AM in R3 & AK

Discussion in 'Trips & Events' started by A.M, Mar 1, 2017.

  1. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,100
    Likes Received:
    530
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Reseda / LA
    Map
    What great scenery, thanks for sharing your trip. :Canada:
     
    A.M likes this.
  2. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Sunday, June 25th, to Alpine, Wyoming



    This morning I woke in Twin Falls after a 2nd night of camping, took my time doing some laundry, and packed up camp.

    [​IMG]

    Destination for the day was a small jaunt to Alpine, Wyoming.

    Before leaving Twin Falls though, I had some yummies at Guppies Hot Rod Grille, after it was recommended by a friend.

    [​IMG]

    It was awesome to have a warm sit-down meal. Great place to eat too if you are ever in the area! Super cute and friendly girls, awesome moto and autosports decor, as well as music seemingly picked for me (70s/80s).

    [​IMG]

    I pretty much slabbed it through Idaho to get to Wyoming by early evening, but it was a beautiful ride even on the highways!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Got lodging in Alpine at a super cute local motel: Three Rivers.

    [​IMG]

    The room even had a small dine-in kitchen with a fridge, stove, pots/pans/utensils, living room, and bedroom! 65 Bux! Highly recommend this place if ever in the area.

    So after unpacking I went across the street to load up on yummy fresh foods I could keep in the fridge overnight. These would be my dinners and next day’s breakfasts and lunch. It was so glorious to have fresh produce in a shopping cart!

    [​IMG]

    After the grocer, I took a quick evening loop up around Teton Pass which was amazing!!!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Such a fun ride up the pass and down!! I was able to get a photo of the Idaho state sign too! I'm sooo happy to be able to capture this photo...I absolutely LOVED Idaho!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And back into Wyoming!

    [​IMG]

    And this beautiful motophoto...he really be the one who's worked so hard on this trip... <3 <3

    [​IMG]

    As our shadows grew tall, I figured it was time to get down the pass and back to Alpine.

    [​IMG]

    That short ride was just the evening outing I needed with time at the end to relax. And it was so peaceful...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I loved this day!! ... With nothing much planned, checking in early at lodging, shopping for real food and having an evening out with my love, and turning in before the pitch black.

    [​IMG]

    I settled in early, but fell asleep late.
    I was feeling the most excited I had felt since being back in the states!! For tomorrow was Beartooth Pass day … !!!!

    Little did I know how much work it would be to get there...
     
    Riding a 2000 and Samuel like this.
  3. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    Nice work there AM! Really enjoy reading and looking at the photos of your trip.
     
    A.M likes this.
  4. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Monday, June 26th:

    1. Grand Teton National Park

    2. Place I don’t want to talk about

    ...and...

    3. Beartooth Pass



    Monday morning I woke to a beautiful Wyomingsunrise! <3 <3

    [​IMG]

    Then I took my time packing up for the day. I had to stop in Jackson Hole to buy new cloth glove liners and mail some things home via USPS.

    The post office didn’t open unil 8:30... sigh ...the whole morning was sigh because I knew waiting on the post meant dealing with more tourists (as I had been forewarned if I didn't get through the parks by 4:00 am).

    After I took care of all that business, moto and I began the daunting ride up to get to Bear Tooth Pass.

    I'm not sure what the hype over Yellowstone is, but I hope to never ride through there or any place like it for the rest of my life and every single after life after life.

    Yes, you can get out on hikes and things in Yellowstone, but there are more beautiful places for hikes in my opinion with actual mountain views....like the Grand Teton park... which was BEAUTIFUL!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I was so happy to see the Tetons!!

    [​IMG]

    And my lake: Jenny Lake

    [​IMG]

    The lake was really beautiful!

    [​IMG]

    But you cannot get there if you stay on highway 191...you have to get onto Teton Park Road (which is closed fall through spring), then you will be close to lakes, hiking, etc. So worth the jog over to the park road!!

    [​IMG]

    If you ever to go visit Jenny Lake, unless you are doing some hiking...

    [​IMG]

    I suggest you pass the south viewing area of the lake and keep your eyes peeled for the north viewing area.

    This is where you get the beautiful view of the lake and Teton.

    [​IMG]

    Hardly anyone was at the north viewing area of Jenny Lake, and probably some people got lost trying to find it (you have to veer off to the left once you get onto the north road area and many people were veering to the right).

    Anyhoo, after Jenny Lake, I kept making my way up North passing Jackson Lake shortly after Jenny Lake.

