Originally Posted by
pdlamb
1. Headwinds.
2. Crosswinds blowing shockwaves from oncoming trucks into your path.
3. Heat (and humidity!)
4. Gaps (not to be confused with passes, the climbs up to gaps seem to be much steeper!)
As I recall, Sula had very good pancakes. And pretty good ice cream the afternoon before that.
Totally forgot humidity. Mega challenge for me.
Gaps, too. When I did the Northern Tier we went off route a bit and did Brandon Gap instead of Middlebury Gap in VT. Brandon was the one hill on the entire trip I thought I might have to walk some of.
Yes. The pancakes at Sula weren't in the morning. I also got a good sandwich to take with me up Lost Trail/Chief Joseph. But don't try to get beer, ice cream or anything else after 5 p.m. Last year I arrived at 5:04 p.m., 4 minutes after closing time, to find the place dark and shut up tight on a Friday evening in mid-June. I did manage to find one of the owners in the residence next door who told me to pick a campsite and pay in the morning.