Beartooth Ride Summer of 2016 July 31-Aug 4

[schoeney]

Bring chains:cool:

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[landman]

Originally Posted by rayski271

It's freaking snowing out there

snow in northwest Wyoming and 100 degree temps in southeast Wyoming,you
got love the diversity.Don't worry,snow doesn't last to long this time of year,here today gone tomorrow kind of thing.

[dshelly]

It was 47 deg this morning. It's up to 68 now. I love this weather, you guys can keep the 90 plus stuff. last year we postponed the beartooth pass ride we had planed . It was snowing then too. By Aug is should be just right up there..

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by schoeney

So I am on Day 4 of my SoCal bike ride.... you don't really realize how much traffic is in Southern California until you ride the freeways on a bike in 90 degree heat.

I have a rental car for a few days so I won't have to deal with it until I return. I am thinking I might hit a little bit of Yosemite on the way back depending on the weather.

I know one thing. I will be on the road at the crack of dawn when I head back to avoid the heat and traffic.

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Yosemite is beautiful but it too is a shit-show of people. You must not have rode down there with us from Tahoe last year. It was about a 14 hour day...😳.


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[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Yosemite is beautiful but it too is a shit-show of people. You must not have rode down there with us from Tahoe last year. It was about a 14 hour day...😳.


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When I rode down to San Bernardino in 2009 to umpire the Little League Western Regional...I rode the San Berdo mountains out toward Pasadena and back one day near tournaments end on the #2 Rd I think. It was an awesome ride with zero traffic and cooler temps than down in the valley.


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[Netnorske]

Was looking at ride possibilities recently (just for myself mind you), but figured I would share with everyone else what I figure to be the most logical rides in the area. Each has a differing length and ride time. Keep in mind if it is not a loop ride then the ride time indicated is for one way only.

Grand Loop-Yellowstone
(271 Miles- 6:06 ride time)
Fuel in Cody and Cooke City
https://goo.gl/maps/JwZ9bKP9jFt

This one is probably the most aggressive of the bunch, doing a big loop that takes you through the northern half of Yellowstone Park and back over the Beartooth to Red Lodge. I would suggest riding it clockwise so that you hit the Beartooth in the afternoon when temps have warmed some. Don't ride that pass without all of your cold weather gear aboard. It is cold up there even in August at nearly 11,000 ft. If you top off your tanks in Cody before entering the park, it is 144 miles to Cooke City when you come out. You can refuel there for the run over the pass back to Red Lodge. Although the ride time says 6 hours, you can bet this will be more like 12 by the time you take breaks and avoid all the Asian tourists in Jellystone. Plus there will be a line (and fee) getting into the park that will slow you down as well.

Little Bighorn Battlefield
(125-Miles- 2:04 ride time one way)
https://goo.gl/maps/d8CQ5u7eKy62

This is a must-do for those who have never been to the battle site of Custer's Last Stand. There is a fee to get in and a very cool visitors center. Most of this run is on the slab, but it gets off onto the old highway for a stretch near Billings. It is a very somber experience and it is kind of surreal to stand where such a historic event took place. There is as much stuff about the Lakota, Crow and the other tribes that participated as there is about the 7th Cavalry. Don't miss this, get an early start and make a day of it. You will be glad you did.

Buffalo Bill Wild West Museum
(64 Miles- 1:05 ride time one way)
https://goo.gl/maps/zS1RPQTPHB72

People tell me this place is the Smithsonian of the West and that one day is really not enough to see it all. The gun collection is a major highlight and I'm very much looking forward to spending a good long while there.

Chief Joseph-Beartooth Pass Loop
(179 Miles-3:45 ride time)
Fuel in Cody
https://goo.gl/maps/3JbD4X2q8d22

This is a shorter loop that misses Yellowstone, but still allows for a nice mountain ride up the Chief Joseph Hwy then back eastward across Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge. This would be the perfect ride to sleep in, leave about 11:00am, grab lunch in Cody, then make the rest of the run under the afternoon sunshine.

Pompey’s Pillar
(89 Miles- 1:23 ride time one way)
https://goo.gl/maps/R9pbCMaQxsu

This is a lesser known National Monument, but pretty cool in it's own right. On their return trip to St. Louis in 1806, Capts. Lewis and Clark split up, with Clark floating down the Yellowstone River with plans to reunite where it empties back into the Missouri. Pompey's Pillar is a large rock that towers above the ground right along the river, allowing for great views in all directions. It was for years a gathering place for native tribes to party and trade. This is the only place known to exist where lasting evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition still remains. Capt. Clark carved his name into the rock and dated it 1806. It is covered with protective sheeting, but is still very visible. At the top of the rock are quotations from their journals of what he saw from atop the pillar over 200 years ago. Nice little visitor center and a place worthy of the ride.

Local Loop
(115 Miles- 2:06 ride time)
https://goo.gl/maps/NdDcW5zH9i22

This is a more leisurely loop through some of the local small towns. Easy riding to find a local mom and pop place for lunch.

Just a few ideas anyways. My buddy who lives in Billings has given me some great inside info into some local diamond in the rough dining spots. Ask me about them later....haha.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Yosemite is beautiful but it too is a shit-show of people. You must not have rode down there with us from Tahoe last year. It was about a 14 hour day...😳.


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You are right. I did not go but I remember everybody complaining about how long it took.

There was quite a bit of traffic around the lake too.


I think the key to riding in California is to do it when school is in session.

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[schoeney]

Thanks for all the ride information Kris. Very helpful.

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[blowndodge]

Marie and I are planning on riding up from Rexburg ID Sunday entering Yellowstone from the west entrance, riding to Old Faithful then north up 212 through both falls continuing to bearthooth highway to Red Lodge on Sunday. Cliff recommended this route to see Yellowstone on the way up.

[schoeney]

Sounds like a great ride Brad.

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[dshelly]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Marie and I are planning on riding up from Rexburg ID Sunday entering Yellowstone from the west entrance, riding to Old Faithful then north up 212 through both falls continuing to bearthooth highway to Red Lodge on Sunday. Cliff recommended this route to see Yellowstone on the way up.

Just be sure to stay alert in the Park this time of year. Lots of idiot drivers. Of coarse, I'm sure you are used to that where you live.

[blowndodge]

Kris you know the Little Big Horn and Pompey Pillar could be combined into one ride! Would only add about 35 miles to the Little Big Horn Trip. Just thinking. I do want to see Custer's last stance for sure!

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Kris you know the Little Big Horn and Pompey Pillar could be combined into one ride! Would only add about 35 miles to the Little Big Horn Trip. Just thinking. I do want to see Custer's last stance for sure!

Yes I mentioned before that you could indeed hit them both on the same trip and make a full day out of it. You'd just have to change your routes to include mostly all slab to save time...but it is easily doable.


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[waterman]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

I do want to see Custer's last stance for sure!

I wonder too what his last "stance" was. Probably flat on his back.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by waterman

I wonder too what his last "stance" was. Probably flat on his back.

With an awl in his ear


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