Again, I feel you're missing the point - the reason Sam changed/continues to change his route is to keep things fresh, and to reflect the changing demographic of his client base (mainly older riders, on larger bikes) - by adding in more points of interest en route than simply trying to string as many 'hard-core' trails together across the country...

All of his original trails are still there on the ground if you want to incorporate them (including Hancock and Tomichi passes in Colorado - although they have been trashed by SxSs these days unfortunately - plus Tomichi suffers from land-slides each year, and since it is not a county-maintained road, it's touch-and-go whether you could get through with a vehicle at all until the local 4x4 club have been up there) which is another reason why Sam felt it no longer appropriate to send his clients along that particular set of trails.

Ultimately though, if you want something different, and are appropriately experienced and on the right bike, crack-on and incorporate as many of Kevin's red options into your own route - that is what I've been suggesting all along - get both sets of suggestions, study them, and put together your own ultimate 'trail' which suits you and your machine.


fwiw. There are any number of TAT ride reports from people who seriously underestimated their ability and stamina to ride consecutive days on rough terrain for weeks on end, never mind their actual talent when it comes to more challenging off-road terrain... and typically have either had enough by Moab, or broken themselves and their bikes somewhere along the route already.

Regarding a few of your comments above - Black Dragon - yep, great trail, and in my opinion Sam really should have kept that in instead of that silly 100 mile loop south to see a VW with a fence around it...

Temperature in Northern Nevada - you were there in September, I was there in the middle of July and it was over 100°F between Baker and Battle Mountain - and regardless, because of the mining operations south of Battle Mountain (and some other private areas) Sam elected to change his route to go past Bonnieville and Promontory Summit, which for visitors to the USA (and even US riders unfamiliar with this part of the USA) is likely to be more interesting than endless soft trails across the desert - there is still plenty of desert east of Baker to give you a taste without things getting tedious.

As for your [second-hand] comment regarding Idaho - I can only presume those riders went along the southern Idaho [boarder] route Sam has now included as part of his route west, while what is now his loop back east from Boise/Idaho City was actually the original east-west route to the coast - which he subsequently reversed for those riding from west to east along his new northern route.

In addition, it is worth noting that from 2018 (and until 2021 as I recall) the trail which runs along the South Fork Boise River from Ketchum to Featherville which Sam utilised, was closed due to a huge landslide and subsequent repair/re-route and only re-opened a couple of years ago - hence previously having to come up with an alternative route west further south... these days there is nothing stopping you riding it in the original east-west direction if you're heading for the Oregon coast though.

Similarly, he still offers a 'Pacific spur' if you do want to go all the way to port Orford and cross the country, but now there is also the 'loop' option for those riders who have the time to return back across the country following a different [northern] route - and why that Arco / Ketchum / Featherville / Trinity / Idaho City section is now shown as the return [east] rather than the outbound [west] route.

Regardless of who's route you initially base your own trip on, once you have the GPS tracks (and look at a map where these routes pass though), there is nothing stopping you riding a certain portion in a different direction, adding in your own option, or missing some parts out all together if personal circumstances dictate...

At the end of the day, there are [primarily] two guys who have mapped out and published their suggested through-route across the country, and you can choose either or both and will have a great time regardless... You aren't going to see everything (or even everything they individually recommend due to the almost inevitable weather, road-closures and other unforeseen diversions) - so as I've endeavoured to suggest all along: gather as much route information as you can - including some of the BDR and other maps/atlases too - and piece together a route which suits your own circumstances.

Jx