I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's a tradeoff
between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. Also, I'm
thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to wait.

On Feb 15, 1:36�pm, timeOday <timeOday-UNS...@theknack.net> wrote:
> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
> NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes.

The month of May is best, Tioga Pass and Glacier Point will probably
open up May 30.

It starts getting too hot in Death Valley and Saline Valley after
Memorial Day weekend.

I went to the Grand Canyon one year in May, and then returned to AZ to
tour Tucson and Organ Pipe National Monument around the 4th of July,
when it was getting too hot.

"timeOday" <timeOday-UNSPAM@theknack.net> wrote in message
news:9LmdnVEGEZBImCvanZ2dnUVZ_rjinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
> NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's a tradeoff
> between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. Also, I'm
> thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to
> wait.

I went to Utah around the start of Sept to avoid the vacationing crowds. The
low areas were not too hot (85) and it got cooler (75) in places like Bryce
canyon where the elevation was higher.
Wayne

On Feb 16, 12:46�pm, "Wayne" <wrjo...@newsguy.com> wrote:

> I went to Utah around the start of Sept to avoid the vacationing crowds. The
> low areas were not too hot (85) and it got cooler (75) in places like Bryce
> canyon where the elevation was higher.

I rode Utah 12 on 4th of July weekend. It was about 100 degrees, and I
rode about 85~90 mph, stopping every 100~150 miles for gasoline and
liquid refreshment.

That kind of temperature isn't conducive to sticking one's head into a
steaming brain bucket for hours on end.

If you have to ride on days when the temperature is going to peak at
around 100, the best bet is to ride early, stop somewhere cool for the
heat of the day, and continue to your destination after it cools down.

But, if you don't have motel reservations around a popular tourist
area, you're not going to find a budget motel on a holiday weekend.

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:15:12 -0800 (PST), "." <RhiannonX@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Feb 16, 12:46?pm, "Wayne" <wrjo...@newsguy.com> wrote:
>
>> I went to Utah around the start of Sept to avoid the vacationing crowds. The
>> low areas were not too hot (85) and it got cooler (75) in places like Bryce
>> canyon where the elevation was higher.
>
>I rode Utah 12 on 4th of July weekend. It was about 100 degrees, and I
>rode about 85~90 mph, stopping every 100~150 miles for gasoline and
>liquid refreshment.
>
>That kind of temperature isn't conducive to sticking one's head into a
>steaming brain bucket for hours on end.
>
>If you have to ride on days when the temperature is going to peak at
>around 100, the best bet is to ride early, stop somewhere cool for the
>heat of the day, and continue to your destination after it cools down.
>
>But, if you don't have motel reservations around a popular tourist
>area, you're not going to find a budget motel on a holiday weekend.

When I went through Utah and Idaho this past summer I didn't find a
hotel of any description.
The temp in southern Utah peaked at about 105 in the shade.
Except there wasn't any shade either.
And no AC in that little Miata.
--
Bob Mann

Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any

"Wayne" <wrjones@newsguy.com> wrote
> I went to Utah around the start of Sept to avoid the vacationing crowds.
> The low areas were not too hot (85) and it got cooler (75) in places like
> Bryce canyon where the elevation was higher.
> Wayne
I always prefer late September and October. Kids and soccer moms are gone,
plenty of rooms, etc, and temp's are good.

On Feb 15, 1:36 pm, timeOday <timeOday-UNS...@theknack.net> wrote:
> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
> NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's a tradeoff
> between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. Also, I'm
> thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to wait.

I just got back from Death Valley. At 6000 feet, it got a tad
cold but manageable. Nowhere was I too warm, though I had to
put on or take off clothing sometimes. Higher passes like
Tioga are still snowed in.

I caught a little bit of rain on the way back. By mid March,
the California is usually past the bulk of the rainy season.
Not sure about rains further east.

Mid spring seems like a good bet. Whatever time you pick, some
places will be too hot, cold, wet or snowy. Pick an itinerary,
then match the weather forecasts and modify time or route
accordingly.

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:36:20 -0700, timeOday
<timeOday-UNSPAM@theknack.net> wrote:

>I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
>NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's a tradeoff
>between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. Also, I'm
>thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to wait.

Just before school lets out is the best time, particularly if you are
planning to hit any of the National Parks. In Yosemite, for instance,
the spring runoff is underway, and all the falls are at their best.
Also, all the facilities are up and running, and all the attendants
are fresh and eager, unlike the fall when they will be battleweary.

