Katy Trail Weather - for late March
- + I am considering cycling the Katy trail from March 19th to March 25, 2006. This is our Spring Break so I do not have the ability to do at another time. Am I nuts? Is it likely to be too cold and/or ...
Discussion started 01/27/2006 11:56 PM by cathy j - 7 replies (last reply by ET at 02/23/2006 12:15 PM)cathy j from st helena ca on 01/27/2006 11:56 PM
I am considering cycling the Katy trail from March 19th to March 25, 2006. This is our Spring Break so I do not have the ability to do at another time. Am I nuts? Is it likely to be too cold and/or snowing? I am interested in opinions on the advisability of cycling at that time of year. thanks...Cathy J
savage24 from KC,MO on 01/28/2006 04:38 AM
Hi Cathy,
According to intellicast.com the normal temperatures for central Missouri in March are: low 33F and high 53F. You could add a few degrees for the end of the month. We don't normally have snow in March. Only you can say if you enjoy cycling in those temps. One other thing - some of the businesses along the trail are seasonal and may be closed or operating on their 'winter schedule' so it may be a good idea to plan for food and lodging carefully and/or call ahead and confirm.
TRinJboro from Jonesboro, AR on 01/29/2006 07:02 AM
Did the KATY in early April 2 years ago. You'll have to take clothing for both cold and mild weather, as I had both in the stretch of 4 days. The wind changes from day to day also this time of the year.
The Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 02/01/2006 09:40 AM
TRinJboro is so right....its when my siblings and I rode the KATY. I gets darn chilly in April, never mind March. We did find many busineses closed. Mark of the Dalton Boys
bryan from Springdale, AR on 02/05/2006 05:27 PM
Cathy j...My wife and I will be on the trail at the same time you are. This will be our first trip of any distance on it. We rode from Boonville to Pilot Grove and back the day after thanksgiving. That was a good time. Our daughter is going to drop us off in Hermann on the 18th, and pick us up the next weekend at where ever we get to. We plan to spend 2 nights in Herman, then move west. We are going to spend a couple of days in Jefferson City, and then continue on west. Look for us, we'll be on Fuji bikes, an Odessa (hers) and a Utah. If I can find enough pet friendly lodging, we'll have our little white dog with us too. That will be the subject of another post...where to find lodging for us and the dog. If any one reading this post has some info, you can email me at bcspain@sbcglobal.net.
Happy Trails
Clint Thompson from Moberly MO on 02/19/2006 09:16 PM
Well, you can never tell what March will bring. My wife, daughter, Mom and 4 siblings are doing a 2 day ride the weekend of the 25th. We are staying at a bed and breakfast in Peers that night. I guess if the weather is bad we will just hang out at the bed and breakfast and drive to the wineries. We are all looking forward to this trip. I sure hope the weather is nice.
Have a great time
Clint
Dolores from Wheaton, IL on 02/22/2006 09:11 PM
We want to ride the trail earlier--March 9, 10 and 11. We don't mind colder temperatures, but we are concerned about the quality of the trail. Could we count on it being relatively dry at that time of the year? Would it be spongy?
Thanks,
Dolores
ET from Columbia on 02/23/2006 12:15 PM
In general, the surface is excellent if it's really cold, but gets spongiest if it has been frozen at night and then thaws during the day. Of course, it will depend on rain near the time, too. We have had quite a dry winter so far.
western state border
- + Fron Clinton, how far can you take the trail to the MO-KS border? I am planning a cross-state ride utalizing the Katy trail and I was wondering how far I can take the trail to the west before I was f...
Discussion started 02/15/2006 02:44 PM by Justin - 1 reply (last reply by The Dalton Boys at 02/16/2006 06:45 AM)Justin from St. Charles on 02/15/2006 02:44 PM
Fron Clinton, how far can you take the trail to the MO-KS border? I am planning a cross-state ride utalizing the Katy trail and I was wondering how far I can take the trail to the west before I was forced to take roads. Please respond with routes or ideas. Feel free to email me at justinlarson13@hotmail.com, just be sure to use Katy Trail in the subject box.
The Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 02/16/2006 06:45 AM
Justin...You are at the end in Clinton. Go to MO. Bike Federation web and it will give an alternate from Windsor to KC. RT. 7 is the most direct from Clinton to KC and from what I've read not a good idea. Regards...Mark of the Dalton Boys.
Papa Jake's Donut Shop (Sedalia)
- + Also, please tell me of a GREAT bakery in Sedalia that does Birthday cakes. Have a great day!
Discussion started 01/13/2006 11:02 AM by Cynthia - 1 reply (last reply by Sarah Heimsoth at 02/14/2006 06:19 PM)Cynthia from warsaw on 01/13/2006 11:02 AM
Also, please tell me of a GREAT bakery in Sedalia that does Birthday cakes. Have a great day!