    [​IMG]

    Jackson Lake provided an amazing view of the Teton mountain range beyond its waters.

    [​IMG]

    As well as more stunning views of the waters at the dam <3 <3

    [​IMG]

    So after Teton Park Road and 191 past Jackson Lake, I had to enter Yellowstone.

    HAD...not want...HAD...



    Warning! Warning! Warning!

    [​IMG]

    A.M and Moto Phaser on Overload!



    DO NOT read any further if you absolutely love Yellowstone and me. You will end up hating one of us after you read this next part...

    I was happy to be here for the first time and I was even being a good sport by taking a sign photo...

    [​IMG]

    ...but I had also been fairly warned about how horrible it would be to drive through to get to Beartooth Pass. And it was.

    Horrible. Terrible! Hope-to-never-again-be-there kind of experience!!

    Yellowstone is a tourist HELL.

    Tourists chasing bison...KID tourists as "parents" were in wait with their cameras for a photo op at the risk of the kids.

    Tourists going 15 mph...not even in RVs.

    Tourists IN the RVs...nothing more can be explained here.

    Tourists making a 2-lane road a 4-lane traffic stopped area, many times around a blind corner (and what for?...bison).

    Tourists cutting back into traffic from pull outs without looking.

    Tourists running out in the road without looking.

    Tourists slamming on their brakes because they see another tourist standing on the side of the road with a camera…guess they figured they’d miss a bison photo op.

    Because there sure as heck weren't any bears coming around with all these crazy people.

    Tourists!!

    Not people kind to each other, respecting nature, keeping the flow of traffic decent. Horrible tourists.

    It’s like the majority of people who enter Yellowstone have their common sense abducted by the aliens and shadow people. There has been an increase in extraterrestrial activity:

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/722882/UFOs-Yellowstone-volcano-warning-about-to-blow

    Whatever the cause, I was not happy.

    Moto wasn’t happy either.

    Yellowstone quickly became:

    HELLowstone.

    The only pull off I wanted to do was Artist Point. So I came across the entrance and reluctantly pulled in, bracing myself to muster up all my years of Kindergarten teacher patience to make it through the next half hour to see the view.

    Not. So. Fast. Again.

    Someone is hollering at me and waving. What? Was I losing part of my load? Nope.

    Moto blew his temper after being forced to ride through Hellowstone. I cannot really blame him for puking antifreeze all over the road and I rode through it coating the back tire before realizing. That’s why I was being waved at...

    The tourists made him sick.

    I pulled over and discovered that it only had come out of the overflow tube, but almost all of the coolant in the reservoir was gone.

    [​IMG]

    They. Made. Him. Sick!

    [​IMG]

    We sat a bit so we could both cool down, then would go to the service/gas area up the road.


    NO!

    I didn’t make moto sit all alone and wait for me to see Artist Point.

    I just wanted to see ONE thing of nature that would be cool there, but really...

    after everything I have seen and done (like hiking Angel’s Landing in Zion and my time in Alaska and Canadian Rockies) and after being so frustrated with the idiocracy that was Hellowstone cagers,

    I sat to comfort moto while we cooled then we left for the station.

    At the station I was able to check and make sure no leaks or signs of leaks were coming from anywhere else. We rested. We calmed down. We cooled down under the shade. I filled moto up with coolant and got him the heck out of that place!

    [​IMG]

    I've had cooling system problems on and off ever since and still don’t know what happened in Hellowstone,

    BUT the Tetons in the morning was enough happy to make us not go off the deep end during the day.

    And I promised moto a better evening in Beartooth Pass to make up for putting him through HELL.

    [​IMG]

    And promise fulfilled! The rest of the evening took away all the pain of that awful place I shall name NO MORE!...

    And if you still love me, maybe you'll want to read the next post.

    And if you hate me, maybe the next post will redeem me.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017
    Riding a 2000 and Samuel like this.
  5. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    I've heard plenty of horror stories about Yellowstone and you're right about tourists, worse thing to happen to national parks!
     
    A.M likes this.
  6. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,956
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    North Georgia
    Map
    Bummer about the coolant issue. I hope it's not a blown head gasket but the symptoms sound like it. Let's just say I've had the exact problems you've had and the culprit was indeed that.

