My Top 10 of the ...

…most crappy sections of the Tour Divide. Just for insiders and of course depending on the personal fitness, mood and weather of the day.

 

10^th place:

State: Colorado

Where: After Poncha Springs climb toward Poncha Pass at U.S Hwy. 285

Why: Barbecuing on a paved road with an inconvenient gradient and a lot of traffic.

9^th place:

State: Wyoming

Where: Section after North Bone Creek with skirting Yellowstone National Park until Grassy Lake Reservoir

Why: Steep and very bumpy uphill's. Difficult to ride.

8^th place:

State: Idaho

Where: After Island Park the 30 mile old rail track.

Why: Up to 4 inches of deep and loose grit. Only ridable with speed and a lot of water. 

7^th place:

State: British Columbia

Where: Elk Pass

Why: Simply steep with some walking sections.

6^th place:

State: Wyoming

Where: Plateau after Union Pass

Why: Endless up’s and down’s with no real decent

5^th place:

State: British Columbia

Where: Galton Pass

Why: Long climb with an absolutely sucking hiking section over wet roots and mud. Similar like climbing a vertical wall. Elevation profile looks like somebody used the cable car.  

4^th place:

State: Wyoming

Where: Rawlins until Middlewood Hills

Why: Hot and dusty when sunny. Long stretched climbs in a barren landscape.

 

3^rd place:

State: New Mexico

Where: Bursum Road

Why: Just an exception, because normally not part of the original route and due to the flooding impassable, actually. 

2^nd place:

State: New Mexico

Where: State line until Brazos Ridge

Why: Rude, bumpy and partly extremely washed out road with sharp rocks. Most of the uphill's are not ridable.

 

And the winner is…

1^st place

State: Montana

Where: Lava Mountain Trail between Helena and Butte

Why: Rude, bumpy, partly steep and washed out trail covered with a lot of roots. Unridable when wet. Even with an unloaded bike a challenge.