation, either.

Sit tight for another day and things should get a good deal better.

my original thinking had been to continue from casper on i25 north to
sheridan then billings where i would stay on the interstate all the way
into seattle.

That sounds rather dull.

You might consider taking 20/26 west from Casper and work your way to
where 26 meets 287 in the middle of the Wind River Indian Reservation.
At that point you'll be on Adventure Cycling's Trans America route to
Missoula (a great town - and home of Adventure Cycling).

You'll have to cross the divide at Togwotee Pass on 287 in Wyoming (9800
feet) but you'll get a fantastic view of the Tetons (wow!) followed by
Yellowstone National Park without the summer crowds. The next pass is
Chief Joseph Pass south of Missoula (~7200 feet) and finally - after
Missoula - Lolo Pass into Idaho. I've checked the Montana DOT web site
and Lolo and Chief Joseph pass are open and dry right now.

I really don't know how this compares to the climbing you'll do if you
take your intended route, but at least you won't be going further north
right away.

I rode from Seattle to Boulder (the opposite direction) using this route
- having picked out my own way across Washington's eastern high desert.
I crossed the Idaho/Washington border at Lewiston on highway 12. I'd be
glad to tell you exactly how I did that should you want to know. You
would meet up with I90 at Vantage on the Columbia river, a bit south of
the middle of Washington. From there it's a piece of cake.

I'd be glad to give you much more specific route information (that
you'll need) should you choose this route. Let me know.

the problem as i see it is that it's too cold and i'm
ill-prepared for it. i have with me only my bike jersey and a
windbreaker.

Go to a used clothing store and get some funky clothes.

snip

what's the easiest, fastest, flatest route from here to seattle?


I don't honestly know - - - - (get on board Amtrak? Rent a car?) ô¿Ô¬

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
*****************************

wrote:
http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

I can't help much with the route. Since you're already in Casper, it
sounds like sticking to or close to I-90 is your best bet. This time of
year, it probably would've been better to stick to I-80, cut through
Utah, then I-84 northwest.

Here's good news. We're expecting better weather. By Thursday, you can
expect warmer temps, and hopefully it will continue.

Be careful with Wyoming, and heck, much of your remaining route. Take
the time to plan carefully, as it may be difficult to find civilization
every 40 miles, or even 60.

There has to be a decent bike shop in Casper (probably just one). Look
'em up. Or, a truck stop. Ask the people who know the roads, though
truckers aren't known for their knowledge of bikes. But they can help
you pick a quiet route, with a minimum of hills, and regularly-spaced
places to rest.

Ras, I'm a much better cyclist than you. But I have never had the guts
to attempt a coast-to-coast ride (yet). Be proud of what you've done so
far, and FINISH it. We're pulling for you.

--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the
trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view,
the most insidious of traitors."
George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999,

Sorry to follow up on my own post. Since I wrote last, some other
suggestions have come up.

If you take US 2 from Spokane, but would prefer the more gradual Snoqualmie
pass over the steeper Steven's Pass, a couple of options:
1. Get on state hwy 28 at Davenport.

2. Get on state hwy 17 at Coulee City (scenic, I think) to state hwy 28 at
Soap Lake

From either, use hwy 28 past Ephrata with George as your destination. Go
either directly on state hwy 283 (15 miles to George, hillier) or go via
Quincy (22 miles to George, flatter) on state hwy 281. From George, use
I-90 down down down (whee! but watch for trucks) to Vantage at the Columbia
River. At Vantage, there's a road that parallels I-90 to Ellensburg, then
you can use hwy 10 paralleling I-90 until Cle Elum. Then you're back on I-90
until the pass, about 30 miles.

If you do this route, I have instructions from the top of the pass to
Seattle, please contact me for details.

Another option to the gorge to consider, if you're coming into the state
from a more southerly route: if you're at Moscow ID, use state route 270 to
Pullman, and US 195 to Colfax to state route 26 to Vantage, then follow as
above. If coming in at Lewiston, ID (on, say US 95), please note that state
hwy 261, some parts of that section of US 195, and state hwy 194 have no
shoulders to speak of. Better to take US 95 north to Moscow, then continue
as above.

Too bad our local board is down -- I'd refer you there for more on-the-road
experience than what I have relayed to you above.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

ras wrote:
http://www.rasiel.com/bikingamerica/

hello, i'm an ijit who went on a bike trip. this ijit is now stuck in
frigid casper, wy trying to figure out whether to give up or continue.

my original thinking had been to continue from casper on i25 north to
sheridan then billings where i would stay on the interstate all the way
into seattle. the problem as i see it is that it's too cold and i'm
ill-prepared for it. i have with me only my bike jersey and a
windbreaker. i'm not a very good cyclist either and riding a 60 mile
day up in these parts is an enormous effort, 40 miles is more
reasonable. partly this is because i'm starting late in the day (say
about 10) to wait for it to warm up outside. and then i like to be done
by about 4-5pm. it doesn't help matters that i'm going broke and my
bike (a fuji touring) is a piece of crap.

what's the easiest, fastest, flatest route from here to seattle?

What size long-sleeved shirt would you like? And what general delivery
post office will you be at next week?

(if some guy can swap a red paper clip for a year's free rent, I don't
see why those of us with spare stuff can't help you out.)

HTH

--Karen D.