    Here's a link on how you can test for it: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
     
    A.M likes this.
  7. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    I have hiked and climbed all over the Tetons, very majestic mountains. I'm from Florida but I learned to paddle board on Jenny lake. lol
    A friend I climb with lives in Bozeman Montana and brought his boards. The freezing cold water is a great motivator to not fall in!
    Yellowstone can be a real tourist pain in the ass. There are some geologic wonders in the park and a lot of wildlife. But the key is to start before sunrise, the "tourons" as I call them are not early risers. The Lamar valley has a lot of grizzly bears and bison, saw my first wolf there too.
    You are going to love the Beartooth hwy, one of my favorite roads. Great photos, keep them coming!
     
    A.M likes this.
  8. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2007
    Messages:
    6,733
    Likes Received:
    193
    Trophy Points:
    108
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Map
    JD,

    I've chatted with Jen about it, and it doesn't sound like a blown head-gasket from what I've heard. I would first check that it is not a bad radiator cap causing the system not to fully pressurize. The oil was not milky, the oil level did not increase, and there was not white smoke (or any signs of coolant) out of exhaust. From what she could observe, it was only overflowing from the overflow tube.

    After the overflowing a few times, she could have had air in the system which might have prevented the fan from kicking on when it should have.

    It was happening all at higher altitudes as well, so less atmospheric pressure, lower boiling point, not a fully pressurized system (Im guessing), so leads me to my assumption of a radiator cap/hose/fitting, etc.

    Low hanging fruit:
    1. just a bad rad cap (or loose hose/fitting) with air in system and not allowing full pressurization.
    2. Stay out of Hellowstone to stop Moto from puking!

    Not-so-low hanging fruit: bad thermostat, blocked internal passage.

    El sucko: blown head gasket.

    Anyway, I don't want to hijack her thread too much.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2017
    A.M likes this.
  9. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2007
    Messages:
    6,733
    Likes Received:
    193
    Trophy Points:
    108
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Map
    Oh, and I agree with you Jen. I've been all over Hell-in-stone, hiking over several days, early in the morning to late at night. Yes, there are some pretty sights but you are not missing anything in my opinion. I'd rather go to Lake Tahoe than Yellowstone. Extremely overrated. Hiking around the Tetons and white water rafting the Snake River was much more enjoyable. Only reason to go to Yellowstone is to get thru it to Beartooth Pass.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2017
    A.M and Joey_Dude like this.
  10. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,984
    Likes Received:
    342
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Orlando
    Map
    USA and Canada are majestically (is that a word? LOL) beautiful - magnificent pics AM!
     
    A.M likes this.
  11. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    2,245
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Platte City, MO
    Map
    Yeah, Yellowstone traffic can be awful, which is why I avoid it during high traffic months. But don't trash the park because of the stupid antics of the moronic vehicles/drivers. Also don't forget you're a "tourist" too. I've been there when I was basically the only vehicle on the roads and it was great, but I've also been there during high season and vowed never to do that again.

    You wouldn't call the PCH awful because you get stuck behind some RV's/bicyclists/trucks/sightseers. I can't imagine driving that highway during peak tourist season. But it's gorgeous minus the traffic.
     
    A.M likes this.
  12. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Even the extraterrestrials and shadow people come and go without leaving a wake of disgust behind them.

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  13. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Great points! And Yellowstone does have the amazing geological features being the caldera it is.

    And yes, I be a tourist as well, but I'm not a tourist that does unsafe idiotic things...especially when areas are full of people and I could potentially hurt someone or wildlife.

    I think it also has to do with what I love to see.

    Like if there were beautiful cliffs and a coast or huge snow-capped mountains to stare at while stuck behind others being unsafe and squirrelly and causing bear jams (like I was on parts of 101 and Canadian Rockies), I wouldn't mind so much.

    But to me, Yellowstone was just a road lined with trees that I couldn't see much past therefore feeling trapped behind others being unsafe when I was trying to just get through.

    The area from Alpine, WY before the South entrance and Teton Park Road and Jenny and Jackson Lakes were just as busy, but the scenery... <3 <3

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
    derstuka likes this.
  14. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    One thing I wish I would have made time for was whitewater rafting. I havent been since a kid and found myself wishing I were in the rivers as I rode by. Since I'm close to CO, I need to just go there and do it.

    Yes, peeps need to go through Yellowstone at least once, IMO, to judge it for themselves and even more to get to Beartooth. Amazing! I'll put up pics tonight.

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  15. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    And thanks for all input on cooling system. Joey_Dude, the link you sent is A++, Thank You!!

