Trans-America Trail (advises needed)
 

Been travelling Mexico for the last 2 months, i'll be heading soon to the FL west coast to do some maintenance and riding around on the Dakar,

Then from Florida, I want to hit the TAT at its start in Tenessee at the end of March, 1st week of April to slowly make my way back home to Western Canada.
My question is; is end of March, beginning of April a realistic period of the year to travel the TAT all the way to Oregon? I know Colorado might be a little tricky, but even if I have to go around for that stretch of the trail.. that would be ok.
Any advises would be greatly appreciated

Thank You

Hi Vagabond -

I rode the eastern end of the TAT from about mid-March until early April in 2009... and bits of it were wet, and the weather was freezing in Tennessee...

Things picked up once I got into Arkansas, and were pleasant all the way through OK and NM to Trinidad in Colorado, but as you surmise - that early in the year you won't get to ride any of the high passes in Colorado due to snow, and personally I'd say those are the best parts...

For info, I'd already ridden the CO to OR sections the previous fall, which, I have to say, is the best part from a technical and dramatic scenery point of view...

Yes it is possible to skirt around the Colorado sections (I'd stay south and take 160 all the way to Durango, oh and take a ride on the steam railway when you get there x) - then pick up the TAT again east of Moab UT, where you ought to be able to navigate most of UT and NV sections, and up into Oregon.

If you are prepared to bypass the higher elevations then go for it, but you are missing out some of the best riding in Colorado...

Jx

Hi Jenny - do you have any good photos from the TAT I could use in a book I'm writing on the best routes in the world?