Cynthia from warsaw on 01/13/2006 11:02 AM
Also, please tell me of a GREAT bakery in Sedalia that does Birthday cakes. Have a great day!
Sarah Heimsoth from Sedalia, MO on 02/14/2006 06:19 PM
I don't know how, but I saw your comment on the internet, and I thought I'd let you know about Bing's Bakery in Sedalia, MO. I am the cake decorator, and I've been there for six plus years. We have wonderful cakes and if you'd like you may call us at the bakery. Not meaning to brag, but many of my customers tell us we're the best in Sedalia. (660) 829-1400. I hope you find what you're looking for.
Sarah Heimsoth
Sarah Heimsoth from Sedalia, MO on 02/14/2006 06:19 PM
I don't know how, but I saw your comment on the internet, and I thought I'd let you know about Bing's Bakery in Sedalia, MO. I am the cake decorator, and I've been there for six plus years. We have wonderful cakes and if you'd like you may call us at the bakery. Not meaning to brag, but many of my customers tell us we're the best in Sedalia. (660) 829-1400. I hope you find what you're looking for.
Sarah Heimsoth
Saving the Bridge?
- + This article appeared on STLToday.com this afternoon. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/55B28A5B9F19D0888625711500651E47?OpenDocument Does anyone have any...
Discussion started 02/14/2006 04:17 PM by Big Rick - 1 reply (last reply by Big Rick at 02/14/2006 04:17 PM)Big Rick from St. Charles, Mo. on 02/14/2006 04:17 PM
This article appeared on STLToday.com this afternoon. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/55B28A5B9F19D0888625711500651E47?OpenDocument Does anyone have any information about the organization working to keep the bridge intact?
Ray (webmaster) on 02/14/2006 04:36 PM
Yes.... Save the Katy Bridge Coalition
GPS Coordinates for the Katy Trail
- + Does a book or website exist that contains the trail heads, resataurants, points of interest, etc... coordinates for use with GPS units?
Thanks,
Brian
Discussion started 01/10/2006 07:44 PM by Brian - 7 replies (last reply by Brian at 02/11/2006 03:47 PM)Brian from Managua, Nicaragua on 01/10/2006 07:44 PM
Does a book or website exist that contains the trail heads, resataurants, points of interest, etc... coordinates for use with GPS units?
Thanks,
Brian
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 01/11/2006 10:23 AM
Google it!
Brian from Managua on 01/11/2006 11:14 PM
I googled like a champ.
No GPS Coordinates.
I guess it just needs to be done.
Brian
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 01/12/2006 08:46 AM
I Googled like it was my job.....I mean quickly from my desk at work.... and found this site listed third from the top. It says it has coordinates, but who knows.
http://www.gps-maps.us/coordinates.shtml
savage24 from KC,MO on 01/15/2006 11:59 AM
Brian, I have an inexpensive GPS that I cannot enter coordinates into ahead of time; I have to be at the place I want to enter and then I can create a "waypoint". I have created several "waypoints" for trailheads in my GPS. Once the "waypoint" is created, the screen will display the coordinates, so here is what I have (all coordinates are for trailheads exept for Clinton which is for the Benson Center near the trailhead) (*=degree sign)
Clinton: 38* 22.827N 093* 45.369W 749ft
Sedalia: 38* 42.451N 093* 13.263W 894ft
Boonville: 38* 58.494N 092* 44.983W 607ft
Rocheport: 38* 58.655N 092* 33.659W 555ft
North Jefferson: 38* 36.353N 092* 09.742W 532ft
Mokane: 38* 40.445N 091* 52.315W 553ft
Rhineland: 38* 43.186N 091* 30.732W 524ft
McKittrick: 38* 44.039N 091* 26.672W 533ft
Marthasville: 38* 37.635N 091* 03.651W 501ft
St Charles: 38* 46.794N 090* 28.844W 779ft
Hope this helps!
Clinton
Brian from Managua, Nicaragua on 02/09/2006 11:27 PM
Thanks a bunch for the coordinates.
I have been using GPS since '94 and assumed that by now waypoints would exist for any location one desires.
I guess the Katy Trail Guide needs to be re-written with coordinates.
Thanks for what you have supplied me with.
Hopefully some more people will get on the GPS craze.
Brian
Managua, Nicaragua
savage24 from KC,MO on 02/10/2006 05:39 AM
You're welcome Brian.
If there are any particular coordinates that you want, I'll try to get them for you.
Brian from Managua on 02/11/2006 03:47 PM
Basically I was hoping to get all trail head coordinates as well as points of interest, etc... (restaurants, B&B's, Hotels, etc...
Thanks for the coordinates you have already sent.
Maybe someone else out there has done it.
I will!
