Festar & BigJohn trek the North West before Western Roundup

[bigjohnsd]

I'm going to join Festar on part of his North West Odyssey.

Current plan is as follows:

July 1st Departing Cody via the Chief Joseph Highway, over the Beartooth Pass and into Red Lodge MT for lunch. Departing Red Lodge and heading North West to Great Falls MT for the night. 432 miles 7 hr 10 min in the saddle.

July 2nd Departing Great Falls and riding to St Mary MT then riding the Highway to the Sun through Glacier Park and into West Glacier MT. Continuing to Lolo MT for the night of July 2nd. 353 miles + or – and 7 hours in the saddle.

July 3rd Depart Lolo and ride the pass to Kooskia ID, then South on US 95 to New Meadows ID then onto ID 55 to Lowman ID. From Lowman East on ID 21 to Stanley ID (this is an absolute awesome road which we will see again going the other way) and then over a pass to Ketchum and Hailey ID where I have a friend that will have cold beers and warm beds for us.

July 4th Depart Hailey for Prineville OR. We will go back Down ID 21 all the way to Boise. We want to do this early as we don’t want to encounter a lot of traffic. This may be the best road of the trip! Especially the portion of ID 21 between Lowman and Boise. Overnight in Prineville OR – this is an almost 9 hour day and right close to 500 miles, the fun stuff is in the morning,

July 5th Prineville to Mt Rainier via Mt St Helens. Haven’t figured out where to stay yet. 383 miles and 8 hours in the Saddle to get to Mt Rainier Park Entrance

July 6th Mt Rainier to Coos Bay OR via Long View WA, West Union OR, OR 47 to Forest Grove OR continuing to McMinnville OR, then OR 18 to Willimina OR then continuing on OR 18 to Otis OR and the junction with the Coast Highway US 101 and South to Coos Bay. 360 miles in 8 hours.

July 7th Coos Bay OR to Ft Bragg CA Right down the Coast, Ocean at your feet for 350 Miles and all day (6 hours20 min)

July 8th Ft Bragg CA to San Francisco CA 175 Miles – 4 Hours then time to do a little sightseeing in San Francisco

July 9th Depart San Francisco, ride up through the Napa Valley (Wine Country) and then to Calistoga CA and over the hill on a great road to Clear Lake and then to Yuba City CA via CA 20. Spend the night in Yuba City while I visit my Dad. Should get to Yuba City in the early Afternoon. It will be hot! < 200 miles 6 hours with stops along the way.

July 10th Depart Yuba City early and head for Sparks and the Western FJR Roundup. We will ride an absolutely awesome road to Quincy and should arrive in Sparks at lunch time.

July 10-13 at the FJR Roundup

July 14th Leave Sparks early to get across Nevada in the morning before it gets too hot, take an overnight break in Wendover Utah, home of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Speed museum, lots of Casinos. 465 Miles 7.5 hours via the Loneliest Road in America, US 50 from Fallon Nevada to Ely NV then North to Wendover UT, Lots of Water and Wet Shirts under a mesh Jacket!

July 15th Get up early in the morning and head across the Utah Salt flats to Salt Lake City then there are some interesting roads in Utah North of Salt lake and South of Yellowstone Nat’l Park. Lots of Options here.

July 16th head up through Wyoming going through the Bighorn Mountains over either US 14 or US 16 to Buffalo or Sheridan WY then it is only 3 hours to Spearfish.

Looking for comments, input recommendations, observations etc........

Thanks,

John

 

[Niehart]

"July 1st Departing Cody via the Chief Joseph Highway, over the Beartooth Pass and into Red Lodge MT for lunch. Departing Red Lodge and heading North West to Great Falls MT for the night. 432 miles 7 hr 10 min in the saddle."

Hwy 89 North from White Sulfur Springs to Hwy 87/200 just east of Great Falls through Neihart is a nice little run.

Or at least that's what I have heard.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Looking for comments, input recommendations, observations etc........

Well, since you asked . . .

