4 Corners or Bust Ride Plan

[bogthebasher]

Well only two more sleeps until I leave on a ride that has been in the works for me for a few years - maybe not as legendary as many great ones I have read about here but still a big deal for me and guys who are coming along. Nice mix of bikes; two RT's, one ST, one new Harley (sold his Honda of many years) and one FJR. I haven't made a map to post yet (plan to do that along with pics on my return). I am used to taking lots of pictures but given the distance and the pace of the riders that I am with that might be a challenge!

For now I will list some of the waypoints of the circle we will make starting on June 20 in Calgary, Nanton, Lethbridge, Magrath AB and crossing the border at Del Bonita AB, on to Cutbank, Great Falls, Laurel, and Red Lodge MT, over to Cody, Thermopolis, Riverton, Landor, Rawlins, Laramie and Cheyenne WY. On to CO! Fort Collins, Walden, Steamboat Springs, Confer, Fairplay, Leadville, Carbondale, Hotchkiss, Sapineno, South Fork, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Montrose, Telluride and Cortez. 4 CORNERS! Montezuma Creek, Hanksville, Escalante, Panguitch, Parowan UT. Up to Pocatello, Challis ID, over to Missoula, Spring Gulch, Knowles, Troy and Eureka MT. Crossing back into Canada at Rooseville BC, up to Elko BC through Crowsnest to Bellvue, Longview and home into Calagary.

We think it will be 7 or 8K Kms depending on just what attracts our attention - oh and we will be back on July 4th.

Anyhow just had to write in cuz the hours left at work seemed to stretch into infinity during the long winter wait - but now the time is almost upon us!
:D

[TexanRT]

Great :thumb-- looking forward to the report since I'm thinking about a similar run myself. Have a safe ride.

[Voni]

Safe travels and FUN!!!!!!!!!

Voni
sMiling

[tourunigo]

Well only two more sleeps until I leave on a ride that has been in the works for me for a few years - maybe not as legendary as many great ones I have read about here but still a big deal for me and guys who are coming along. Nice mix of bikes; two RT's, one ST, one new Harley (sold his Honda of many years) and one FJR. I haven't made a map to post yet (plan to do that along with pics on my return). I am used to taking lots of pictures but given the distance and the pace of the riders that I am with that might be a challenge!

For now I will list some of the waypoints of the circle we will make starting on June 20 in Calgary, Nanton, Lethbridge, Magrath AB and crossing the border at Del Bonita AB, on to Cutbank, Great Falls, Laurel, and Red Lodge MT, over to Cody, Thermopolis, Riverton, Landor, Rawlins, Laramie and Cheyenne WY. On to CO! Fort Collins, Walden, Steamboat Springs, Confer, Fairplay, Leadville, Carbondale, Hotchkiss, Sapineno, South Fork, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Montrose, Telluride and Cortez. 4 CORNERS! Montezuma Creek, Hanksville, Escalante, Panguitch, Parowan UT. Up to Pocatello, Challis ID, over to Missoula, Spring Gulch, Knowles, Troy and Eureka MT. Crossing back into Canada at Rooseville BC, up to Elko BC through Crowsnest to Bellvue, Longview and home into Calagary.

We think it will be 7 or 8K Kms depending on just what attracts our attention - oh and we will be back on July 4th.

Anyhow just had to write in cuz the hours left at work seemed to stretch into infinity during the long winter wait - but now the time is almost upon us!
:D

if you get a chance check out the Battle of Little Big Horn reenactment just outside Crow Agency, Montana. This is one of many sites referring to the alternate one in Hardin at the same time.
http://www.americancowboy.com/events/detail.php?record_number=355

Have a great trip. Looks like loads of fun and adventure. - Bob

[criminaldesign]

have a blast and be safe. Was in Hardin MT 2 weeks ago. Didn't get to see reenactment but little big horn is a must see.

[bogthebasher]

Great suggestions on the way - we'll try to fit them in.

[Mika]

Have a GREAT ride!

:lurk

[osbornk]

I'm so jealous.

[mundobravo]

ride on ... sounds great !!!

[bogthebasher]

Rained off and on most of the day but did grab a few shots from the roadside. 924 Km for the day.

[bogthebasher]

http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa205/bogthebasher/?action=view&current=IMG_2484.jpg

[bogthebasher]

