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2010 Trip - Glacier National Park, Montana


Earache
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You have to do long big mile days when you can to keep the mile average up. If you do a 750 on the way to see the good stuff you're averaging that with a long 200 mile day taking pictures in the scenic areas. GNP is beautiful, it takes an entire day to enjoy it.

Here is my trip report and pics including GNP on my way to Deadhorse from this year.

Click

I plan on hitting the Adirondacks hard for 2010 but if I have enough time left, I'd be interested.

Brian

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...Here is my trip report and pics including GNP on my way to Deadhorse from this year.

Click

I plan on hitting the Adirondacks hard for 2010 but if I have enough time left, I'd be interested.

Brian

Amazing! Thanks for sharing your site. The pictures were great.

A few years ago, my wife's uncle road from Florida to Alaska, but I don't think they went all the way to the Arctic.

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So when are you thinking about doing this Super E?

Dunno. I'm going to Colorado for July 4th again. I'll ride out and meet the wife (she'll fly) in Gateway for a couple of days. It's not really on the way to Montana, but could do a diversion and get it in there.

Or, I could do it later in the summer. Went there in May and June before and some of the mountain passes and roads were closed due to avalanche. Need to go after July so all of the snow can be outta the way. Also had to ride 2 days in hard rain, sleet and snow.....and I don't wanna do that again.

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Dunno. I'm going to Colorado for July 4th again. I'll ride out and meet the wife (she'll fly) in Gateway for a couple of days. It's not really on the way to Montana, but could do a diversion and get it in there.

Or, I could do it later in the summer. Went there in May and June before and some of the mountain passes and roads were closed due to avalanche. Need to go after July so all of the snow can be outta the way. Also had to ride 2 days in hard rain, sleet and snow.....and I don't wanna do that again.

Sweet. I'm trying to get Art to join us.

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Please keep this a summer date like early august :D

I'd vote for that as well. Best time of year to go as far as snow cover and temps go. We'll sweat our asses off across the plains, but it'll be nice once we get there.

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Oh my gosh, I LOVE Glacier Nat'l Park!! Back around '95, I lived in a small town called Kila in Montana and the next closest city was Kalispell. It's so freaking beautiful out there it will just make your heart swell and burst out of your chest.

This looks like a really fantastic trip.

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Oh my gosh, I LOVE Glacier Nat'l Park!! Back around '95, I lived in a small town called Kila in Montana and the next closest city was Kalispell. It's so freaking beautiful out there it will just make your heart swell and burst out of your chest.

This looks like a really fantastic trip.

The trip to Colorado was a blast. I'm sure this will be just as much if not more fun. Get Mike back on a bike and join us.

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The trip to Colorado was a blast. I'm sure this will be just as much if not more fun. Get Mike back on a bike and join us.

Not sure if that's going to happen with his current assortment of toys.

However, I would consider going if there was another girl to room with..... I feel like it would be rather expensive if I didn't have someone to split the room costs with me, though.

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Not sure if that's going to happen with his current assortment of toys.

However, I would consider going if there was another girl to room with..... I feel like it would be rather expensive if I didn't have someone to split the room costs with me, though.

Make Mike ride Bitch!!!

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2 questions.. haven't read the thread end to end so flame on if this has been covered..

1. how often are the gas stops.. I'm only good for about 200 slab miles before the light comes on.. and I can imagine once we get out into no mans land were speed limits are more like speed guidelines I'll be well under 200 miles on a tank. So we'd have to stop at least every 200 miles for gas unless I strap a gas can.

2. whats the cost for a trip like this run.. ballpark.. Do you roll in nice hotels, roach motels, or even camp a day here and there?? Just wondering if I have to harvest a kidney.. All of my trips to this point have been of the dollar stretch variety. saddle bags, tail case, 2up, 7 days, 2000+ miles for under $800.

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2 questions.. haven't read the thread end to end so flame on if this has been covered..

1. how often are the gas stops.. I'm only good for about 200 slab miles before the light comes on.. and I can imagine once we get out into no mans land were speed limits are more like speed guidelines I'll be well under 200 miles on a tank. So we'd have to stop at least every 200 miles for gas unless I strap a gas can.

2. whats the cost for a trip like this run.. ballpark.. Do you roll in nice hotels, roach motels, or even camp a day here and there?? Just wondering if I have to harvest a kidney.. All of my trips to this point have been of the dollar stretch variety. saddle bags, tail case, 2up, 7 days, 2000+ miles for under $800.

