I've got the new map!

[Trevize1138]

Woo hoo! Maah Daah Hey '02 map, baby! Complete with topography.

Actually, the map is somewhat of a letdown. I was told it had campground locations on it and all that good stuff but it's actually lacking some of the features (like the elevation profile) of the older map. So, guess we're going to be using it in tandem with the older map. It does have the Buffalo Gap trail marked on it, so that's a definite plus.

By the way, for those who don't know, Shad, Andy (friend of ours not on this forum) and I plan to ride down-and-up the MDH in 4 days over Memorial Day weekend this year. I say this not to brag ('cause we haven't achieved the goal yet) but instead to put extra pressure on ourselves to actually do it.

I figure, if I state publicly on here that we're riding the whole thing TWICE in four days and we come back saying "yeah ... we wussed out" you guys would spend the rest of the summer making fun of us.

SO! Down-and-back in four days!!!! :sick:

We've all got BoBs (well, mine's a Yakima, but same concept) and better equipment all-around and we're training like mad!

Now, the real question remains: would you guys still respect us if we did North-to-South in 2 days, then decide to take a shuttle up to the car, bring it down to Sulley Creek and spend the next 2 days doing fun day trips without the trailers and weight? :banana:

[nigel]

Now, the real question remains: would you guys still respect us if we did North-to-South in 2 days, then decide to take a shuttle up to the car, bring it down to Sulley Creek and spend the next 2 days doing fun day trips without the trailers and weight? :banana:
Either way :) Its still a nice long ride....wish i had time to come with!

[BrightYellow]

Sounds like a good time. How far is it out and back?

-D

[Trevize1138]

We're not sure on the milage if you include the Buffalo Gap bypass around the South Unit of Theo Roosevelt Ntl. Park, but we're guessing close to 110 miles one way, making for 220 mi round trip :crazy2: .

In other words, a long freakin' way.

[manual63]

We're not sure on the milage if you include the Buffalo Gap bypass around the South Unit of Theo Roosevelt Ntl. Park, but we're guessing close to 110 miles one way, making for 220 mi round trip :crazy2: .

In other words, a long freakin' way.
110 miles of pure hell. 110 may not seem like much until you actually see the terrain. If you get up on top of one of the buttes, you just see hundreds of buttes all around. It's like this almost the whole way......not to mention the part that is cow tracked. I think we average between 6 - 8 MPH....maybe slower. That's not including food and water stops, which you have to filter with a pump to get clean water.

Sounds bad huh? Well, for some reason I love it!!!!!

[Trevize1138]

110 miles of pure hell. 110 may not seem like much until you actually see the terrain. If you get up on top of one of the buttes, you just see hundreds of buttes all around. It's like this almost the whole way......not to mention the part that is cow tracked. I think we average between 6 - 8 MPH....maybe slower. That's not including food and water stops, which you have to filter with a pump to get clean water.

Sounds bad huh? Well, for some reason I love it!!!!!
Our average last year was more like 5 mph, actually. 2-3 mph on some of those long climbs hauling all that gear :sick: .

Our longest day was 39 miles in 12 hours ... cripes, that's a 3.25 mph average! We thought we were cruising, too.

This year we hope to cover 60 miles the first day. HAW HAW HAW!!! ... oh, wait, we're serious ... :laugh:

[ryno lite]

Woo hoo! Maah Daah Hey '02 map, baby! Complete with topography.

Actually, the map is somewhat of a letdown. I was told it had campground locations on it and all that good stuff but it's actually lacking some of the features (like the elevation profile) of the older map. So, guess we're going to be using it in tandem with the older map. It does have the Buffalo Gap trail marked on it, so that's a definite plus.

By the way, for those who don't know, Shad, Andy (friend of ours not on this forum) and I plan to ride down-and-up the MDH in 4 days over Memorial Day weekend this year. I say this not to brag ('cause we haven't achieved the goal yet) but instead to put extra pressure on ourselves to actually do it.

I figure, if I state publicly on here that we're riding the whole thing TWICE in four days and we come back saying "yeah ... we wussed out" you guys would spend the rest of the summer making fun of us.

SO! Down-and-back in four days!!!! :sick:

We've all got BoBs (well, mine's a Yakima, but same concept) and better equipment all-around and we're training like mad!

Now, the real question remains: would you guys still respect us if we did North-to-South in 2 days, then decide to take a shuttle up to the car, bring it down to Sulley Creek and spend the next 2 days doing fun day trips without the trailers and weight? :banana:
I ordered a map this winter myself to get an updated version and it was a newer version but did not have the Buffalo Gap Trail. Kind of ticked me off! I ordered mine from the forest service, where did you get yours?

[jitterjepp]

110 miles of pure hell. 110 may not seem like much until you actually see the terrain. If you get up on top of one of the buttes, you just see hundreds of buttes all around. It's like this almost the whole way......not to mention the part that is cow tracked. I think we average between 6 - 8 MPH....maybe slower. That's not including food and water stops, which you have to filter with a pump to get clean water.

Sounds bad huh? Well, for some reason I love it!!!!!
Two days! I'm flying out to Utah on Sunday :banana::banana::banana:and going for a one day'er unsupported and solo on the White Rim trail. Yikes!:crazy2:

Soooooo excited!

[ryno lite]

Two days! I'm flying out to Utah on Sunday :banana::banana::banana:and going for a one day'er unsupported and solo on the White Rim trail. Yikes!:crazy2:

Soooooo excited!
I'm jealous!!! Have fun!

[Trevize1138]

I ordered a map this winter myself to get an updated version and it was a newer version but did not have the Buffalo Gap Trail. Kind of ticked me off! I ordered mine from the forest service, where did you get yours?
Hmm ... weird! I got mine from the Forest Service, too. It's the '02 map and has the Buffalo Gap trail on it. What it doesn't have that I thought it would are the campground locations, which isn't a biggie, but I think there's a definite lack of good communication out there in Bismarck about what maps they have and what maps guys like you and I are looking for.

[ryno lite]

Hmm ... weird! I got mine from the Forest Service, too. It's the '02 map and has the Buffalo Gap trail on it. What it doesn't have that I thought it would are the campground locations, which isn't a biggie, but I think there's a definite lack of good communication out there in Bismarck about what maps they have and what maps guys like you and I are looking for.
Mine is an '02 also. I looked at it closer and the Buffalo Gap trail is there. The main trail is in obvious red and I didn't realize the Buffalo Gap trail was a thin black dotted line. I guess it is on my map. Hard to see! I have the campsites, but you have to look closely to find them. They are small red tents with a flag on them. They are on my map. I also have a Trail Elevation Profile on my map. Thanks for making me look closer at mine to finally find the Buffalo Gap Trail!

[Trevize1138]

Mine is an '02 also. I looked at it closer and the Buffalo Gap trail is there. The main trail is in obvious red and I didn't realize the Buffalo Gap trail was a thin black dotted line. I guess it is on my map. Hard to see! I have the campsites, but you have to look closely to find them. They are small red tents with a flag on them. They are on my map. I also have a Trail Elevation Profile on my map. Thanks for making me look closer at mine to finally find the Buffalo Gap Trail!
I'm going to have to search around Medora while I'm out there and see if I can find The Perfect Map(TM) for the Maah Daah Hey that has everything on it.

Of course, by that time we'll have probably learned the trail so damn well that we won't ever *need* a map again ... but, I gotta hang up something in my office to drool over. :D

[ryno lite]

You'd kind of hope they'd have a more modern version out there than '02.