On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:31:57 -0800 (PST), Rob Kleinschmidt
<Rkleinsch1216128@aol.com> wrote:

>On Feb 15, 1:36 pm, timeOday <timeOday-UNS...@theknack.net> wrote:
>> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
>> NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's a tradeoff
>> between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. Also, I'm
>> thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to wait.
>
>I just got back from Death Valley. At 6000 feet, it got a tad
>cold but manageable. Nowhere was I too warm, though I had to
>put on or take off clothing sometimes. Higher passes like
>Tioga are still snowed in.
>
>I caught a little bit of rain on the way back. By mid March,
>the California is usually past the bulk of the rainy season.
>Not sure about rains further east.
>
>Mid spring seems like a good bet. Whatever time you pick, some
>places will be too hot, cold, wet or snowy. Pick an itinerary,
>then match the weather forecasts and modify time or route
>accordingly.

Springtime can be a bit breezy in Death Valley. A classmate of mine on
a Geology field trip there one April gave his sleeping bag a kick to
unroll it, then had to chase it for a mile or so (well, a couple of
hundred yards, really, but it sure felt like a mile hiking back into
the sandblaster).

Al Moore
DoD 734

On Feb 20, 7:22*pm, Alan Moore <alan.s.mo...@comcast.net> wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:31:57 -0800 (PST), Rob Kleinschmidt
>
>
>
>
>
> <Rkleinsch1216...@aol.com> wrote:
> >On Feb 15, 1:36 pm, timeOday <timeOday-UNS...@theknack.net> wrote:
> >> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ, CA,
> >> NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. *So it's a tradeoff
> >> between baking down in the desert and getting snowed on. *Also, I'm
> >> thinking probably spring rather than fall simply because it's hard to wait.
>
> >I just got back from Death Valley. At 6000 feet, it got a tad
> >cold but manageable. Nowhere was I too warm, though I had to
> >put on or take off clothing sometimes. Higher passes like
> >Tioga are still snowed in.
>
> >I caught a little bit of rain on the way back. By mid March,
> >the California is usually past the bulk of the rainy season.
> >Not sure about rains further east.
>
> >Mid spring seems like a good bet. Whatever time you pick, some
> >places will be too hot, cold, wet or snowy. Pick an itinerary,
> >then match the weather forecasts and modify time or route
> >accordingly.
>
> Springtime can be a bit breezy in Death Valley. A classmate of mine on
> a Geology field trip there one April gave his sleeping bag a kick to
> unroll it, then had to chase it for a mile or so (well, a couple of
> hundred yards, really, but it sure felt like a mile hiking back into
> the sandblaster).

Didn't see any of that near Furnace Creek, well below sea level.
I crawled through some of the upper passes fighting some
serious winds though. Up near the dunes at Stovepipe Wells
I guess that'd be pretty believable too. I recall one of their rooms
had a pretty good layer of sand all over the interior when I
stayed there a couple years back.

On Feb 15, 1:36 pm, timeOday <timeOday-UNS...@theknack.net> wrote:
>> I'm trying to decide the best time of year to ride around NM, AZ,
>> CA, NV, including (and especially) high mountain passes. So it's
>> a tradeoff between baking down in the desert and getting snowed
>> on. Also, I'm thinking probably spring rather than fall simply
>> because it's hard to wait.

If you want to be able to cross the high Sierra passes, best plan those
excursions for after Memorial Day. CalTrans has a goal every year of
having the passes cleared and open by Memorial Day, but that doesn't
always work out, if we've had a particularly heavy winter up here. Even
if they have been opened, a freak snow storm (we've had them in June)
can cause them to close the passes again.

-Keith
'03 Blackbird

On Feb 21, 12:52�pm, Keith <NotOnYourL...@nospam.com> wrote:

> If you want to be able to cross the high Sierra passes, best plan those
> excursions for after Memorial Day. �CalTrans has a goal every yearof
> having the passes cleared and open by Memorial Day, but that doesn't
> always work out, if we've had a particularly heavy winter up here. Even
> if they have been opened, a freak snow storm (we've had them in June)
> can cause them to close the passes again.

We didn't have all that much snow in the southern Sierra. I drove my
Jeep through Sequoia two or three weeks ago. It was all snow plowed
and sanded.

I haven't been up towards Yosemite this year. But I recommend that
anybody who wants to transit the High Country check out his brakes
first, as Tioga Pass is steep and Old Priest Grade is unbelievably
steep.

On Feb 21, 12:52 pm, Keith <NotOnYourL...@nospam.com> wrote:

> If you want to be able to cross the high Sierra passes, best plan those
> excursions for after Memorial Day. CalTrans has a goal every year of
> having the passes cleared and open by Memorial Day, but that doesn't
> always work out, if we've had a particularly heavy winter up here. Even
> if they have been opened, a freak snow storm (we've had them in June)
> can cause them to close the passes again.

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