1) On the trip to Colorado, we stopped around every 120 miles. Sportbikes don't hold much gas.

2) The Colorado trip was 4700 miles, 9 days, roughly $800 - $1000 per person. A few baller status hotels, a few cheap motels.

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1) .... A few baller status hotels, a few cheap motels.....

And if there are any balller status hotels in Montana or Wyoming, I haven't found'em yet.

That being said, hotels are more expensive out there as there's a shitload fewer of them than in most parts of the US.

In Kalispell, we stay here: http://www.kalispellgrand.com/

Good parking lot, right in the middle of town so walking distance to stores, bars and restaurants. They have rooms with 3 beds for $130 and a two bedded room runs $100.00. This is probablky at the high end of hotel room prices on this trip. So you could plan on $50 per person per room per night and you'll be right in there.

There are Lodges in the Park, but I'd bet that they're sold out already or close to it. They're cool and all, but not much around after the sun goes down. Can be pricey as well.

Usually hit Holiday Inn Sexpress and Hamptons on the way out - they nice and don't cost much more than the shithole hotels.

Edited by Earache
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And if there are any balller status hotels in Montana or Wyoming, I haven't found'em yet.

That being said, hotels are more expensive out there as there's a shitload fewer of them than in most parts of the US.

In Kalispell, we stay here: http://www.kalispellgrand.com/

Good parking lot, right in the middle of town so walking distance to stores, bars and restaurants. They have rooms with 3 beds for $130 and a two bedded room runs $100.00. This is probablky at the high end of hotel room prices on this trip. So you could plan on $50 per person per room per night and you'll be right in there.

There are Lodges in the Park, but I'd bet that they're sold out already or close to it. They're cool and all, but not much around after the sun goes down. Can be pricey as well.

Usually hit Holiday Inn Sexpress and Hamptons on the way out - they nice and don't cost much more than the shithole hotels.

I was referring to Gateway, CO. That place was pretty freaking sweet. Breckenridge was badass too. I loved the bar in the hotel.

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I was referring to Gateway, CO. That place was pretty freaking sweet. Breckenridge was badass too. I loved the bar in the hotel.

Yeah I know. The ride to Montana goes up through Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming and into Montana - not any hotels like Gateway or Breckenridge anywhere near that <gg>.

One stop that is cool is Deadwood, SD. Great little place for gamblin' whorin' and drinkin' for a day off the bikes. Has that old west feel and is within day trip of the Black Hills. Might stay there for two days on the way out or back.

Need to work up an itinerary with drive distances, etc and post it here. I'll try to do that this week,

Edited by Earache
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IndytoKalispell-1.jpg

1,900 miles (from Indy, add 180 miles for C-bus) - most direct route. That's three 700 miles days in a row just to get there. And there's not shit to see between Indy and Deadwood, SD.

As you can see, the route goes nowhere near Colorado or Utah and will keep us in some of the least populated areas of the US. Finding gas can be an issue, so we'll need to really watch the fuel gauges / tripmeters.

If anyone wants to extend the trip a bit, we can dip into Colorado and Utah on the return trip. Riding in Idaho is some of the best riding in the country - dunno why you never hear of anyone riding there.

Edited by Earache
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Basic Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday

Indy to Des Moines, Iowa

Hotel: Courtyard – Clive, Iowa

472 miles

Day 2 - Saturday

Des Moines, Iowa to Deadwood, South Dakota

Hotel: Hickok Casino

671 miles

Day 3 - Sunday

Deadwood, South Dakota to Kalispell, Montana

Hotel: Kalispell Grand Hotel

688 miles

Day 4 - Monday

Kalispell, Montana

Hotel: Kalispell Grand Hotel

100 miles

Day 5 - Tuesday

Kalispell, Montana

Hotel: Kalispell Grand Hotel

100 miles

Day 6 - Wednesday

Kalispell. Montana to Idaho Falls, Idaho

Hotel: Hampton Inn

467 miles

Day 7 -Thursday

Idaho Falls – 100 miles

Hotel: Hampton Inn

Yellowstone, Hell’s Canyon, Grand Teton – all within a day

Day 8 - Friday

Idaho Falls, Idaho to Breckenridge, Colorado

Hotel:

612 miles

Day 9 - Saturday

Breckenridge, Colorado to Kansas City, MO

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (east side)

681 miles

Day 10 - Sunday

Kansas City, MO to Indy / Columbus

483 miles

Total Distance : 4,374 miles to Indy

4,734 miles to Columbus

Edited by Earache
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