Hig Hurtenflurst <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:Hi I'm researching the feasibility of doing a camping tour in the eastern section of the Hiawatha
National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The proposed route is from St Ignace up to
Paradise and then along the lake shore to Point Iroquois and then back to St Ignace.
questions:
1. What is the topography? (flat, hilly, rolling etc?)
I know nothing specifically about that area but here are ways to research what's already published.
Get the USGS topographical maps covering your proposed route for the definitive topography. See:
topozone.comtopozone.comOpen ↗ mapserver.maptech.comindex.cfmOpen ↗
usgs.govusgs.govOpen ↗ delorme.comdelorme.comOpen ↗
etc.
One way to learn to read topo maps is to get the maps for your local area and find all your usual
ride routes on them. You will easily learn to relate the map markings to your knowledge of hill size
and steepness, the sharpness of turns, etc.
DeLorme sells a computer program with "vector" maps that allow it to print elevation profile charts
of a given route, if you find those useful.
If you can practice climbing local hills that compare to the worst in terms of grade and height you
will face on your tour, that would be good. If none of your local hills are hard enough, you can
simulate harder climbs by riding laps on a smaller hill (climb it, coast back down, climb it again,
etc.---this becomes less dull if you can find a suitable loop route that lets you hit one or more
climbs in quick succession). Practice climbing while pulling your full touring load, too.
If you live in a totally flat area you may have to get creative to simulate climbing, such as by
riding a stationary bike set at high resistance. Nothing beats real hills, though.
Even if you don't have topo maps, you can guess the degree of vertical relief in an area by seeing
how straight the roads are on a highway map. If the roads are straight and laid out like a
checkerboard, the area is probably pancake flat (see: northwest Ohio). If the roads are squiggly,
the area is probably hilly (see: southeast Ohio). If your local area has variable relief, look at
your local road maps and you'll see the pattern.
Time spent studying maps is never wasted. If you're traveling alone you want to know where you are
at all times and what's coming next. If you are traveling with a guide it's still good to have your
own knowledge, in case something happens to the guide or you get separated.
You might follow Jobst Brandt's advice to find a friend back home who will act as a message relay
station, in case you get split up from your companions. Each of you can independently find phones
and call your friend, who will then tell you where your buddies are.
If you travel alone, you should leave your trip schedule with a friend and check in at designated
times to report your progress. That way if you are lying unconscious in a ditch somewhere, your
friend may alert the authorities if you are 24 hours late checking in.
Traveling alone, of course, puts you at more risk from accidents, breakdowns, needing some odd
piece of equipment you don't have, etc. If you travel with two companions, one can stay with a
disabled rider while the other one goes for help. A group of riders can carry more tools and
spare parts, etc. It's good to list every item you carry so your group can carry the maximum
variety of tools and spare parts without unnecessary duplication. For example, you don't all need
to carry chain tools since you should never need more than one for the whole group. It would also
be good to have everybody riding bikes with interchangeable parts, to the extent possible. Then
maybe in an emergency you could cobble one working bike out of the pieces of several so one rider
could go for help.
If you have a cell phone, check with your phone company about coverage in your tour area.
Quoted message said:2. What are the roads like? (both condition and traffic)
Some municipalities publish traffic density information on the Web. However, you can probably
guesstimate traffic densities by noting where the population centers are. A major highway providing
the shortest route between two population centers will have heavy traffic, etc.
No matter what anybody tells you about the roads, you should select tire widths adequate to deal
with something worse.
Carrying your gear in a trailer reduces the stress on your bike, and gives you the option of
stashing the trailer for unloaded side trips. However, I wouldn't leave the trailer unattended in
any populated area, if you want to see your stuff again.
Quoted message said:3. Weather issues (best time of year, rain frequency etc)
There's weather information all over the Web. For example, NOAA publishes historical averages and
records for many locations in the U.S. (major cities, airports, anywhere there's a weather station).
Here are the average temperatures for Cincinnati, Ohio where I live:
erh.noaa.govcvgnorm.htmlOpen ↗
With a little searching you will find what you need. Look for average temperatures and
precipitation, and the records, for the dates when you want to travel.
Quoted message said:4. Wildlife issues (from bugs to bears)
This is all on the Web or in libraries. Check the Web pages for any Universities or colleges in the
area that have biology departments. Typically they describe what's left of the local wildlife. Check
the area's newspapers for reports of animal attacks, disease problems, etc. Look up the state's
department of wildlife site.
Quoted message said:5. Is this trip viable for a bike camping newbie?
Only you can answer that question. You could try overnight trips in your area to test your skills
and equipment, and progressively work up to longer trips. Be sure to try camping in the rain, too.
Better to find out what doesn't work when you are still close enough to home to bail out.
Quoted message said:Thanks for any info. Tom
Also check the obvious references available on any search site:
search.yahoo.comsearchOpen ↗
and your local library, and Amazon.com for books on bicycle touring with regional coverage.
-- Daniel Mocsny