Brian
Best Times to Ride
- + We are planning on riding the trail sometime later this summer. It will be a group of about 4-5 of us and I was thinking about riding in early August or late July. We will begin preparing for the ride...
Discussion started 02/10/2006 04:19 PM by Jarred - 11 replies (last reply by savage24 at 02/11/2006 08:25 AM)Jarred from Florissant on 02/10/2006 04:19 PM
We are planning on riding the trail sometime later this summer. It will be a group of about 4-5 of us and I was thinking about riding in early August or late July. We will begin preparing for the ride within the next 2 weeks. We are pretty amped about it. We are thinking about riding the trail out to Clinton and back from St. Charles. We are thinking that it can be done in about 5 days. Just wandering if everyone thinks this is a feasable time period??
savage24 from KC,MO on 02/10/2006 10:07 PM
Did you mean 5 days each way (10 days total)? Or did you really mean only 5 days to go out and back? Are you carrying camping gear on the bikes or traveling light and staying in B&B's & motels?
Jarred from Florissant on 02/11/2006 12:58 AM
We are thinking about 5 days to go there and back. We were thinking about taking one tent for all of us to camp in. We were going to carry it on a small bike trailer. At least that was just one of the ideas. We had also thought about staying in some of the hotels or motels along the way. There is still a lot of planning left in the works. If we were to ride just one way. (To Clinton) Do you know of any shuttles that we can catch back to St. Charles?
savage24 from KC,MO on 02/11/2006 08:25 AM
WOW. No, that does not sound feasable to me. Can it be done? Sure, but why would you want to? That would be an average of 85-90 miles per day, hauling gear, in the summer heat. I personaly would allow for 8 days for a round trip. The fact that you are asking questions now and preparing early is great - since ultimately only your group can decide what is comfortable for everyone in the group. So get out and do some rides as soon as weather permits, including hauling your gear and doing an overnighter. You can find a list of shuttle services by selecting plan a ride, then select shuttles and then plan my ride or whatever the button at the bottom of the screen says. I'll try to post a link, but sometime they don't work for me. http://www.bikekatytrail.com/planner.asp
Ray (webmaster) on 02/11/2006 09:14 AM
I agree with savage24 - riding nearly a century a day for 5 days straight is very intense. It's probably beyond most people's ability, and even most of those who can do it would be completely miserable at the end.
I think you're on the right track with riding one way, and then taking a shuttle the other way. This will still give you plenty of good hard riding, but it also will allow time to stop and look at the river, have a leisurely beer at a small bar along the way, visit with the locals over breakfast at a small town diner, explore a
side trail or two, etc. etc.
Most shuttles charge by the trip rather than by person, so you'll find the shuttle fees to be pretty reasonable when split across a group of 4 or 5 people.
Jarred from Florissant on 02/11/2006 12:25 PM
Eight days does definitely sound a little more comfortable than 5. Thank you guys very much for your opinions. It is very helpful to have someone who knows a little more about the trail give you some advice. We are pushing for a quicker trip for the simple reason that we will have to request off work for that duration. I'll get it figured out though. I'm sure our workplaces would let us off if they knew what we were trying to accomplish. I will definitely get back to you all with more questions and appreciate your information greatly!!
Thomas Hobbs from Webster Groves MO on 02/14/2006 05:06 PM
I have not had the chance to ride the Katy Trail ,I have to tell anyone planning any ride during summertime in Missouri that the humidity can be quite high resulting in a heat index that you need to monitor, it will cause problems when you are not adjusted to it. The problems also include insects and chiggers and ticks to worry about along the wooded sections.Plan on taking the time and not rush this trip. Also storms can and do form rapidly and without much warning and tend to get quite severe along the MO River and I-70 , high winds and hail and strong and intense lightning
Jarred from Florissant on 02/16/2006 12:16 PM
Yeh, we have been thinking about the possibility of storms. We hope by planning the tip in late july- early august we may have a better chance at avoiding the bad weather. The draw-back is definitely the heat though. We will bring plenty of water and water purification tablets just in case. In case of bad weather, well, let us just hope the weather cooperates.
kasko from STL MO on 03/02/2006 11:07 AM
I think you are misjudging the distance and heat in a major way. Five days one way is OK. Do you understand that even though the Katy is a State Park there is NO camping along side the trail !! - unless you find an off the trail private camp site at each overnight location. Taking one big heavy tent sounds very naive to me. I suggest you load up your trailer and several weeks before intended trip try pedaling a 40 mile ride. I suspect that will add some realism to your plans. Right now you seem to be planning a "survival" trip with no time to stop and smell the roses.
You can get a shuttle ride from Clinton back to Sedalia where you can catch Amtrak train back to St. Louis ( get of at Kirkwood if more convenient than downtown). A "shuttle" all the way back to St. Louis may be quite expensive. Check out and compare costs.
