Planning and Preparing: Go West Young Man!! (Justin and Tim's westward adventure)

[Bubba]

Could be damn hot!  The year we were out there, the temps heading west across Kansas on I-70 were between 107 and 109.  Of course, we wimped out and trailered out to Dillon before breaking out the bikes...

[2talltim]

2 hours ago, Qman said:

I'm sure you guys have considered the heat factor.   In all but the higher elevations, this trip is likely to be damn hot.  A month or 2 later would make the trip more enjoyable.  Just a friendly reminder!

 Yeah we know the plains and the desert areas are going to be hot but we had to balance our personal schedules and also didn't want to go too late because of snowfall in the passes.

[2talltim]

31 minutes ago, Bubba said:

Could be damn hot!  The year we were out there, the temps heading west across Kansas on I-70 were between 107 and 109.  Of course, we wimped out and trailered out to Dillon before breaking out the bikes...

 This is a topic with @JustinNck1

 

He's young and will learn on this trip I guess.

[Wahoo]

Each person on the trip should consider buying a National Parks annual pass for $80 before you go.  We usually buy one at Cuyahoga Valley NP.  They’re available other places and on-line.  There has been a lot of press coverage indicating admission fees for many of the parks you’re going to visit are increasing to $70 EACH next summer, so you’ll save a bundle by having the annual passes.  Also, it’s a lot more convenient at the park gates.  

Anyone 62 or older can get a lifetime pass for $80.  Otherwise, like me, you need to buy one each year for $80.  They are good for 12 months from whenever you buy it.  

 

Edited December 16, 2017 by Wahoo

[Wahoo]

We did SD and WY in 2016 and CO in 2017.  Your itinerary is fairly aggressive but you’re going to be on a lot of great roads in SD and CO.   We went to Crazy Horse’s place but it was a rip off in my opinion.   Save the bucks and get a photo from the road.

Deadwood has a ton of small casinos and the historic district is a fun place to walk around.  They do re-enactments of gunslingers shooting it out in the street several times a day, and there’s always “interesting” people walking around.  The super 8 is a little further south from the historic district, but I think they have trolleys that your can ride into town for a small fee.  In deadwood, go to the top of Mt. Moriah and see the graves of Wild Bill and Calamity Jane.

Pikes Peak will be cold at the summit. It was 36 / wind chill 26 at the top near the end of July last year.  Mt Evans will be about the same.  

We did 4 corners just to say we did it, but it’s pretty lame too.   Mesa Verde NP near Cortez has the cliff dwellings, which are about 20 miles in from the park enterance.  The park poiice run radar on the road leading to the cliff dwellings so don’t go blasting thru the NP. 

Million Dollar highway was great... Just avoid the sheer cliffs with no guardrails.  Black Canyon of the Gunnison is worth seeing also.  

Sorry for the long babbling post.   Mrs Wahoo and I may go back to CO either in 2018 or 2019.  We loved it there.

[2talltim]

1 hour ago, Wahoo said:

Each person on the trip should consider buying a National Parks annual pass for $80 before you go.  We usually buy one at Cuyahoga Valley NP.  They’re available other places and on-line.  There has been a lot of press coverage indicating admission fees for many of the parks you’re going to visit are increasing to $70 EACH next summer, so you’ll save a bundle by having the annual passes.  Also, it’s a lot more convenient at the park gates.  

Anyone 62 or older can get a lifetime pass for $80.  Otherwise, like me, you need to buy one each year for $80.  They are good for 12 months from whenever you buy it.  

 

Yup that was the plan, since they are good for a year probably buy them real close to the time we leave so they might still be good into the following year. Heard the stories of the increase too. One would also thin the price of the annual pass will also increase. We will have to monitor this. 

Edited December 16, 2017 by 2talltim

[2talltim]

44 minutes ago, Wahoo said:

We did SD and WY in 2016 and CO in 2017.  Your itinerary is fairly aggressive but you’re going to be on a lot of great roads in SD and CO.   We went to Crazy Horse’s place but it was a rip off in my opinion.   Save the bucks and get a photo from the road.

Deadwood has a ton of small casinos and the historic district is a fun place to walk around.  They do re-enactments of gunslingers shooting it out in the street several times a day, and there’s always “interesting” people walking around.  The super 8 is a little further south from the historic district, but I think they have trolleys that your can ride into town for a small fee.  In deadwood, go to the top of Mt. Moriah and see the graves of Wild Bill and Calamity Jane.

Pikes Peak will be cold at the summit. It was 36 / wind chill 26 at the top near the end of July last year.  Mt Evans will be about the same.  

We did 4 corners just to say we did it, but it’s pretty lame too.   Mesa Verde NP near Cortez has the cliff dwellings, which are about 20 miles in from the park enterance.  The park poiice run radar on the road leading to the cliff dwellings so don’t go blasting thru the NP. 

Million Dollar highway was great... Just avoid the sheer cliffs with no guardrails.  Black Canyon of the Gunnison is worth seeing also.  

Sorry for the long babbling post.   Mrs Wahoo and I may go back to CO either in 2018 or 2019.  We loved it there.

I agree with the remarks on Crazy Horse cool to drive by and take pics from the road that about it, but as or right now its not on my route. 

Ive rode though Deadwood before but never stopped this trip we are staying a mile up the road and plan on being at the hotel early and walk down into down town for the evening and dinner. Good info on Mount Moriah, Ive never heard of that ill look into it. 

Last time I was on Pikes peak(in the truck), they had Thunderstorm, tornado warning and a snow squal all roll through in 2 hours time, the closed the summit before we hit the half way gate and we ended up turning around and head back down since they said it probably would not open. Before we got back to the bottom gate the summit had reopened, It was Crazy. 

no babbling here, love hearing others stories. Gets me thought the winter..LOL 

[Wahoo]

I would suggest riding up The Hill to the cemetery.   Walking up (like I did) was not a smart choice on a hot afternoon.  LOL

[Earache]

3 hours ago, 2talltim said:

...One would also thin the price of the annual pass will also increase. We will have to monitor this. 