Well we started the day in the rain leaving Billings MT and headed south and west towards Red Lodge. The sky dried out along with the pavement. Things were looking up! Sunny all the way up Beartooth to the midway stop point and then as we got past the treeline the teeth began to show. Totally socked in fog/mist/sleet - very hard to keep a line and keep the face sheild/glasses clear. Snowbanks on the sides of the road reached far higher than our heads and encroach on to the road with a couple of miles of slush. Once over onto the Wyoming side the sun dissapeared until we got to Cody. By then a pitcher of black coffee and a slab of Cherry pie was required in order to move forward. The day got warmer and actually quite nice heading south down to our final destination for the day of Rawlins. Unfortunately the sky in the direction we were heading was absolutely black broken only by sporadic fingers of lightning licking the ground. We hammered straight into it and were doing well until a sqall from the west blew two of us into the wrong lane at the same time as we were pelted with grape sized hail. We wobbled back to our lane and road on to the gravel edge and stopped because we couldn't see twenty feet in front of us and waited it out (if you have ever been there you would know there is no object bigger than a blade of grass to shelter under so it was interesting and slightly painful (when hail hit un-amoured parts of our bodies). After the storm passed off to the west we could see that we actually were only about 3 miles from Rawlins. Almost made it in dry! Anyhow, all part of the adventure. Some pics below - nothing during the rain of course.
:D

[bogthebasher]

On the way to Rawlins

[bogthebasher]

.

[bogthebasher]

More

[bogthebasher]

A couple of fine RTs

[bogthebasher]

Three passes today Snowy Range Pass WY, Cameron Pass CO and Willow Creek Pass CO. Snowy was fantastic and clear as we buzzed up over 10,000 feet. Cameron offered the 10K treat as well. And surprising Willow Creek was filled with sweepers and S's that never seemed to end. The roads were almost devoid of traffic so we were able to keep together and ride our pace. No rain at all today - just sun and mountain all around.

[bogthebasher]

We decided to head up north to Estes and back around to pick up a pass we would have missed as well as to check out a side trip today. So we zipped up to Milner Pass CO on the way to Estes and I have to say this is the most beautiful pass I have ever seen! The maps show an elevation just over 10K but past the vistor centre and over the peak our GPS' showed us at 12,204 feet. The sight was amazing with the top covered in fine green grass and we really felt we were on the top of the world with only snowy mountain peaks all around. Truly the greatest sight one can imagine with vertical drops all around - very hard to keep your eyes on the road (which helps). Then on down south with a little section of I70 to Loveland Pass for a loop over 10K, then back west on the interstate to check off Vail Pass. Then south to Pick off the Freemont and Tennessee Passes to end the day in historic Leadville. Colorado has me totally enthralled.

[bogthebasher]

Milner Pass near the top.

[bogthebasher]

RT at rest.

[Voni]

Gorgeous country and gorgeous photos! Thanks for bringing us along.

Voni
sMiling in the North Dakota green prairies

[SIBUD]

Brings back wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

[bogthebasher]

Had just a blast today - got some rain, some heat and were treated to incredible roads and vistas. Started the day going over the Independance Pass at over 12,000 feet that everyone agreed the engineer who designed and built the road got everything just right, the curves the banking - everything. Followed this up by going over the McClure Pass at 8,758 feet and a jog over on highway 65 up to the Grande Mesa summit that topped out at 10,203 feet. Amazing about that climb is it was 40C at the bottom and 12C at the summit passing through a band of rain at 9000 feet. Our buddy on the FJR zipped in to Grand Junction for a new set of Pilot Road 2s since his old tires were about to show threads.

[bogthebasher]

Gil taking a break waiting for construction...

[bogthebasher]

Grande Mesa, north of Hotchkiss...

[bogthebasher]

Daily rides distances so far Saturday 950km, Sunday 724km, Monday 520km, Monday 387km, Tuesday 521km.
:bikes

[bogthebasher]

A collection of bikes on Independance.

[bogthebasher]

Today we rode about 470km and over three passes (all of them in the rain) but there were enough breaks in the valleys to get a few pictures.

[bogthebasher]

A shot from about noon.

[bogthebasher]

:thumb
Heading to Pagosa Springs.

[stkmkt1]

Great pictures! I'm heading out that way on July 11th. Four Corners, Durango, Montrose, Leadville, Mt. Evans, and many more. Cannot wait 'til I get out there.

[bogthebasher]

Today took us south from Pagosa Springs Colorado, through New Mexico and into Arizona. We then visted Four Corners and made our way into Utah. We started the day fixing a broken air cleaner mount on the Harley at Pagosa Power Sports (Thank-you Lynn for dropping everything to help) and then rode for an hour south in pouring rain. Came out of it in New Mexico and as we headed west it got hotter and hotter. Through Arizona and Utah it was just over 30C. The side-wind on the way to 4 Corners - especially as we rounded Shiprock had us laying over on one side for 75kms or so. Four miles from Mexican Hat, three of us got hit with a storm front and a wall of sand. We waited till the worst of it went by and then limped in to town pelted by rain, sand and debris. Thirty minues later it was calm and sunny as if it had never happened. All in all an excellent days ride.

[bogthebasher]

Internet connection too slow to allow picture upload tonight...

[ddorwart]

Sounds like you are going to have a blast. Just remember to always stop and record the moments. Images fade in the mind, but the pictures will bring them back instantly over the years.

Ride on

[bogthebasher]

New Mexico landscape...

[bogthebasher]

The wind was really blowing this afternoon.

[bogthebasher]

Here is the spot...

[bogthebasher]

Just before Mexican Hat.