    Should have some answers soon.

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
    Joey_Dude likes this.
  16. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Monday, June 26th, continued, Beartooth Pass



    I was soooo happy Beartooth Pass was open and moto didn’t throw any more fits the rest of the evening!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    You have to ride or drive the All-American designated road some day!

    [​IMG]

    The road is definitely the most magnificent in the U.S. that I've been on (besides parts of the PCH and 101 I was able to see).

    I was freaking out the entire time!!

    The road begins in a green valley, after descending from some elevation, and quickly climbs up the pass.

    [​IMG]

    The scene quickly changes into snow and ice (which will vary depending when you go), with magnificent mountain range views, then to tundra with green grass and waterfalls and rocks, and brings you down to valley and into Red Lodge, Montana.

    The pass is called Beartooth because there is a rock protrusion on a mountain peak that looks just like a bear tooth.

    I'm just gonna leave the pics here so you can see the change in terrain from beginning to end.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Look carefully to see the winding road in this pic:

    [​IMG]

    After you reach the top, highest elevation road in Northern U.S. Rockies at 10,947 feet, the descent features steep drop offs and the Beartooth.

    [​IMG]

    Look closely to the left in the mountains and you will see the feature that names this road:

    [​IMG]

    Then moto and I played before heading down.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I am in LOVE and can't wait to go back!

    [​IMG]

    The descent and valley is breathtaking!

    [​IMG]

    The road cuts down the side of the mountain, parts with very steep cliffs and grades, and goes on and on in the valley below.

    [​IMG]

    The gloriousness of the experience and time I spent up here was overwhelming to me, especially after the hard day. I was so moved being up here...watching the sun set upon one of the best places I've been in the U.S.

    [​IMG]

    After soaking in the sunset, I continued down to ride through that valley and made camp in Red Lodge, Montana.

    I arrived there around last light by the rushing and peaceful sounding Rock Creek, which was a super treat!

    The day began and ended beautifully!
    (Tetons and Beartooth)

    And for me to be highly annoyed takes a tremendous amount of effort by the annoyer.

    So to go from intensely annoyed (like 10 years of annoying things rolled into a few hours during the day) back to being in Heaven so fast says A LOT about Beartooth Pass.

    If you ever are ever, ever, ever up in the area, DO BEARTOOTH PASS!!!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2017
    Riding a 2000, Joey_Dude and RVFR like this.
  17. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Messages:
    1,969
    Likes Received:
    548
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    London
    Map
    I'm guessing again very little ttraffic..
     
  18. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Yes, very little traffic.

    Though I was very perplexed by the drastically less traffic and wondered why Beartooth wasn't as busy as Yellowstone.

    As soon as I reached the Northeast Entrance out of Yellowstone it's like everyone disappeared.

    I met some people in Red Lodge the next morning who had just spent time in Yellowstone. They had no idea Beartooth existed when I asked if they did it.

    My camping neighbor in Red Lodge, a rider even, also had no idea Beartooth existed. He said he would go up it when he left camp. I sure hope he did.

    [​IMG]

    I may have the complete wrong impression, but if it's being implied that I enjoyed Beartooth because of little traffic (especially after my previous post), that's not the case.

    Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway in Canada were busy. 101 in CA was busy. Teton Park Road was super packed. Colorado roads I haven't written about were parades at times. But those places had the most amazing scenery to view while on the road with proper and ample pull outs to stop at to accommodate the crowds.

    I enjoyed Beartooth because it blows Yellowstone out of this universe with visuals and how it personally made me feel standing on top of the world. And I would have had the same feelings about Beartooth had it been super busy.

    No comparison to anything else in the U.S. and I've been many places...I loved it even more than Scenic 12 Utah and that road blew me away and is also an All-American Road.

    There is a reason Beartooth is designated as an All-American Road.
     
    Riding a 2000 likes this.
  19. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    I'm glad you got to ride the Beartooth, one of my all time favorites. I have done it 2 times and was amazed both times. Its hard to comprehend they put a road through there. Did you run into any sheep herders? I had to stop for sheep crossing on the way up.
    National Geographic gave it the number 1 road in America a while back.
     
    A.M and RVFR like this.
  20. zombie

    zombie New Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2012
    Messages:
    602
    Likes Received:
    90
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Guelph Ontario
    So enjoying your pics and descriptions. I don't think I have ever seen so many selfies with such big smiles! I hope you smile that much all the time. :)
     
    A.M likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page