Sarah from Denver on 03/04/2006 06:45 PM
We took 6 days to ride one way from Clinton to St Charles last June and felt we could have done it in 4. I'm a pretty strong cyclist, but my companion is more of a weekend warrior. We have hybrids. The heat, however, was major for us. One day we got a late start and were absolutely fried at the end of the day. The rest of the time we started out really early to avoid it, and that worked well--6:30 AM or earlier.
Mike Bryant from Southeast Missouri on 03/05/2006 09:14 AM
No Way! I am have been a cyclist for years and have ridden many centuries and one 200 miler. My wife and I rode from Clinton to St. Charles in the middle of July about three years ago and did it in five days. It was too hot. We saw very few cyclist on the trail. You might be able to do it but you sure won't enjoy it. You should also take into consideration the possibility of bad weather. JMHO
MaBell from Overland Park, KS on 03/05/2006 10:59 PM
Jarred, seriously, you're looking at some miserable heat. Just curious why that time frame? The DNR trip is in late June, 5 days, one way, and the heat was a kicker. You definitely want to get an early, early start, and maybe consider stopping in the early afternoon, then starting up again around dinner time...just a thought. We camped, and the heat factor was just as bad when we weren't riding because we had nowhere to go to cool down. If you can camp in places with a swimming pool (Pilot Grove, Herman, etc.) it might be okay. Overall, enjoy the trail as you go, because there's nothing like it. Hope it works out!
Best 30 Mile Roundtrip Route
- + What is the best 30 mile afternoon roundtrip route on the trail?Considering Rocheport east. Should we go further east to start? Not certain how much time we will have, or how long we can ride, but w...
Discussion started 10/18/2005 06:54 PM by JC - 4 replies (last reply by Jim at 02/09/2006 01:26 PM)JC from KC on 10/18/2005 06:54 PM
What is the best 30 mile afternoon roundtrip route on the trail?Considering Rocheport east. Should we go further east to start? Not certain how much time we will have, or how long we can ride, but we may return and find we need to go the other way for a few miles to use up time.
frank from festus, mo on 10/18/2005 09:14 PM
my personal preference is rocheport, then east. have ridden as far as the north jefferson trailhead and as far west as boonville. also from st charles, 10 miles west. rocheport then east is still the best. good luck, happy ridin.
Murf from Jefferson City on 10/18/2005 09:32 PM
Any place between Rocheport and Jeff City would be a good trip. Go east from Rocheport or west from Jeff City. Or get on any where between and go either direction. You can't go wrong.
Dearslayer from Rhineland on 10/20/2005 07:45 PM
I like either from Mokane to Bluffton or McKitrick to Treloar
Jim on 02/09/2006 01:26 PM
Rocheport to Cooper's Landing (Easley) is a pretty ride plus you can set at Cooper's picnic tables overlooking the river and while you have a water/soda/beer before you head back.
Restaurant in Claysville
- + Does anyone know the name of the restaurant in Claysville that serves the wonderful chicken dinners?
Discussion started 01/28/2006 11:36 AM by JW - 1 reply (last reply by Jim at 02/09/2006 12:55 PM)JW from Jefferson City on 01/28/2006 11:36 AM
Does anyone know the name of the restaurant in Claysville that serves the wonderful chicken dinners?
Jim on 02/09/2006 12:55 PM
It's the Claysville Store....they also have great pies and cobblers.
Best weather months
- + Would like to know the best weather months for biking the Katy.
Thanks in advance,
al
Discussion started 02/06/2006 02:29 PM by al - 4 replies (last reply by savage24 at 02/09/2006 08:26 AM)al from aurora,colorado on 02/06/2006 02:29 PM
Would like to know the best weather months for biking the Katy.
Thanks in advance,
al
The Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 02/07/2006 10:58 AM
May (entire month is good), or move on to Autumn (October). The KATY can be done during all of the months of summer, but it gets not just hot, but REALLY humid during the summer. Pretty serious climatizing is pretty much mandatory if doing the trail in the middle of summer. Enjoy the Voyage.....Mark of the Dalton Boys
Ray (webmaster) on 02/07/2006 11:02 AM
I second Mark's suggestions. Late September and October are my favorites, because you have nice weather
and fall colors. Summer's great but you must be prepared for the heat. The
Katy Trail Weather Guide page gives more details about temperature ranges and precipitation throughout the year.
ET from Columbia on 02/08/2006 12:52 PM
We have also had good luck with the weather in May--but rain is always a possibility in the Spring. June is variable--can be nice or VERY hot and humid.
savage24 from KC,MO on 02/09/2006 08:26 AM
I like June, September & October best. April/May is severe weather season (tornados & thunderstorms), but if the weather is good it is a fine time to ride. I don't really mind July and August either, but I'm used to Missouri summers and I like to ride when its hot.