Need an idea for next summers trip

[chrisx]

Around  July 21st 2015 I Will have 6 or 7 weeks to take a bike trip.  Where?  I don't know yet.  I will be in Seattle.
I will most likely ride My Fargo for the trip.  I have a mid 90s mt bike, if I decide to do a week or 3 worth of hiking along the way.  I have contemplated riding the Eastern half of the Pacific Northwest Trail. { I did not say Pacific Crest Trail.} 

Any Ideas?

http://www.pnt.org/trail.html

Is it conceivable to ride the PNT to Glacier National Park. Then ride the Milwaukee Rail Road Corridor from Missoula Montana back to Seattle?  At a glance, there are a few rail trails, though not connected, going the bulk of that distance.  I have all winter to look at maps.  There is also the great Western Trail.  Perhaps ride South from Glacier, along the Western slopes of the Rockie mountains.  Although poorly mapped, the GWT passes through mostly national forest, and other public lands.

Or something else
any ideas

[JRA]

GDMBR?
You've got the time to enjoy it at a reasonable pace.

[evdog]

Does it have to be a bike tour? 

There are a ton of great MTB destinations you could hit up in 6-7 weeks as a road trip.  Montana, Idaho, WY, CO, UT, etc etc

[caseygreene]

Go for the PNT! - But know it can be brutal in MT/ID. Lots and lots of steep up and down. Lots of hike-a-bike.

There is so much potential in the Northern Rockies a lot of times you can just pick where you want to go, and find a number of options to get you there. I like to use these for 1st-stage/overview planning: http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/products-page/atlases

Do you have to start in Seattle?

[chrisx]

GDMBR?

I could see the Montana section as part of my route.  But the Great Western trail
http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/great-western-trail/
http://www.greatwesterntrail.org/forum/index.php?board=1.0
sounds better to me.

Does it have to be a bike tour?  

up in the air, don't know yet.  2 things to consider.
I will be on a v1 Fargo.  
road tires are a headache to get on and off Flow rims.  At least the tires I already have are.

Go for the PNT! - But know it can be brutal in MT/ID. Lots and lots of steep up and down. Lots of hike-a-bike.

There is so much potential in the Northern Rockies a lot of times you can just pick where you want to go, and find a number of options to get you there. I like to use these for 1st-stage/overview planning: http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/products-page/atlases

Do you have to start in Seattle?

Hike a bike is one of the few techniques I have mastered.  

Public transit goes from Seattle, as far as Concrete, WA.  I could take the train some where.  I don't have to start pedaling in Seattle.  That is where I will be when it is time to head out. I will end up in San Diego.  Train and bus can be used.


East of Ross lake there are plenty of gravel roads to get around the Pasayten Wilderness, and on to the trail.  The guide book, and some of the maps I already have.  The updated PNT guide book should be available in March. http://pnta.proboards.com/thread/319/pacific-northwest-trail-digest-edition
There are a lot of road sections on the trail as well.  PNT is a young trail, still being developed.  

But know it can be brutal in MT/ID. Lots and lots of steep up and down.

There was mention of alternate routes around the PUD, pointless ups and downs

[chrisx]

http://www.traildino.com/img/upload/North_America/United_States/Map/Great-Western-Trail.gifv

[stever121051]

Chris,

Hey Man!

you should definitely consider the great divide route!

I am from Missoula Mt (not living there now) and I am planning on riding
the Great Divide starting at the Montana border going south.

check this out I just bought a Fargo 2 2013 edition from a guy to ride the Divide next summer

I am looking for people to at least start up with and then whatever happens after that who knows.

One or both of my sons are hopefully going to ride with me at least part of it.

My wife will probably bring them up or we will meet in Butte Mt

Anyway think about and stay in touch

Steve

[stever121051]

Chris,

is there a actual route that runs on the old milwaukee rail road bed from missoula to seatlle and could you sen me some info   Or is it connected all the way I should say?

thanks

steve

[chrisx]

John Wayne Pioneer Trail
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
and others, most of the distance is covered by rail trails.  Research is needed. I only glanced at it.
Not connected all the way.

No plans to ride the GDMBR at this time. 

[offroute]

Some great input here...

With that window of time, why not mix up some loaded and day riding? At that time of year I would stay at the highest elevation and or latitude, or as close to the coast as possible. Colorado Trail or part of it with day rides around Durango or Salida. MT GDMBR above Butte plus day rides. Ride some rivers out of Oakridge, Oregon; low technical factor. Ride the coast to Jackson Demo Forest (Fort Bragg area) and grab a day of guiding at Mendo Bikesprite.

Just off the top. So many possibilities...