Should I risk Riding to Mount Rushmore next week?

[GLADIATOR88]

Hey Guys

I am lucky enough to have off next week.. 4/28 - 5/5 2014. I am leaving Long Island Monday and heading to The badlands and Mount Rushmore.. My question is it to early in the season for this bike trip. I am not worried about riding in the 30's (heated gear and my new Klim Badlands pro suit should help) but I am worried about snow and ice. I was originally heading to the ozarks but id rather see the badlands and black hills.

Oh I plan on leaving Monday after work and arriving wed mid day. Tues will be a big day 1k miles or so on bike.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Scoobynut]

Gladiator,

I live 200 miles north of the Black Hills, near the N. Dakota badlands. Here's the 10 day forecast for Deadwood, SD, (in the black hills) into next week:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USSD0084

As you can see there's a little snow forecast on the 29th, and cold temps at night, there is probably still snow at the higher elevations, but not on the roads. You'd probably be able to ride a lot of the main gravel roads too, but probably not trails as they're probably still very wet and muddy from snowmelt. If you're not afraid of a little cool weather, you'd probably be fine.

I would surf on over to this forum as most of these guys are based in the Black Hills and will have much better local knowledge than I can give you:

http://www.dakotadualsportriders.com/smf/index.php

If you make it up to the N. Dakota badlands, look me up, I'll put you up for the night.

 

[GLADIATOR88]

Thanks so much for the info!!! If I head up North ill let you know!! Anybody out there have any route suggestions when I get there?

 

[Scoobynut]

When you get to the Black Hills, grab one of the free Black Hills maps. Almost every gas station or any other type of business has them. It shows you all the paved roads and most all of the gravel roads (100s and 100s of miles of gravel roads in the Black Hills). There is a Forest Service office in Spearfish that gives out free maps, these are more detailed and show all the trails (100s of miles of trails in the Black Hills too). But again, a lot of the trails may still be pretty mucky.

Website for Spearfish USFS office:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/about-forest/offices

I don't know if I can give any specific route suggestions, best advice I can offer is get the free map and wander around wherever you like. With your somewhat limited time, you'll be hard pressed to ride it all.

 

[GLADIATOR88]

Not to happy today... Realizing there is a huge storm hitting whole country this week.... might be heading to key west instead... leaving tomorrow am and dont know where to go...lol

 

[Scoobynut]

Probably for the best, Gladiator. Since I last gave you the forecast in my 1st reply above, the Black Hills are now under a winter storm watch through Tues.

 

[GLADIATOR88]

Wow... so I went south and got to Key West in 36 hours from home. Chilled out in the sun by the pool for 3 days then hit everglades national park and south beach in miami. Then headed to georgia mountains then chekola skwy and tail of the dragon ...foothills pkwy...etc and 200 miles of blue ridge mountains ... great trip and only rode in 100 miles of hard rain in Fla coming back north... great trip!!

 

[Reveille]

Sounds like you made a wise decision. ::024:: glad you enjoyed it and had a safe journey. ::008::