What Does the 2023 ADV Season Hold For Us?
I’m dying here. Living in the mountains of central Idaho, the winter of 2022-2023 has been tough. I’ve got the worst case of cabin fever imaginable. I feel like my life is on pause while we wait for spring to finally show itself and provide enough warmth to thaw me out. I’m not really complaining—there is a ton of snow, and we need the moisture—but the flat gray sky, cold temps, and massive snow drifts have done a number on me this year, and will likely do a number on the 2023 ADV season as
All of the western BDR’s have high base elevations and cross mountain passes with elevations in the 8K ft to 10K ft range. In the best of years, many of them are not open until late June or early July. (I know, I’ve tried.) But that’s in a drought-year or when snowpack is relatively normal. This year is going to be anything but normal.
Now consider the Sierras. In March, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area reported it’s biggest snow season on record with 695 inches at the main lodge and 870 inches at the 11K ft summit. Statewide in California, snow sensors were registering total snowpack at 237% of average. In Idaho, numbers are less extreme where—on 3/31/23—snowpack was 109% to 125% of average. In central Nevada, the Lamoille Canyon near Elko registered a greater snowpack than any time since monitoring began some 90 years ago. East of Ely in Great Basin National Park, record snow is expected to delay the opening of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive from the typical Memorial Day opening to around July 1.
What does this mean for ADV riders? A very late start to the season for sure. Route updates on Ridebdr.com, the official website for BDR, are suggesting that mountain passes for ALL western BDR’s will likely remain impassible until mid-July. In my opinion, that may even be a tad generous.
So, as a workaround, we stay low, right? We find alternatives to riding high elevation passes. Logical. But we also need to account for runoff. Streams are going to be bloated into the fall riding season and many water crossings may also remain dangerous or impassible. Additionally—at least in Southern Idaho—excessive moisture in the desert can create a gumbo of mud that’s not ridable, especially on a big bike. Ugh.
One of our first planned expeditions for the season was to ride the NVBDR this year, breaking off in the northern section and crossing over to catch part of the ORBDR in time to spend the 4th of July with family in Bend. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit worried about pulling this one off—unless it becomes less of an adventure and more of a highway cruise. I can’t wait to tell you more about our plan for this and some of our other rides in upcoming BLOGs, but I think the key concept for all of us this season is to remain agile and flexible. 2023 will demand that even the best laid plans will have to change—even mid-route.
Cheers—
John