About that July 14th plan--IMO, "the Loneliest Road in America" sounds more romantic than it is. Nice name, though. But it's just about the same view as you'd get on I-80 and it's at least 60 extra miles on a long hot day. If you like empty desert, 80's as good as any. Unless you have some other reason to go that way.

See ya in Sparks, anyway.

oh, and I'd avoid Neihart. You know, JSNS.

 

[Pterodactyl]

The Going to the Sun Road just may not be cleared by 2 July.

Stop by if you get near Helena. Have a bunk house for two old coots and a shop if anything needs adjusting. The road from white Sulphur Springs to Great Falls is a nice ride. Or, you can go further west and cross over Flesher and Rogers Passes and head to the park by-passing GF. The second route will take you right past our Outpost which is 21 miles east of Flescher Pass.

 

[Bokerfork]

Looking for comments, input recommendations, observations etc........

Well, since you asked . . .

About that July 14th plan--IMO, "the Loneliest Road in America" sounds more romantic than it is. Nice name, though. But it's just about the same view as you'd get on I-80 and it's at least 60 extra miles on a long hot day. If you like empty desert, 80's as good as any. Unless you have some other reason to go that way.

See ya in Sparks, anyway.

oh, and I'd avoid Neihart. You know, JSNS.

Ignore this man. Hwy 50 is so much more scenic than 80. Lots of mountain passes with good sweeping turns and tons of elevation changes. 20 miles outside of Fallon take the turnoff for the "old hwy 50 route. Even more scenic with possible bighorn sheep sightings. And one more thing. Most of Nevada is above the 5,000 foot range. In other words, not nearly as hot as say the Mojave desert. Take 50, enjoy the scenery, and avoid all the traffic and trucks on 80.

 

[Old Michael]

Approaching midnight.
Sacramento Mike finishes his fourth bourbon.
Scratches himself.
Blows the reefer ashes off his keyboard.
Squints at the screen, and types out this winner -

If you like empty desert, 80's as good as any.

You need your own travel blog, Mikey.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Ought to read this.....

Rain, snow cause flooding in Glacier National Parkhttps://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2014/06/18/heavy-rain-causes-flooding-northwestern-montana/10755321/

 

[bigjohnsd]

Thanks to all so far,

Pterodactyl how about PM ing me a phone #Sacramento Mike, I've been both ways (I80/US50) many times, both could be hot, 50 is more interesting IMHO, more Puckerbrush to see with a few interesting towns and a few nice runs of curves here and there.

 

[blufjr]

Day 4: Sounds boring for Oregon? Try this, after cutting across ID on Hwy 52 to Ontario, take US 20 West to Drewsey then County road to Senaca. You will encounter some gravel. Was good the last time I did it. North 20 miles to the Paulina Hwy. Follow that to Prineville. Even if you take US 26 out of Ontario, go south to this road. No traffic and easy 65-85 all the way; except for the corners. I have never seen a EO on it. If you are hungry at around 5pm stop at Post Store, she is a good cook and it's a nice cowboy establishment. City Center Motel is reasonable and clean.

Another option I like better: Head for Mitchell on US26, stay in the Hotel there. It will make the days ride shorter. There is a restaurant next door with good food. Rm run around 62/night for two beds and toilet shower down the hall. We go here all the time. Center of some of the best riding in Oregon. In the morning on Day 5 head North to Fossil, then West to Antelope on Hwy 218. This is a road not to miss in Oregon. North to Shaniko then Maupin on Bakeoven Rd. West to Wamac and forest roads to Hwy 35 to Hoodriver. Cross river into WA. West to Carson and North to Randle on Forest Rd. 25, picking up Windy Ridge on FR 99. Packwood is a good place to stay. I have used the motel in the center of town. In the morning of Day 6 head East 10 miles to WA23. Enter the Park on the East side and exit at the West Entrance.

 

[blufjr]

What was your plan regarding doing Mt. Rainer NP? Day 5 or 6? I can't have you doing the Park on Day Six and getting you to Coos Bay in 360 miles.