One annual pass will work for two bikes. There are two signature / name blanks on each pass, so it'll only cost ya $40 each.

The annual pass isn't supposed to go up in price - but you could buy one now just to be sure. They will also give you a sticker for bikes so you don't have to fumble aroudn with your pass in your wallet, but you have to ask for the sticker.

[Wahoo]

I think the decals are only good for non-staffed park areas.  For the parks with enterance gates, you still need to show the pass itself. We have the decal but needed to show the card at RMNP, Black Canyon and at Mesa Verde last summer.    Maybe each park (or the rangers at the gates) handles it differently.  ???

[Earache]

2 hours ago, Wahoo said:

I think the decals are only good for non-staffed park areas.  For the parks with enterance gates, you still need to show the pass itself. We have the decal but needed to show the card at RMNP, Black Canyon and at Mesa Verde last summer.    Maybe each park (or the rangers at the gates) handles it differently.  ???

Maybe - my decal works at RMNP, Moab and Canyonland, Mt Evans. Kinda weird.

[2talltim]

18 hours ago, Earache said:

One annual pass will work for two bikes. There are two signature / name blanks on each pass, so it'll only cost ya $40 each.

The annual pass isn't supposed to go up in price - but you could buy one now just to be sure. They will also give you a sticker for bikes so you don't have to fumble aroudn with your pass in your wallet, but you have to ask for the sticker.

I have have heard both, that the pass will work for two bikes and I have also head it will not that it is per vehicle. So really not sure which way to go. Like stated probably differs from each park and different park gate agents.

[jacobhawkins]

When my uncle and I rode to Maine earlier this year, his pass was good for both of us when we needed to show credentials at parks.  No issues.

[Earache]

2 hours ago, 2talltim said:

I have have heard both, that the pass will work for two bikes and I have also head it will not that it is per vehicle. So really not sure which way to go. Like stated probably differs from each park and different park gate agents.

There are two spaces for names and signatures on the back o fthe card. Each one of you can sign it and produce two ID's that match the names and signatures and you're in. This has worked at every National Park that I've been to without exception.

[Bubba]

5 hours ago, 2talltim said:

I have have heard both, that the pass will work for two bikes and I have also head it will not that it is per vehicle. So really not sure which way to go. Like stated probably differs from each park and different park gate agents.

From the back of my Lifetime Senior Pass:  "Present in person. Valid...for:  pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle or motorcycle OR pass holder and three persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged."

No clue if the standard annual pass has the same language.

[Earache]

1 hour ago, Bubba said:

From the back of my Lifetime Senior Pass:  "Present in person. Valid...for:  pass holder and occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle or motorcycle OR pass holder and three persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged."

No clue if the standard annual pass has the same language.

Here's the back side fo the current pass showing the places for two pass holder signatures (I deleted the sigs on mine)

[JustinNck1]

58 minutes ago, Earache said:

Here's the back side fo the current pass showing the places for two pass holder signatures (I deleted the sigs on mine)

So "pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle" leads me to believe 2 motorcycles is more than a single vehicle 

[2talltim]

5 minutes ago, JustinNck1 said:

So "pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle" leads me to believe 2 motorcycles is more than a single vehicle 

But what he is saying is if both our names are on the same pass we should be good. 

[Bubba]

Yup.  That's how it reads.  My Senior Pass only has one signature line and is specific to the holder.

Edited December 18, 2017 by Bubba

[Earache]

1 hour ago, 2talltim said:

But what he is saying is if both our names are on the same pass we should be good. 

Yes . Both bikes pull up, hand over the pass and two ID;'s and you're both in. As are the passengers - if any -on your bikes.

I've used it this way for 9 years with no issues at all. Canyonlands Park Ranger told me to do it this way. Mt. Evans Ranger let 5 bikes in on my pass once (late in the day).

Edited December 18, 2017 by Earache

[JustinNck1]

1 hour ago, 2talltim said:

But what he is saying is if both our names are on the same pass we should be good. 

Yes, this is correct. Confirmed by the National Park Service Website, quote below.

What about motorcycle drivers who purchase an Annual Pass?

An Annual Pass permits entrance for two motorcycles IF the two people who sign the pass arrive at the same time on two motorcycles, regardless of the number of people on each motorcycle.

[Howabusa]

On 12/16/2017 at 1:10 PM, 2talltim said:

Yup that was the plan, since they are good for a year probably buy them real close to the time we leave so they might still be good into the following year. Heard the stories of the increase too. One would also thin the price of the annual pass will also increase. We will have to monitor this. 

When we went out west, we bought a pass at the first park that we went to.

[Casper]

I need to do another trip out west. @Earache, up for something fun? 

[Earache]

16 hours ago, Casper said:

I need to do another trip out west. @Earache, up for something fun? 

Yup - pick a date and destination and let's go. I need to score a new bike this Spring and will be ready to ride a bit after that. Anyone else wanna go?

[RidersDiscount]

TJ has spent a ton of time in Wyoming and Montana, these were his recommendations: 

On day 4 through day 6 I would make it a 4 day trip instead of a 3. Way too much good riding in that area!   US14 out of Dayton Wy to Shell is one of my favorite trips, the scenery and roads are much more fun than 14A.  Make sure you hit Chief Joseph (296) on the way to or from Beartooth Hwy.

Hwy 14

 

Chief Joseph 

 

 

 

If you were camping I would say to hit Beartooth Lake campground outside of Cooke City.  

Edited December 18, 2017 by RidersDiscount