Mid-Sep trip WA, BC, MT, ID

[BRick626]

I need to be in Helena MT on September 14 and would welcome others along on the trip. Hopefully it is not too late in the season. Leave Sunday Sep 11 from Tacoma area, to hwy 20 across NW Washington to Omak, then north to camp somewhere near Osoyoos BC. Monday to Creston BC then down into Idaho and over to MT maybe doing a motel or camping near Yaak MT. Tuesday through Glacier NP; Wednesday to Helena for a one hour appt in Helena at 11a. Then to Bozeman. I'd love to do hwy 212 through Red Lodge. Does anyone know if mid-Sep is usually okay, or too late for the pass? Finally to Idaho falls and Salt Lake where I'll park and fly back to Seattle. Pick up the trip again later. Thoughts?

 

[RossKean]

At altitude, anything can happen at that time of year - even earlier! I would make the plans but keep an eye on the weather forecast. Be prepared to abort, if necessary.

 

[Fontanaman]

Go for it. It is a great time to travel. The crowds are gone the heat is gone. Their is a small chance of snow or cool weather but that can happen in July too. Just watch the forecast and plan appropriately, one or two days in advance.

 

[Spud]

You should be good to go weatherwise. I usually take an October trip to Canada and September is typically a great time to ride. I actually just did a lot of what you're doing. Less than a month ago did a Beartooth to Glacier / Waterton ride. Last week did Idaho Falls up to Jasper, around to Vancouver, then Crowsnest (3) all the way across BC to Creston, then back down to Idaho Falls. That Crowsnest is a really great road.

Post up your tentative route and I'd be happy to offer suggestions.

 

[user 6393]

Sounds like a great trip. Be ready for all weather conditions and check any passes at high elevations before you head up. You may get turned around otherwise

Ride safe!

 

[BRick626]

Thanks for the comments! Has anyone done hwy 508 in Montana that heads northeast off Hwy 2 about 19 miles southeast of Bonners Ferry ID? Starting 508 to Yaak, then hwy 92 into hwy 37 southwest of Rexford and Eureka, MT. Wondering if its an okay road, or if I'd be reminded of the pothole road around Mt St Helens in Washington. Not that I'm against that - but it would be good to know. Thx

 

[Heen]

I would love to join you but the timing just missed. I am heading back from Helena on Sunday Sept 11th.

 

[Spud]

BTW here's the run around I made last week, weather was damn near perfect with the exception of some nasty wind from Sweetgrass border up to Calgary. I like to launch off from Calgary as it's a 680 mile blast up I-15 from home--long but totally doable and relatively stress free day. The FJR does not have excessive carbon deposits when I finish that leg of a ride

Day 1 was IF to Calgary, Day 2 Calgary to Valemount, Day 3 Valemount to Vancouver the long excellent way, day 4 Vancouver to Creston, day 5 back to IF. Stock seat too with bead rider ha ha....

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Idaho+Falls,+ID/Banff,+AB,+Canada/Jasper,+AB,+Canada/93+Mile,+BC,+Canada/Pemberton,+BC,+Canada/Vancouver,+BC,+Canada/Creston,+BC,+Canada/Salmon,+ID/Idaho+Falls,+ID/@48.822403,-120.0059441,6z/data=!4m56!4m55!1m5!1m1!1s0x5354594e739512b5:0x2311c9fc094c49c9!2m2!1d-112.0339645!2d43.4916514!1m5!1m1!1s0x5370ca45910c4afd:0xcaafaebedaac9463!2m2!1d-115.5707694!2d51.1783629!1m5!1m1!1s0x53832b0868553e29:0x1f2002bd0b192882!2m2!1d-118.0813581!2d52.8736786!1m5!1m1!1s0x53806d60b66d2d07:0xf6f78521ab4b3cb6!2m2!1d-121.333333!2d51.566667!1m5!1m1!1s0x548735a2463fa035:0x44f9607eb933d3b2!2m2!1d-122.8050498!2d50.322028!1m5!1m1!1s0x548673f143a94fb3:0xbb9196ea9b81f38b!2m2!1d-123.1207375!2d49.2827291!1m5!1m1!1s0x536362e1a612a08d:0x7507ab6f561787c6!2m2!1d-116.5135079!2d49.0955401!1m5!1m1!1s0x53582f0ac1c6b95f:0xf0e171459132c687!2m2!1d-113.8959008!2d45.1757547!1m5!1m1!1s0x5354594e739512b5:0x2311c9fc094c49c9!2m2!1d-112.0339645!2d43.4916514!3e0?hl=en

