Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Continental Divide Trail or US West Coast

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Continental Divide Trail or US West Coast

Hello all,

I am in need of some help making a decision...
As part of my Inuvik to TDF trip, I will need to pass through the USA. I am leaving July 09 from Calgary Alberta north to Inuvik and South to TDF.

My question is the continental Divide or the US West Coast?

I am from Vancouver Island and will be visiting there on the way back down from Inuvik, but am torn between the US westcoast and the CDT.

Any tips? Suggestions?

I have thought of doing both as time is of no issue but backtracking is no fun.

So you are already on the road? Stop by Zeitgeist in San Francisco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcmatthe (Post 199445)

I am hoping to do the divide trail from Victoria early October. That is if I get everything in order in time before the snow. If not I suppose I will be taking the west route and will be going all the way down to BA to see the dakar but first gotta see the Baja 1000. Let me know if that might fit with your timeline. Let me know if you are lookin for a riding partner.

P.S. If you are looking for any ride reports on the divide trail see my post in the travelers seeking travelers section. There is a post with links and photos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipe (Post 199510)

Hi Pipe,

I am leaving in July 2009, so It looks like i will be missing the rally by a few months. But hey maybe well meet up on the road somewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollydog (Post 199454)

You are leaving July 9th? So you are already on the road?:confused1:
As a West Coast guy, I am biased. I know my area pretty well and to me it offers a lot of nice areas, options and bail outs if things get too hot inland.

In Summer the inland areas along the Continental Divide Trail may be a bit warm. At altitude you'd be OK but a lot of it would be very hot. I've only skirted parts of this route, so don't know the whole Trail. I'm not even sure it actually goes through without doing a lot of highway runarounds.

The West Coast
The Coasts of Washington and Oregon are quite developed and it's a bit slow going through there but still stunningly beautiful. A town every 5 miles. In N. California you have a 400 mile stretch that is fairly remote with some of our best roads. The Trinity Alps in California (up near Oregon border), The famous Lost Coast and all the Redwoods, The Sierra. The combination of the Pacific, the Redwoods and the coastal mountains make the West Coast the best choice, IMO. :thumbup1: Campgrounds galore and wild camping is possible too.

Stop by Zeitgeist in San Francisco for a Beer if you can, and check out the City with more folks on bikes (push and motor) than any City in the US. Once South of the City you've got even more fantastic roads. Big Sur and miles of national forest roads all the way to L.A.

If you decide on the West Coast and would like a couple good routes from the Oregon border southward, post back here or PM me and I'll detail a great ride on roads you'll not see anywhere else.

!que le via bien!

Patrick:mchappy:

Hi Patrick, thanks for the info, I am a west cost guy myself (currently landlocked though) and would like to do the coast because I love the ocean. But torn on how much fun a trip down the "spine" would be.

You mentioned some great routes? I am very interested!

Mitch.

Mitchel....if you're planning to reach TDF, AND come back....you have the option of down one way, back the other.

As Patrick indicates if you want to see lots of other bikes and people, and great coastal scenes, use the WC route.

If you want space, few bikes, few people, and great mountain scenes, the CDT or Great Divide Route is the way to go.

The great thing about the GDR is that few people have seen it - Patrick's right that the route can use highway work arounds, depending on weather, road constructions, wash outs and the like. You can do 90-95 % of it on Forestry Road and Dirt surfaces if you want and are able. When wet, parts of the route are virtually impassable. You can also adjust as you see fit in response to your daily desires/situation. There's a huge range of options.

The reports from most people who've ridden the route seem to suggest it as one of the best in NA - it isn't always technically demanding; it isn't super exotic (in the 'across Russia on a moped' sense) but it is one of the 2 or 3 routes in NA that gives you lots of options, some degree of adventure, links you up with incredible history, and gives you both great journey and destination.

You may have seen this report but if you haven't it'll give you a few pics - and you can link to others' reports at the bottom of that page.

GDR Ride

I used Michael McCoy's book on the route but also bought lots of Forest Service Maps enroute to add detail and variations.

Best of luck in your decision making!!!

Stephen
Red Deer