Arkansas to Utah via the Trans America Trail

[ElvisThePelvis]

I don't know if this deserves it's own thread, but I left on Monday night, June 21st, on a two week trip to travel across the U.S. on the path below. I am hitting the Trans America Trail (TAT) in Arkansas, Colorado and Utah. I plan on riding through Beartooth highway in Wyoming and Montana. My trip will end at the Glacier National Park in Montana.

 

[ElvisThePelvis]

Tuesday June 22, Arkansas TAT to Elk City, OK

I will add videos once I get reliable Wi-Fi access, but I was able to do the TAT from Damascus, AR through Ft. Smith, AR. The high point was seeing a black bear on Pilot Mountain in Arkansas. After Ft. Smith, I pushed into Oklahoma via pavement and finally quit driving in ELk City, OK. More updates coming.

 

[HOJeepster]

Sweet, looks like a great adventure

 

[CoMtn4Runner]

Awesome! Looking forward to tuning in

 

[ritmatt]

This totally deserves its own post. Go for it! Looking forward to riding along from my armchair.

 

[ElvisThePelvis]

Wednesday, June 22, Elk City, OK to Colorado Springs via New Mexico

A long drive via pavement from Elk City, OK to Colorado Springs. Stopped at the Capulin Volcano on the way and walked along the rim of the Volcano. So much variation in the land from Oklahoma to Colorado that it was difficult to drive and not gawk.

 

[ElvisThePelvis]

Thursday, June 23, Colorado Springs Pikes Peak

A tourist day with the family in Colorado Springs. We drove up Pikes Peak to see a little snow and spend some time looking at the planet from above.

Tomorrow I am driving Mosquito Pass and then Saturday I head to Moab via the TAT.

My youngest trying not to freak out on the drive:

You can see forever up here:

 

[Volcom]

Tomorrow I am driving Mosquito Pass and then Saturday I head to Moab via the TAT.

Mosquito Pass is snowed in and probably won't be open until until July. Just a heads up

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

 

[ChChChChia]

This is great! Keep the posts coming
op2:

 

[Good Nite]

more pics please! Looks like you're having a blast.

 

[Woz1976-MT]

Glacier NP/Montana area

Just be sure to take your "youngest" on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (from the west side to the east side) so she can really freak out.

PM me if you want some info on things to see/do around Glacier NP -- I head up there often and used to work on the border on the east side of the park. I would say if you can, head up to Waterton, Alberta for a short visit... very nice place.

 

[Yelkceb]

Just be sure to take your "youngest" on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (from the west side to the east side) so she can really freak out.

PM me if you want some info on things to see/do around Glacier NP -- I head up there often and used to work on the border on the east side of the park. I would say if you can, head up to Waterton, Alberta for a short visit... very nice place.

Yup, definitely incredible. And if you are going to do it this time of year get there when the park opens in the morning so you aren't stuck behind RVs all day.

 

[ElvisThePelvis]

Mosquito Pass is snowed in and probably won't be open until until July. Just a heads up

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

I had Weston Pass as a backup and that is what I did today instead. I was hoping the info I read was wrong. The good news is that Weston was a blast.

 

[ElvisThePelvis]

Just be sure to take your "youngest" on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (from the west side to the east side) so she can really freak out.

PM me if you want some info on things to see/do around Glacier NP -- I head up there often and used to work on the border on the east side of the park. I would say if you can, head up to Waterton, Alberta for a short visit... very nice place.

That route, west to east, is the plan for Glacier. I'll add Waterton to the trip list since we were trying to decide what to do towards Canada.

 

[Quentin]

Bear tooth Pass and Glacier are beautiful.

Is GTTSR open yet? It opened in late July when I backpacked there in 2011.


Sent from Tandy 400

 

[Gone2vegas]

Awesome! Hope it's a fun and safe journey!

 

[Woz1976-MT]

That route, west to east, is the plan for Glacier. I'll add Waterton to the trip list since we were trying to decide what to do towards Canada.

When (if) you go to Waterton, go through the Chief Mountain border crossing inside GNP. Try to get to it during the day -- it's an awesome little stop. Then cross back through the Port of Piegan (it closes at 11pm local time every day, so don't miss it). I used to work out of Piegan when I was with the feds, and also got to work at Chief Mountain and Goat Haunt.

If you've never done Going-to-the-Sun Road before, you might want to fold in your driver's side exterior mirror.

And yes, the road opened last week. There will still be a lot of snow at higher elevations so photo opportunities will be a-plenty.

 

[wanderMT]

Don't know your route for Beartooth, but Crandall road to the west off 120, north of Cody, WY is beautiful drive.
Also, 83 north to Flathead Lake borders the Bob (Bob Marshall Wilderness) and is much nicer than busy 93.

 

[2nd Chance]

Subscribed.

Thank you for sharing.


Marty-MJ

 

[smallfry]

Have a safety trip.

Glacier National Park is a nice place. The visitor center up on top on 'Going to the Sun' road, the parking lot gets fill up quickly. If you plan to stop up top to check the area out get up there early.