Oss' great adventure 2012, never too early to plan

[Oss]

I have a family obligation near Seattle on June 29 so I will head over to the VOAi shindig in Keystone SD, since its on the way.  Looks like I will leave the day after father's day. Dont know my route there yet, thanks RJ, Nitro and Alph for offering to put me up if I come your way, I will be in touch before June for sure.
From there going to Washington State will be a mind blowing experience as I have dreamed of Beartooth Highway (212)  and also Lolo Pass  for years and I will get to do both


well I have been playing with google maps and mapquest

It seems like there is some small roads that I can take to pick up Beartooth Pass
and that the end of the first day should be somewhere around Cooke CIty

what do you think of this

Loop east and north to 90W to Ranchester then 14 14A to 310 to 296 to Cooke city (looks smaller than Cody and maybe less expensive for a motel than Cody but I could be wrong That is just under 500 miles which leave lots of time for picture taking and walking around  Mapquest says 8 hrs so I will take 10 moseying around

next morning and take 296 to 212 Beartooth Highway clear up Laurel and then pick up 90W to Missoula which is just at the start of LOLO PASS  7 hrs but if I do a down and back and down again on the beartooth that will be 10 hrs easy  

Those (any) of you who have been out there do these seem reasonable day distance  I must be at my stopping point before twilight as I just dont see well and dont want to hit any elk or deer

From Missoula its about 570 miles to Portland (I have a cousin there and besides I want to ride the Valk as close as I can to the Pacific ocean) which if I hit good weather is a full day  I would leave by 6am so as to arrive before dinnertime  Mapquest says 10.5 hours but I think a 2 hr cushion for taking pics is about right.  The next day all I have to do is get to Bellvue WA

Would LOVE To have some company on the trip out. Do we have any west coast riders?  
From Seattle we may be doing an Alaska inside passage cruise and I will then ship my dragon home
If no cruise I will ride home maybe thru the wonderful places in Canada that were just posted by IBA

[..]

Factor in a f'up factor like weather.

And traffic if you go into Yellowstone.

I rode Beatooth in blindingly thick low cloud. 

I stayed here in 2003 http://www.cookecityalpine.com/rooms.html

The Buffalo Bill Center in Cody is 2 thumbs up.

http://www.bbhc.org/visit/

Can you stretch your ride to inlcude "Going To The Sun Road" ? So near (knda) and a rider bucket list road.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS432US432&q=Going+To+The+Sun+road

DO NOT STAY IN BROWNING, MT. Just don't.

[fudgie]

I'd say watch the weather. Bike folks have been snowed on in Aug there.

Keystone is pretty neat. GiG and I ate at a small bbq joint in the mall area, next to DQ. I found it pretty good. Parking lot is a bitch being sloped and all.

[donaldcc]

    Sounds great!  Stay in Cody not Cooke City.  Rates get jacked up because of Yellowstone.  Go eat at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel. 

   Nice ride up from Cody to where you are going.  Definitely try to make "Going To The Sun Road".  They were working on road when i was there a few months ago.





 

[big d]

sounds like a kick ass trip ya have planned there oss. make sure ya take lots of pics...

[Oss]

Don and Paul that Going to the Sun road looks spectacular

Is it one way going east only?

I would have to do a whole bunch of backtracking but it sure looks
like one of those give me a seizure kinda roads once in a lifetime kinda roads

WOW  I may have to leave the ride in a day early to do that road but I am willing to do that
for the opportunity to take that route

Valker thanks for the heads up on 296  It looks like a real challenging road but at
Oss speed it will be just fine I am sure  The trip is to smell the roses not race a MOTOGP
There will be plenty of 80mph runs on I90 just not on those kind of roads that look like an etch a sketch drawing by a man with the shakes

from cooke city to Columbia Falls (about 10 miles from Apgar) is 545 miles so that is a doable day
If the highway to the sun is open of course
Otherwise I would ride thru Missoula and do the Lolo Pass to Orofino area so I dont hit those afternoon winds along the Columbia River near Mt Hood.  Been there done that east of the front range and with Bear in the House and do NOT wish to experience over 90mph winds again

If the road is open its about 330 thru the sun road and back around to Missoula, another 174 to Orofino Idaho so we will see what the weather is like. Amazing that the road can be closed until mid july from snow

[Bearinthehouse]

After many Moon's  I might be able to escort you from Lewiston, or even Missoula, Just did that route last summer, you will love beartooth, Coty, if you plan any riding on I-84 Orygon do it early mourninf, for the wind kicks up really bad though there, can take detour in Hood River up the montain (Mt. Hood) into Portland. Let me know what part of the Coast you would like to see. Hope I can plan this!!!

[Oss]

just for reference are we talking about the kind of wind we hit in colorado on 285/24

you did a good job hanging on to that trailer on that ride for sure that was some
nasty $hit crosswinds

I would be leaving missoula in the am early might be by Mt Hood around 3pm

which town are you both in?

[Dubsvalk]

Oss, I have a friend that lives in Ellensburg, WA.  He rides those roads constantly on his ST1300.  A great guy and I will hook you up with him if you like.
Dubs

[..]

Don and Paul that Going to the Sun road looks spectacular

Is it one way going east only?

I would have to do a whole bunch of backtracking but it sure looks
like one of those give me a seizure kinda roads once in a lifetime kinda roads

WOW  I may have to leave the ride in a day early to do that road but I am willing to do that
for the opportunity to take that route

Heading northeastwards means mainly riding up hill  

[Sourdough]

Oss, Going to The Sun may not be open that early in the year...didn't open this year until
about July 8 due to heavy snow. Just something to consider...