 

[escapefjrtist]

Definitely watch the weather...I ran into snow in Glacier in early September and damned near had to detour around. As others have mentioned, following the forecast a couple days in advance will give you a good picture of what's ahead.

Have a great trip!

--G

 

[zenwhipper]

I have been in MT in mid Sept and weather turned cold on the ride. Yellowstone was freezing - booked it out of there and headed to souther Idaho. Very nice down there at the time. Anyway, I like to use the NWS Climate Prediction Center to see what things look like in the couple weeks before a trip.

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

Anyway-looks cooler than usual.

And precip looks like a balance of slightly below and slightly above depending on where you're at.

Highway 37 in MT is a fine road (not potholes, bad pavement). Really pretty.

Cheers!

 

[zenwhipper]

Also, Bear Tooth Pass out of Red Lodge is HIGH at 10,900 ft. You may need a contingency plan if its cold or storming up there.

 

[mikeames]

We may cross pathes... Wednesday, Sept 7 I'm heading from Vancouver, WA over to Elgin, OR, down through Joseph and over Hells Canyon at Halfway then up to Kamiah, ID then Lolo pass to Montana and East Glacier, then back over the Road to the Sun and across the top of MT and ID to Post Falls and back and forth across the top of Washington almost to Canada twice, then crossing the Cascades on Hwy 20 to take a ferry to Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, out to Forks and then back home to Vancouver, Wa.

Seven days, taking my time and hitting every curve I can find alobg the way.

Big guy in red jacket on 2012 blue FJR...

 

[Niehart]

It was 32 and snowing in Butte, MT this morning.

JSNS

 

[bigjohnsd]

Beartooth was closed yesterday but is open again today.

 

[BRick626]

Mikeames said: "then up to Kamiah, ID then Lolo pass to Montana"

I've stayed at the biker lodge in Kamiah - nice place, and then rode Hwy 12 to Lolo pass and south of Missoula. Great road. I'll look for you out there. I'm on kind of a metallic brown '09, red jacket, yellow bag on the back, silver helmet, 195 lbs. I just put a few yellow/green dayglow reflector strips on the front and back. They don't look so good, but I like any added visability. Sunday night I'll stay somewhere between Omak and just over the BC border; then on the crow's nest hwy Monday and staying the night just after dipping into Montana. Tuesday over Glacier, weather permitting. Today the weather forecasts look pretty good for those days on the app I usually look at. Thanks all for the ideas.

 

[mikeames]

What's the "biker lodge in Kamiah"?

Spending the night in Kamiah but I haven't heard of that.

 

[BRick626]

Kamiah: Well maybe they don't consider it a biker lodge but that's all who was there. Motels, camping, a little of everything. Its called the Lewis-Clark Resort 208-935-2556. [email protected]

 

[BRick626]

Spud: I've done most of what you did on your trip, but it took me several trips to do it. The time I rode to Jasper, I started in Park City, then to Seattle, Whistler, then further NW to Prince George, then to Willams Lake then over to Bella Coola on the coast where we took the ferry to the north side of Vancouver Island and down. I'll likely go through IF next Wednesday or Thursday. Sometime we'll have to get together. I plan to ride to southern Utah and ride out of there over the winter. Let me know if you come down that way and want to ride to some national parks.

Rick