Yellowstone Bike and Hike 2021

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: Here is your chance to bike, hike and tour through one of America’s most beautiful National Parks. The ride allows us to visit Old Faithful, Yellowstone Falls, Mammoth Hot Springs, and much much more.  The ride is a truck-supported tour with motel lodging. The truck is primarily for luggage and supply transport and only carries a rider in the event of major injury or illness.  All roads on the ride are truck grade meaning the percent of grade is 7% or less.  This tour includes eight move days, i.e. the rides between lodging sites, five non-move days, and the arrival day.  There are many hikes and rides available on the 5 non-move days.The arrival date is July 23rd, 2021 & departure date is August 6th, 2021. (Note:The tour leader has previously led the same tour three times.)

RATING: This ride is rated as a 2B+. The averages for required ride days are 43 miles and a daily elevation gain of 2,030’. The days that exceed 2B are as follows:  day 2, 53 miles and 2650 feet; day 3, 72 miles and 2890 feet; day 7, 38 miles and 2750 feet; and day 13, 62 miles and 1800'.   Day by day distance and elevation information is listed in the Itinerary section.  The 2B+ indicates high elevation.  The lowest elevation on this ride is ~4,554'!  Generally road conditions are good, but participants should be comfortable occasionally riding in some areas where traffic is heavy with tourists. There are some roads that have minimal shoulders.

ITINERARY

Day 1 We will meet at the Holiday Inn Express in Belgrade, Montana. Happy hour is at 5:30pm MDT followed by our welcome dinner.

Day 2 (53 miles, 2,650 ft) We will travel south and west from Belgrade to the small town (no stop lights) of Ennis, Montana.

Day 3 (72 miles, 2890 ft) This is our longest day. We will ride along the Montana plains, viewing antelope, before passing the famous Quake Lake, which was created by an earthquake on August 17, 1959. We continue riding along Hebgren Lake before turning south into West Yellowstone.

Day 4 is an off day. However there are various smaller rides available.

Day 5 (32 miles, 1,610, ft) Today is a very scenic day as we ride into Yellowstone Park along the Madison River to Old Faithful. Our lodging is the Old Faithful Lodge where Old Faithful shoots off  ~70 minutes.

Day 6 is an off day.

Day 7 (38 miles, 2,750 ft) We leave Old Faithful and climb one small climb and we cross the Continental Divide twice before riding along Yellowstone Lake to Lake Village. Along the way we will see steaming mud pots.

Day 8 is an off day, which allows everyone to signup for a wildlife excursion.

Day 9 (16 miles, 1,336 ft) Today we leave Lake Village and ride along the beautiful Yellowstone River.  In 2017 we watched a grizzly bear eating a bison carcass.  Our destination is Canyon Village, where we are within walking distance to the beautiful and famous Yellowstone Falls.

Day 10 is an off day, which allows everyone to signup for a wildlife excursion.

Day 11 (33 miles 1,142 ft) Today we ride to Norris Hotsprings for viewing and lunch.  After lunch we ride to Mammoth Hot Springs. For the next two nights we stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.  Each time I've visited Mammonth Hot Springs, the accommodations were different.  However, we'll be staying there during the elk-rutting season, and there is even a chance we will be awakened in the middle of the night to bugling!

Day 12 is an off day. For those who wish to soak in a natural hot spring, there is a hot spring that flows into the Gardner River 4-5 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs…A great way to relax and enjoy nature at it's finest!

Day 13 (62 miles, 1,800 ft) Today we leave Mammoth Hot Springs and ride thru Gardiner, MT and along both sides of the Yellowstone River to Livingston.  Along the way we will have an other day where we can enjoy a warm swimming pool.

Day 14 (41 Miles, 2,100 ft) Today’s route takes us on a frontage road and then a backcountry road into Bozeman and then Belgrade.

WEATHER AND ELEVATION NOTES: Elevations – The base/lowest elevation is 4,454 ft in Belgrade, and the highest point on the tour is about 8,262 ft. A rule of thumb is for every 1,000 feet above sea level; you lose 3% of your energy. Therefore for those who live at sea level you’ll be experiencing a minimum of 12% less energy.  The weather can change quite rapidly from hot (80+ degrees) to snow.  Temperature is so variable that leader has not included an average temperature.  There have been instances where it has snowed every month of the year in Yellowstone!

LODGING & MEALS
Lodging will vary from plain hotels to nice hotels to 4 star accommodations to cabins. Rest days are in West Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Lake Yellowstone, Canyon Lodge, and Mammoth Hot Springs. Trip fees include the first and last night’s dinner, Happy Hours, all lunches, and 5 breakfasts. On this trip participants will share in the responsibility of laying out Happy Hour and lunch preparations as well as cleanup afterwards.  The number of breakfasts may change if Covid 19 is still around.

LOGISTICS
We start in Belgrade, Montana (airport code BZN) on July 23, 2021 with our group meeting on 7/23/21 at 5:30pm MDT. There is local transportation from the airport to the Holiday Inn Express hotel. Cars and bike boxes can be left at the hotel during the tour. We return to Belgrade on August 5, 2021 and lodging for this night is included along with our last night’s dinner. The tour ends the morning of August 6, 2021.  Bring your national park pass if you have one.

The ride leader is unaware of the availability of rental bicycles.   Tandems and E-Bikes are welcome.  If you plan on riding an Ebike, please contact the leader.  As is customary on BAC bike tours, you should be prepared to make any necessary bicycle repairs while underway.

Riders are allowed to bring TWO AIRPLANE "CARRY ON" sized bags each weighing less than 25 pounds,  One large "NON-CARRY ON" suit case is not allowed. Some riders bring their bike in a large bike bike and have one large suit case.  They then empty their large suit case into "TWO AIRPLANE CARRY ON" sized duffle bags.

Cars, bike boxes and large suit cases can be stored at the start.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
The estimated cost for this tour is $3,325 (not including the $50 BAC registration fee which is paid online) and includes 14 nights of lodging, (based on double occupancy) luggage vehicle, van driver, Happy Hours, two group dinners, one pizza night, lunch supplies, (more than just PB&J’s and a banana) and a multitude of snacks. In addition there will be five hotels that will provide breakfasts. GPS files, which allow you to print your own maps and cue sheets, will be posted on the Ride Leader Docs section of the tour for participants to access/download. The ride leader will NOT provide cue sheets and maps. The deposit of $1,850 is due as soon as the Rider Leader notifies you have been accepted onto the tour (SEE THE EXCEPTION ABOVE IN THE RIDE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS). The remaining deposit of $1,475 will be due March 1, 2021.

SINGLES & SOLOS:
Singles (riders who have or want a room-mate) will be accepted.  However, due to limited room availability in Yellowstone Park, Singles riders who do not want a room-mate will not be accepted.   While we encourage singles to try to find their own roommate, we will assist singles who are looking for a room mate. If a single participant is unable to find a roommate by February 1, 2021, then the single participant will unfortunately be removed from the ride without penalty (except the BAC registration fee and credit card processing fee).  

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride; use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($50) and tour deposit ($1,850) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. The second deposit of $1,475 will be due February 1, 2021. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Leader by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description, or preferably calling Warner at 775-843-3960 or emailing Warner at jwarner-griswold@att.net.