[bogthebasher]

A fairly short day riding with clear Utah skies, great scenary and tempertures around 30C.

[bogthebasher]

A quiet resting spot in the sun...

[bogthebasher]

Ony 100km short of Moab

[ddorwart]

Love the pics. I am heading out that way in a few weeks and love looking at your pictures. Gets me juiced!

Thanks

[bogthebasher]

Today we decided to go back into Colorado to pick up some roads that we had not hit in the first few loops through - and because the rain has moved off to the east. The first leg was out of Moab tuning east at Lac Sal Junction on Highways 46 UT and 90 CO into Naturita. If you ever get the chance to ride it, this is a road with no one on it that has a great mix of twisty sections and long Straighaways... of course the million dollar highway and the mountain passes and points of interest including the Arches UT, the Dallas Divide Summit, Red Mountain Pass CO, Coalbank Pass CO and Monument Hill CO.

[bogthebasher]

The Arches north of Moab...

[bogthebasher]

Zipping by...

[bogthebasher]

A really hot day of riding (for us Canuks anyway) with temporatures hovering around 40C all day as we wound our way east through southern Utah. Climbed the Mesa Verde summit to have a look at the Pueblo historical sites and over Lookout summit as well.

[bogthebasher]

It was smoking hot when we got here...

[bogthebasher]

A few minutes for the ST rest.

[bogthebasher]

Another smoking hot day - most of it over 40C so it made the tour of the spectacular canyons in southern Utah one of the highlights of the trip for sure.

[bogthebasher]

Looking south...

[bogthebasher]

Jerry on his FJR...

[bogthebasher]

This was a very nice road and quite sticky because of the heat in the road.

[bogthebasher]

The last set of cliffs before town...

[bogthebasher]

Well we made the final turn to begin heading north towards Canada and were treated with great roads with high ranching country and the beautiful scenary around Mt Nebo today.

[bogthebasher]

Caught one of the guys as he went by.

[bogthebasher]

A picture at the summit.

[bogthebasher]

All lined up ready to leave again.

[bogthebasher]

Started the day with a quick 100km over the Bald Mountain Pass through some beautiful high country scenary. Sighted a couple of Moose grazing in the wetlands near Mirror Lake. Then on into Wyoming again and west into Idaho to set up a ride up the Salmon River channel in the morning. Beware that there is construction (Chip Seal on Highway 20) that had a 20 minute wait and then an 8 mile cruise on 6 inch deep gravel to slow you down. Decided it was too late in the day to take in the Craters of the Moon area and tracked north to Challis ID for the night... 768 km day.

[bogthebasher]

Stopped for a break - the temperature on the RT read 12C (10,600 feet), it had been 24C at the base.

[bogthebasher]

Waiting our turn; fortunately they let us go first so we wouldn't have to eat the flying rocks of vehicles in front of us.

[bogthebasher]

It did rain and blow as we went through those clouds ahead but only for 15 minutes so we dry by the time we got to our destination.

[bogthebasher]

Second last day heading north for most of it - 764 km followed the Salmon River and then into Troy and on to Libby. Two passes today; "Chief Joseph Pass and the Lost Trail Pass, both in the morning. Lined up to cross the border into Canada near Eureka in the morning.

[bogthebasher]

A full summary including mileage, elevations, etc. to follow a the end of the holiday weekend.
:ca
:bolt

[bogthebasher]

Overall

Days on the road = 15
Average Km per day = 572
Total Km = 8582
Riders = 5

Mountain Passes and Summits

Kings Hill Pass MT
Beartooth Pass MT/WY
Dead Indian Pass WY
Muddy Gap WY
Snowy Range Pass WY
Cameron Pass CO
Willow Creek Pass CO
Milner Pass CO
Vail Pass CO
Loveland Pass CO
Freemont Pass CO
Tennessee Pass CO
Independance Pass CO
McClure Pass CO
Grande Mesa Summit CO
Slumgullian Pass CO
Spring Creek Pass CO
Wolf Creek Pass CO
Dallas Divide Summit CO
Red Mountain Pass CO
Coalbank Pass CO
Monument Hill CO
Mesa Verde CO
Lookout Summit UT
Bryce Canyon Summit UT
Sevier Summit UT
Wasatch Plateau UT
Mt Nebo Summit UT
Bald Mountain Pass UT
Willow Creek Summit ID
Chief Joseph Pass ID/MT
Lost Trail Pass MT
Crowsnest Pass BC/AB

:bliss

[franze]

Enjoyed your pictures and report. What road is this???


http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18234&stc=1&d=1245644111

this is called " mittens". I camped near there early June. Isn't Utah incredible ?!!!

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18334&stc=1&d=1246153813

what a great ride. BUT............ I read recently that the four corners marker isn't exactly in the correct spot. Might have to do it again :dunno

[bogthebasher]

say it aint so... well that is one ride I am sure would never be the same twice. Already wondering how to make my way back there some day.:thumb