Pre-NAFO riding thru Glacier NP and Idaho...oops I mean Colorado

[wheatonFJR]

Mark, sounds like you have things all figured out. Sorry for the post and run, this has been hell week at work. When Chooser and I came west a couple years ago the temps across ND and MT were well into the 100's. IIRC 103 in Havre MT.
And...for your trip west next year, remember my door is always open.

Be safe, have a great ride and talk to you soon.

--G

Thanks for the post George. :clapping: I will definitely be looking you up on my "big trip" next year. Thanks and will see you at NAFO...unless you pass me in Idaho first.

 

[Caba]

Wheaton,

I'll be heading to NAFO from Lewiston Idaho!!

We should hook up the schedules. A couple of things in that area that you shouldn't miss - 1) the old lewiston grade - also known to the locals as "spiral highway". I don't know if the old WFO hit this when they were in Moscow. If not, they missed a great section of twisties.

2) the "old whitebird hill" - this is a strech of switchbacks that is much more fun than the new road. This is south of grangeville about 2 hours south of Lewiston. Unfortunately, you kind of have to know they are there to find the old roads. The road from grangeville Idaho for the next 50 miles is high speed, sweeping curves following the river. Great road that eats up miles as well.

If we can hook up, it would be great to go that way. I grew up in Boise but went to school in north Idaho. I'll see if I can put a few more of the back roads together if your're not worn out by then!

Caba

 

[exskibum]

Wheaton,
I'll be heading to NAFO from Lewiston Idaho!!

We should hook up the schedules. A couple of things in that area that you shouldn't miss - 1) the old lewiston grade - also known to the locals as "spiral highway". I don't know if the old WFO hit this when they were in Moscow. If not, they missed a great section of twisties.

2) the "old whitebird hill" - this is a strech of switchbacks that is much more fun than the new road. This is south of grangeville about 2 hours south of Lewiston. Unfortunately, you kind of have to know they are there to find the old roads. The road from grangeville Idaho for the next 50 miles is high speed, sweeping curves following the river. Great road that eats up miles as well.

If we can hook up, it would be great to go that way. I grew up in Boise but went to school in north Idaho. I'll see if I can put a few more of the back roads together if your're not worn out by then!

Caba

Caba -- I'm planning to head through Lewiston (2-up) on the way to spending the night in Sandpoint (probably Saturday night). Planning to go east through Glacier (Sunday night in Helena or Boulder), south through Yellowstone and Teton NP (Monday night in Jackson Hole), then south to Flaming Gorge and east on 40 to Steamboat Springs (Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Steamboat) before Thursday's trek through Walden, Rocky Mtn NP and down Peak to Peak to Golden on Thursday.

Route and timing not yet finalized, but getting there on it -- biggest remaining issue is timing the days' (looks like 2) segments between Reno and Sandpoint (2 up = no LD records). I have Old Spiral Highway in the itinerary already, and thank you for the Old Whitebird Hill tip!! (But would appreciate a little more info about where it takes off and where it rejoins 95 -- not seeing it on Satellite view of Google maps, but will look harder later after work.) Looking for more of the same all along the route, as well as lodging recommendations as I get the route more firmly planned -- you and others have already added to my planning based upon local knowledge on the route, eating stops and lodging. Ohhh -- and planning east shore of Lake Couer d'Alene, too.

If any of this fits your schedule, maybe we can hook up for some of it.

Rich

 

[MCRIDER007]

I have Old Spiral Highway in the itinerary already, and thank you for the Old Whitebird Hill tip!! (But would appreciate a little more info about where it takes off and where it rejoins 95 -- not seeing it on Satellite view of Google maps, but will look harder later after work.)

If you are going north on 95 (and that is the direction you want to go on the Whitebird grade) , the town of Whitebird is between Riggins and Grangeville. You exit off 95 to go into Whitebird, go through the 2 blocks of downtown Whitebird, and follow the road north. You can't miss it since it is the only paved road out of town. I rode it last September and it was in very good condition considering it is now a secondary road in a remote area. You will exit back on 95 a couple of miles south of Grangeville.

 

[exskibum]

I have Old Spiral Highway in the itinerary already, and thank you for the Old Whitebird Hill tip!! (But would appreciate a little more info about where it takes off and where it rejoins 95 -- not seeing it on Satellite view of Google maps, but will look harder later after work.)

If you are going north on 95 (and that is the direction you want to go on the Whitebird grade) , the town of Whitebird is between Riggins and Grangeville. You exit off 95 to go into Whitebird, go through the 2 blocks of downtown Whitebird, and follow the road north. You can't miss it since it is the only paved road out of town. I rode it last September and it was in very good condition considering it is now a secondary road in a remote area. You will exit back on 95 a couple of miles south of Grangeville.

Gracias! I see it now -- nice switchbacks! Looks like there's a short stretch where I have to get back on 95 north for less than a mile before getting back off to continue northward on Old Hwy 95. Also looks like I can bypass Grangeville by continuing north on Johnston Road to hit 95 again north and west of Grangeville. NICE!!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Wheaton,
I'll be heading to NAFO from Lewiston Idaho!!

