Steve and I started floating ideas for another trip/adventure/vacation (not really sure how to quantify and I'll probably use these terms interchangeably) in October, 2018. We generally can't seem to go more than 2-3 years before we get the itch for another extended motorcycle camping adventure (the last big ride was an 11 day Colorado trip in 2015). As we have traditionally done, we laid out numerous paper maps on my kitchen table and started eyeing up some points of interest, ultimately gravitating towards Glacier National Park, as our potential furthest point west. We had both talked about Glacier and the famous Going To The Sun Road numerous times before so, it wasn't surprising that we seemed to both be onboard without much discussion.
Our biggest concern was the number of days we would need to set aside since even the straightest, most direct route out and back would be over 3,000 miles (and straight/direct routes are really not the way we roll). It's not that either of us don't have the vacation days, but rather the issue becomes managing time out of the office for such a concentrated period. We were also aware of the fact that some of the roads and passes would not be open before the very end of June so that limited our travel window as well. What we ended up settling on was a window of time that would include the week of July 4, which many people already take off as vacation time, which we figured would potentially reduce work disruption. After agreeing that our loop would include Glacier NP, we decided that this trip should be all new territory, essentially avoiding the draw to include previous destinations. More maps, a few internet searches and several video travelogues later, we settled on the idea of continuing north and adding Banff and Jasper. Our original plan was quickly expanding but it was one of those moments where we looked at each other and agreed that we would be too close to not go there.
Here are a couple of the videos that piqued our interest (the dramatic music helps of course):
With numerous cross-country trips under our belt, Steve and I discussed what has worked and what hasn't. Here's what agreed on for planning parameters for this trip:
Our biggest concern was the number of days we would need to set aside since even the straightest, most direct route out and back would be over 3,000 miles (and straight/direct routes are really not the way we roll). It's not that either of us don't have the vacation days, but rather the issue becomes managing time out of the office for such a concentrated period. We were also aware of the fact that some of the roads and passes would not be open before the very end of June so that limited our travel window as well. What we ended up settling on was a window of time that would include the week of July 4, which many people already take off as vacation time, which we figured would potentially reduce work disruption. After agreeing that our loop would include Glacier NP, we decided that this trip should be all new territory, essentially avoiding the draw to include previous destinations. More maps, a few internet searches and several video travelogues later, we settled on the idea of continuing north and adding Banff and Jasper. Our original plan was quickly expanding but it was one of those moments where we looked at each other and agreed that we would be too close to not go there.
Here are a couple of the videos that piqued our interest (the dramatic music helps of course):
With numerous cross-country trips under our belt, Steve and I discussed what has worked and what hasn't. Here's what agreed on for planning parameters for this trip:
- Target 300 miles per day - On previous trips we have enthusiastically set out on 400 or even 500+ mile routes for the first couple of days (mainly to get across the plains or through the major midwest cities) but once on the road, found them to be grueling and would swear to never do that again (right...). We have also gotten impatient on the final days of a trip and ramped up the miles only to get home and wish we had taken our time.
- Two nights at a single location is enough - The journey is the destination. Steve and I have talked that talk before, but this time we are making sure our planning reflects this mantra. Motorcycle camping is unique and you have to appreciate that being on the bike is the focus. After all, if the idea was to spend a week in Glacier then maybe going on a motorcycle isn't the best choice. With 2 nights at key locations, we get a bit of a break and can take in some hikes and other tourist activities.
- Campsites need to be booked in advance - I actually just booked our final reservable site on April 16. Because of the popularity of the areas we are going to visit, it really wasn't an option to cross our fingers and hope for a walk on. In the past, we have done a mix of reserved sites and walk ons. Honestly, I really like the fact that we know where we will be each night. And with approximately 300 mile days even if the weather isn't great, it is still doable.
The initial idea for this trip "destination" has actually been percolating in my brain for quite some time. It has pretty much stayed on the back burner though as it always felt a bit unreachable as a motorcycle trip due to the miles and the time commitment. I have loosely followed a number of friends and colleagues over the past few years as they have shared their experiences in Glacier National Park, and the Canadian Rockies and have enjoyed the vicarious experiences greatly. I'll suffice to say that I'm beyond excited to finally have my own experiences and memories in this beautiful part of the world!
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