Ridge of the Rockies 2008

Kalispell, Montana to El Paso, Texas

This tour was conducted in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2004. Lots of stupendous mountain scenery, with some desert plains thrown in for leavening. We started out going Mexico to Canada, but lately have been doing Canada to Mexico.

19 riding days    1,943 miles    88,000 feet of climbing
Begin in Kalispell, Montana

Fly into Kalispell, Montana on July 28th, 2008
Fly home from El Paso, Texas on August 17, 2008
$3000 based on double occupancy
$1000 (total due) by March 30, 2008
Remainder due by May 28, 2008
Sign up before May 28th, 2008 to guarantee your jersey
add $850 for a single room

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The Ridge of the Rockies crosses the major passes of the Continental Divide in six states. This is a very mountainous route with long climbs and great descents. This will be a wonderful time of year to ride through the mountains. Arrive 1 or 2 days early and enjoy a nice ride through Glacier National Park or to the Canadian Border on your own.

The Ridge of the Rockies is the oldest PAC Tour ride which is still being offered. It was started in 1990 when only twelve riders participated. This tour has grown to average about 50 riders per tour. This event is also unique because it has been ridden in each direction depending on the season. Sometimes it starts near Mexico and sometimes it begins near Canada.

In 2008 our tour begins in Kalispell, Montana located fifty miles south of the Canadian border. Our route follows along the valley of Flathead Lake. This will be one of our longest mileage days but also one of the flattest. The dense forests are good places to spot deer or bear crossing the road.

The next several days across Montana are some of the most scenic with many postcard quality picturesque rivers and mountain views. Each day will have some notable climbing as our route crosses the mountains of the Continental Divide region. The cycling roads are good with ridable shoulders and moderate tourist traffic.

By the the fourth day we are approaching the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. You will have the option to ride extra miles into Yellowstone National Park by passing through the west gate. The next day we continue south to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and finish the day with a tough climb over Teton Pass and a fast 9% descent into town for the final five miles.

Our route will cross many famous pioneer trails from the mid 1800’s. We traverse the Oregon Trail, Bozeman Trail and Lander cutoff during the first seven days of our tour. There will be plenty of roadside historic markers for history buffs. Each of our nightly stops will have points of interest and museums to learn more about the region.

One of our toughest, but also most scenic days, is the 147 miles from Evanston, Wyoming to Vernal, Utah. We ride through the Flaming Gorge region which has dozens of steep climbs that reward riders with cliff side overlooks of the valley far below. You will be reminded of why this tour is called the Ridge of the Rockies and recommended only for riders who like to climb mountains.

As we enter Colorado the mountains are taller and the passes are higher. We will average at least one major climb over 10,000 feet elevation for the each of the next six days. Some riders consider these days the best cycling of the tour. The climb over Grand Mesa heading toward Montrose is a classic ride with a good mix of mountains and farms. Equally spectacular are the passes near Orray, Silverton and Durango. These are the heart of the Rocky Mountains with constant steep climbs and fast descents.

The next state we enter is New Mexico. Juan de Onate de Salazar traveled this region and founded Santa Fe in 1598. He came north along the Rio Grande (river) and opened the Camino Real trade route from Mexico. This was the first “Super Highway” in America traveling north from Mexico into the Indian regions of New Mexico. He would also discover the Turquoise Trail that would connect Santa Fe with Albuquerque.

Our final five days will travel these same original routes through the Rio Grande Valley. The terrain will change from the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the tan and brown hills of the desert southwest. This route has its share of hills and each day still contains about 4,000 feet of climbing every 100 miles.

During the nineteen day journey, The Ridge of the Rockies Tour will have traveled almost 2,000 miles. We will see some of the best scenery available in the United States. We hope you can join us on this strenuous but rewarding tour across America from North to South.

Glacier National Park Option

If you have some extra time, a nice cycling option is to arrival a few days early and tour Glacier National Park on Saturday, Sunday or Monday on your own. (Motel and other costs are at your expense). A nice bike route is to either ride 50 miles to Glacier National Park and return in one day or to rent a car and drive into the Park and ride your bike over the “Going to the Sun Highway”. There are several motels and lodges near Glacier National Park if you would like to stay closer to the Park and ride more. You should plan to be back in Kalispell by 3:00 PM Monday, July 28 for the rider meeting.

Arrival Plans

Kalispell has a modern airport with a good selection of flights from all parts of the country. Everyone should be in Kalispell by Monday afternoon, July 28th. Registration will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 PM. Riders can pick up their packets and route maps at this time and assemble their bikes. We will have a rider meeting at 3:30 PM and group dinner that evening. We begin riding the next morning Tuesday, July 29. Detailed travel plans will be included in your rider packet that you will receive five months before the tour.

Sign up before May 28 to receive a custom tour jersey.