We should hook up the schedules. A couple of things in that area that you shouldn't miss - 1) the old lewiston grade - also known to the locals as "spiral highway". I don't know if the old WFO hit this when they were in Moscow. If not, they missed a great section of twisties.

2) the "old whitebird hill" - this is a strech of switchbacks that is much more fun than the new road. This is south of grangeville about 2 hours south of Lewiston. Unfortunately, you kind of have to know they are there to find the old roads. The road from grangeville Idaho for the next 50 miles is high speed, sweeping curves following the river. Great road that eats up miles as well.

If we can hook up, it would be great to go that way. I grew up in Boise but went to school in north Idaho. I'll see if I can put a few more of the back roads together if your're not worn out by then!

Caba

Caba,

If you're interested in riding together...send me a pm. I am up for travelling with other FJR riders.

I am looking at revising my route and possibly hitting the the black hills and bighorn mountains, then heading up to GNP from there. If I do this, it would probably mean lopping off the riding in UT and western CO before NAFO.

Therefore, it is really just a matter of timing if you're interested ...

 

[AethonFJR]

Wheaton,

Oh, c'mon. 161 miles is the best you got for day 7. Is this a day of rest from all the hard work you will've done the first 6 days. A time to reflect back on the first six and say, "All is very good".

But seriously, what a trip. Depending on how many hard miles you put on at NAFO then your trip home - this could be a two-time tire change trip (TTTT). I would love to join you for this being that you are just a short 230+/- miles away from me here in Indiana, but my schedule won't even come close to allowing this, though. It's tough enough trying to get a week for NAFO.

I wish I could offer you some advice to the choice roads but I have not been out that way either. Enjoy your trip and take plenty of pictures. Let's have a look at them with a ride report when you get back. Ride on brother.

Are you kidding me..... Yellow Stone in July.... 161 mile may be a LOOOOOONG Day.....

Ken

 

[wheatonFJR]

After various considerations...increased gas costs, saving vacation to do SE Ohio again in the fall as well as an AR/MO ride, I have decided to scale back my trip to one week with the bookend weekends.

My revised itinerary will center on passes and rides in Colorado.

If I am guilty of dreaming big...then scaling back...so be it. :huh:

I think I will have a marvelous time on this 10-day trip in any case...and will see you all at NAFO. :yahoo:

 

[escapefjrtist]

No fault in dreaming big, Mark. :clapping: I'm quite sure that you will find many great roads in Colorado as you meander through the state. As it stands now, I'll be doing the bookends as well and coming in from the south...See you in Golden.

--G

 

[SacramentoMike]

Still doing Glacier, or is that some of the revised part? I've been reading this thread with interest, seeing all the other FJR'ers who'll be in the park shortly before NAFO. I still don't know my exact dates or routes, but my plan is to spend some time heading toward Glacier and some more time in it by bike before my family joins me there in mid-July for a week or so in Glacier as a family, then they fly home as I ride on toward Golden. If you (or any of you GNP-bound members) see a guy in a rented car waving frantically at you, pull over and let's talk. And if I'm riding, same deal.

 

[Geezer]

Wheattie. I'll be in Michigan the week of July 12 through 19 and will head to NAFO from there on July 19 or 20. I hope to get there in time to ride up Pike's Peak the day before checking in at NAFO, but it's no big deal if Pike's has to wait until after NAFO. I don't have a route planned and I'll have my tent so I can camp whenever possible, but mostly I'll just play it by ear. Maybe we can hook up somewhere.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Geezer,

I will post up my revised route in the next week or so...so maybe take a look at it and see if it fits your itineray.

 

[Big-D]

Looking over the maps that you provided, I would be hard pressed to come up with anything better than the route you have planned. The roads you have chosen are all totally beautiful and will offer the impression they were designed and built for the motorcyclist in mind.

The only piece of advice I would offer is to take advantage of the greatest camping you could ever experience. The only place you may run into a grizzly bear would be in the back country of Glacier NP. Although it does happen, grizzly encounters are extremely rare. You would have a better chance at winning the Powerball buying only one ticket than being mauled by a grizzly. Staying at hotels/ motels only bring you closer to staying at home. If done properly, a camping experience can offer much better comforts than staying in a hotel. Granted, camping in a downpour can be a real pain in the ***, but most areas surrounding the Rocky Mountains tend to have late afternoon/ early evening rain showers that last only an hour then clear up to a beautiful day. Most of the time, the rains come almost the exact same time each day. At least during the time of year you’ll be doing your traveling in that area. The majority of the privately owned campgrounds you encounter will offer well maintained camping areas, clean bathrooms and showers, good stores and possibly places to eat in or nearby. The real pleasure will come in the many cool people you might run into during your camping.

You have clearly indicated by your maps that you want to experience the thrill of the road the Great Divide has to offer and avoid the hassles of the freeways. Until you arrive in Denver, it appears Boise will be the largest city you ride through. You will be covering some wonderful ground and passing through some beautiful small towns and cities.

Have Fun and Ride Safe!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the notes and piccies there Big D.