 

[FJRay]

Day 4: Sounds boring for Oregon? Try this, after cutting across ID on Hwy 52 to Ontario, take US 20 West to Drewsey then County road to Senaca. You will encounter some gravel. Was good the last time I did it. North 20 miles to the Paulina Hwy. Follow that to Prineville. Even if you take US 26 out of Ontario, go south to this road. No traffic and easy 65-85 all the way; except for the corners. I have never seen a EO on it. If you are hungry at around 5pm stop at Post Store, she is a good cook and it's a nice cowboy establishment. City Center Motel is reasonable and clean.
Another option I like better: Head for Mitchell on US26, stay in the Hotel there. It will make the days ride shorter. There is a restaurant next door with good food. Rm run around 62/night for two beds and toilet shower down the hall. We go here all the time. Center of some of the best riding in Oregon. In the morning on Day 5 head North to Fossil, then West to Antelope on Hwy 218. This is a road not to miss in Oregon. North to Shaniko then Maupin on Bakeoven Rd. West to Wamac and forest roads to Hwy 35 to Hoodriver. Cross river into WA. West to Carson and North to Randle on Forest Rd. 25, picking up Windy Ridge on FR 99. Packwood is a good place to stay. I have used the motel in the center of town. In the morning of Day 6 head East 10 miles to WA23. Enter the Park on the East side and exit at the West Entrance.

The 8 miles from Antelope to Shaniko is probably the best twisty section in the state.

 

[russperry]

Looking for comments, input recommendations, observations etc........

Well, since you asked . . .

About that July 14th plan--IMO, "the Loneliest Road in America" sounds more romantic than it is. Nice name, though. But it's just about the same view as you'd get on I-80 and it's at least 60 extra miles on a long hot day. If you like empty desert, 80's as good as any. Unless you have some other reason to go that way.

See ya in Sparks, anyway.

oh, and I'd avoid Neihart. You know, JSNS.

Ignore this man. Hwy 50 is so much more scenic than 80. Lots of mountain passes with good sweeping turns and tons of elevation changes. 20 miles outside of Fallon take the turnoff for the "old hwy 50 route. Even more scenic with possible bighorn sheep sightings. And one more thing. Most of Nevada is above the 5,000 foot range. In other words, not nearly as hot as say the Mojave desert. Take 50, enjoy the scenery, and avoid all the traffic and trucks on 80.

If you really want to change it up then head across the ET highway (NV SR375) - its south of 50, and has quite a bit more north/south sections so adds some time but its waaaaay lonlier than 50, there are a bunch of motels with flying saucers in their front yards, and you can buy Alien Jerky in Crystal Springs, NV. Out there on 375 and 6 you can literally go 20-30 minutes without seeing another motor vehicle.

 

[Bokerfork]

July 9th, Napa Valley from Frisco. Come up 80 over the Carquinez Straight. Head for Mankas Corner(Google it) and take Wooden Valley Road to hwy 121. Go left to get to Napa and the World Famous Siverado Trail, or turn right and head toward 128, which will also drop you down to Silverado Trail. When you get to Calistoga, stop at Buster's BBQ at the other end of town for lunch. Then take Hwy 29 up and over to Clear Lake. Or from Calistoga back track to St. Helena and take the road to Anqwin/ Pope Valley. From here you can access Butts Cyn road to Lower/Clear Lake. I know, too many options, too little time.

JSNS.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Keep them coming Fella's

 

[Harald]

The Going to the Sun Road just may not be cleared by 2 July.

I was just near Flathead Lake (south of Glacier NP) last weekend and also hope to run the Going to the sun road, but it was too early. Here's a nice picture that shows the road condition and why it might be tough to get a FJR up the hill:

https://www.nps.gov/glac/parknews/media14-36.htm

 

[bigjohnsd]

Concur, July 2nd over the summit appears to be in Jeopardy.

Festar, we may have to do this after the Western Round Up.

 

[blufjr]

Going around is not that bad and will decrease you time/mile. Remember that the snow will receed 2-3 feet each sunny day, so there is a good chance in the next week that it might clear. Small but a chance.