Ridge of the Rockies 2008

Kalispell, Montana to El Paso, Texas

Daily Itinerary

Day	Date	Start	End	Miles	Climbing
	Mon July 28	Fly in day	Lodging & Evening Banquet Included
1	Tue July 29	Kalispell MT	Missoula MT	148	2600'
2	Wed July 30	Missoula MT	Butte MT	134	4100'
3	Thur July 31	Butte MT	Bozeman MT	101	4200'
4	Fri Aug 1	Bozeman MT	West Yellowstone MT	90	4000'
5	Sat Aug 2	West Yellowstone MT	Jackson WY	135	6000'
6	Sun Aug 3	Jackson WY	Montpelier ID	117	3650'
7	Mon Aug 4	Montpelier ID	Evanston WY	93	3200'
8	Tue Aug 5	Evanston WY	Vernal UT	147	8700'
9	Wed Aug 6	Vernal UT	Rangely CO	52	2000'
10	Thur Aug 7	Rangely CO	Grand Junction CO	94	3100'
11	Fri Aug 8	Grand Junction CO	Montrose CO	119	6000'
12	Sat Aug 9	Montrose CO	Durango CO	112	9200'
13	Sun Aug 10	Durango CO	Chama NM	120	8600'
14	Mon Aug 11	Chama NM	Espanola NM	82	3500'
15	Tue Aug 12	Espanola NM	Moriarty NM	75	5300'
16	Wed Aug 13	Moriarty NM	Socorro NM	105	5000'
17	Thur Aug 14	Socorro NM	Truth or Consequences NM	75	4600'
18	Fri Aug 15	Truth or Consequences NM	Las Cruces NM	80	2000'
19	Sat Aug 16	Las Cruces NM	El Paso TX	64	1600'
	Sun Aug 17	Depart for home

1943 miles, 102 miles per day, 88,000 feet of climbing

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Room Policy

Price based on double occupancy hotels each night. Pay an additional $850 if a single room is desired or required. PAC Tour can not guarantee finding everyone roommates. Should you be the final person to register for an event and wish double occupancy, PAC Tour may not have that room available and you may be required to pay the single supplement if you wish to register. If a roommate becomes available, you will be refunded the unused portion of the single supplement.

The Historical Record

2004

A journal from Dave Smith
http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/rockies/main.html

2001

2001 "Ridge of the Rockies" Canada to Mexico
Kalispell, Montana to El Paso, Texas
September 13 - 29 riding days (Sept. 12-30 fly in)
1,900 miles    17 days    112 miles per day

2001 Itinerary

Optional earlier arrival tour of Glacier Park Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Depart from Kalispell, MT

Day	September		End for day	Miles	Climbing
1	13	Thur	Missoula MT	144	2600'
2	14	Fri	Butte MT	131	2100'
3	15	Sat	Bozeman MT	100	3200'
4	16	Sun	West Yellowstone MT	85	4000'
5	17	Mon	Jackson WY	135	6000'
6	18	Tue	Montpelier ID	116	3650'
7	19	Wed	Evanston WY	95	3200'
8	20	Thur	Vernal UT	138	8700'
9	21	Fri	Grand Junction CO	132	5100'
10	22	Sat	Montrose CO	119	6000'
11	23	Sun	Durango CO	115	9200'
12	24	Mon	Farmington CO	59	3600'
13	25	Tue	Gallup NM	134	5500'
14	26	Wed	Springerville AZ	120	5300'
15	27	Thur	Silver City NM	148	7000'
16	28	Fri	Las Cruces NM	136	6650'
17	29	Sat	El Paso TX	55	1600'

1962 miles, 115 miles per day, 83400' climbing, 4906' climb per day

Read Don Friedlander's daily journal of the 2001 trip.

1998

Read Mike Ingram's Journals and Roger Pierce's writeup on the 1998 tour at another site (includes many pictures). 19 Days, 2250 Miles, 92,000' of climbing.

Silverton, Colorado lunch break

1998 Roster

(R) = Rookie; (C) = Crew

Ridge rider Harold Trease upon completing RAAM six weeks after tour.

1998 Itinerary

(2001 route will be in reverse)

Begin El Paso, Texas

Day	June		End for day	Miles	Climbing
1	9	Tue	Las Cruces, NM	55	1,600'
2	10	Wed	Silver City, NM	136	6,650'
3	11	Thur	Springerville, AZ	148	7,000'
4	12	Fri	Gallup, NM	120	5,000'
5	13	Sat	Farmington, NM	134	5,500'
6	14	Sun	Durango, CO	59	3,600'
7	15	Mon	Montrose, CO	115	9,200'
8	16	Tue	Grand Jct. CO	117	6,000'
9	17	Wed	Vernal, UT	147	5,000'
10	18	Thur	Rock Springs, WY	109	8,700'
11	19	Fri	Montpelier, ID	158	3,200'
12	20	Sat	Jackson, WY	116	3,650'
13	21	Sun	W. Yellowstone, MT	135	6,000'
14	22	Mon	Bozeman, MT	90	4,000'
15	23	Tue	Butte, MT	100	3,200'
16	24	Wed	Missoula, MT	133	2,100'
17	25	Thur	Kalispell, MT	144	2,600'
18	26	Fri	Cardston, Canada	116	4,700'
19	27	Sat	Calgary, Canada	116	1,240'

Richard Zipf on Day 3 (6/11/98) on the Continental Divide just west of Silver City on Hwy 180