Help with timing & route - CO & WY

[rhenriksen]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=15&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=201896023788376723242.0004d2193980d80e1c87e

Hi all, hope you don't mind a relative forum newbie coming in to pick your brains...

Three friends & I from Houston are planning a ~9 day loop through CO & WY. I'm hoping to get advice from locals to tell me if we're crazy for considering doing this in May... June might be hard to pull off, schedule wise; which would push us into July/August/September. I fear spending a week puttering along behind the tourist RVs, but frostbite's no fun, either.

Aside from timing, let me 'splain the reasoning behind the route:

We're going to be wimpy, girlie-men and have a friend tow the bikes up to Denver. We don't have the time or inclination to do 32 hours round-trip across the flatlands to cover the Houston-Denver-Houston segment. One of our guys has a massive, burning desire to hit Yellowstone; I have a good friend in Jackson WY who needs help drinking all his beer. Aside from those checklist items, one of our guys is planning on doing the Pikes Peak race in 2013, so wants to get a chance to ride it beforehand.

So... ears are wide open! TIA for any input.

RNH

[black hills]

depending onthe timing as long as you are that close I would take the time to ride beartooth hwy.

[rhenriksen]

depending onthe timing as long as you are that close I would take the time to ride beartooth hwy.

212 isn't beartooth hwy? I routed us north from Cody in a loop to come down into Jellystone from the north on the advice of a friend so that we'd go over beartooth pass.

[black hills]

Doh! ... nevermind I didn't zoom in far enough, thought you were taking chief Joseph and hanging a left to Cooke city. you're good..

[blakebird]

you should include Chief Joseph Hwy and go over Dead Indian Pass, even if it means doing an out 'n back to Red Lodge and going back up and over to get to Cook City.
Beartooth has great views going both ways.

[bikerfish1100]

unless time is really critical early on, I'd avoid I-25 out of Denver, and run out I-70 to Blackhawk/Central City. From there, do 119 to its end (Peak to Peak Scenic Byway), drop down 7 into Lyons, up 36 to Estes park, then over Trail Ridge Rd thru RMNP. Rocky is a pretty special place- road should be open by Memorial Day- unlike much of anywhere else in the country. From 34/Grand Lake, head up 125 (willow creek pass) to Walden. from there, I'd choose 230/130, and catch back up to your original route via 30. Unless of course you need to find yourself in Laramie for some reason, or if time is really limited, as this will add a half day or so to the route.

[1Arm]

you should include Chief Joseph Hwy and go over Dead Indian Pass, even if it means doing an out 'n back to Red Lodge and going back up and over to get to Cook City.
Beartooth has great views going both ways.

What he said.  And keep in mind that Memorial Day is the annual "hoped for" opening of Beartooth pass, odds are decent you may have to wait until June.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Beartooth has great views going both ways.

Agreed. Although as someone else said, there's a chance that the pass won't be open that early. Good luck!

[blakebird]

you realize that's Pilot Peak, not the Bear's Tooth?

http://goo.gl/maps/Us1L4



The Bear's Tooth is visible from the switchbacks near the summit

http://goo.gl/maps/MaAtH

[Mrs. DantesDame]

you realize that's Pilot Peak, not the Bear's Tooth?

I have no idea what it is called, merely that this is the sight that greeted me while coming down Beartooth Pass.

All three peaks look the same in your post, so now I'm confused about what you're saying.  

[blakebird]

I have no idea what it is called, merely that this is the sight that greeted me while coming down Beartooth Pass.

All three peaks look the same in your post, so now I'm confused about what you're saying.  

I frequently see that picture when people are talking about Beartooth, and they're under the impression that's the namesake peak. I did on my first time over.
In the event you might have thought that was the namesake peak - I was just clarifying... as that was what I thought the first time I rode over years ago.
If not, pardon my intrusion.

One is your picture of Pilot Peak, the second is a picture I took on one of my rides over - a favorite that's been a wallpaper.
The third pic, of the Bear's Tooth doesn't really look like Pilot (IMO).

When you look at the googlemap links, you can see which direction the pointer is looking - and pan over to see the peaks.

Pilot and Index Peaks are right off the road near the intersection of Dead Indian and Beartooth-Cooke City junction.
The Bear's Tooth is a ways off to the NW, well into Montana and not really easy to spot unless you know what you're stopping to look for

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Pilot and Index Peaks are right off the road near the intersection of Dead Indian and Beartooth-Cooke City junction.
The Bear's Tooth is a ways off to the NW, well into Montana and not really easy to spot unless you know what you're stopping to look for

Ah - very good information, thank you. I'm a little disappointed that it's not Beartooth, as it seems to be a fitting peak for that name. Perhaps I shall continue to mislead the people of the world  

[Eric308]

I frequently see that picture when people are talking about Beartooth, and they're under the impression that's the namesake peak. I did on my first time over.
In the event you might have thought that was the namesake peak - I was just clarifying... as that was what I thought the first time I rode over years ago.
If not, pardon my intrusion.

One is your picture of Pilot Peak, the second is a picture I took on one of my rides over - a favorite that's been a wallpaper.
The third pic, of the Bear's Tooth doesn't really look like Pilot (IMO).

When you look at the googlemap links, you can see which direction the pointer is looking - and pan over to see the peaks.

Pilot and Index Peaks are right off the road near the intersection of Dead Indian and Beartooth-Cooke City junction.

You mean right here? Nice shots, btw blakebird.

[black hills]

since you are going to cody anyway I would take chief joseph hwy to 212 (beartooth) hang a right go over beartooth to Redlodge and then turn around and go back. worth the trip both ways and the you aren't missing anything by not taking the route you currently have from cody to red lodge. if it works out a night in redlodge is always enjoyable..