2015, Day 5: What the Hill?!

"Returned to yesterday's stopping point, about 8 miles southeast of West Glacier. The first part of today's ride was to finish off the section to the point that Highway 2 cuts east. That section was about 25 miles. Lots of flat or slight incline, but also a couple of good hills that added 600 feet elevation to 4000 feet. From that point it was about 15 miles to the summit with an elevation gain of 1200 feet. Most of that came in the last five miles. Reached Marias sass--the Continental Divide, at 12:30. Stopped and had lunch at a picnic area at the summit. Then followed five miles of fairly downhill, followed by five miles of mostly gentle uphill, before dropping off the mountain to East Glacier. My app showed 5-6 miles of gentle upgrade. What I really got was rolling steep hills. So all the ups, though short, were steep! "What the hill?" Every time I thought I was at the last one, another hill appered behind it. Couple that with the headwind--what is it with these east winds?--the whole idea was to have them at my back! Finally made it to Browning at 4:00. Got gas, bought a souvenier, then drove north to the east entrance of Glacier Park at St. Mary's, and drove through teh park back to West Glacier. What magnificent mountains!

So my riding for the week is finished. 326 miles in 5 days (which I had planned to do in 6 days). I can use the rest."

#hills #highway2 #ContinentalDivide #Glacier #headwind #mountains