From this year on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route

Thanks a lot to u/zombieausten at the Derailed Bike Shop in Butte, MT for helping to put on a new 38t (from a 40t) chainring + investigating some bike noises the morning I set off.

Started from Butte, MT after being forced off the GDMBR here last year by wildfire smoke. The first day felt rough due to a lack of sleep the night before. I made it to Beaverdam Campground (thanks for the tip Austen), before heading up/down Fleecer Ridge the next morning.

I thought I forgot to bring my spork, so this night and next morning I ate my freeze dried meal and oatmeal with a cleaned off tire lever. 2/10 for the freeze dried meal and 4/10 for the oatmeal.

Fleecer was a difficult, and steep hike down, but luckily I didn't topple over, even with a supremely backloaded bike. Having done Lava Mountain last year, I'd vote that being a harder section overall. But I can easily see how you can lose footing and balance and tumble over on Fleecer.

Stayed overnight in a room at Elkhorn Hot Springs. The price sort of reflected the amenities – no showers there and the hot springs are just a big wading pool. But the food from the restaurant was good, despite my stomach not agreeing to handling the large amounts of food I needed.

Heat got to me throughout. A bit of heat training beforehand would probably have been a great idea. Going to bed with an empty stomach a few nights was unpleasant to say the least.

The Horse Prairie Saloon and Inn in Grant, MT was an oasis after a long hot stretch of bumpy washboard from Bannack. There's an honor fridge with goodies (although ended up being one rather expensive Gatorade), and more if you want an extended stay.

Took the highway to Lima, MT instead of Medicine Lodge, and slept at the Beaverhead Inn in Lima.

Setting off from Lima, there was smoke building in the western hills. I had a bloody nose after waking up which made me a bit anxious for the rest of the day (no snot rockets 😭). The valley road through the Centennial Mtns was long, sun-baked, and punctuated by very rough sections full of baby head. At the end of the day, I found myself at a gateway to Yellowstone area near Island Park. Instead of paying a couple hundred for a room, I found a hiker / biker campsite at the Sawtelle Mountain Resort with shower, laundry, and pool / hot tub access for $35.

The next day was long. Took a much needed break during the heat of the day at the Warm River. Wild camped at Loon Lake after going through as much as I could on Ashton-Flagg Ranch Rd. During the ride up, imo one of the roughest roads on the route, my water filter bounced out of my jersey pocket and my shorts fell from its perch strapped beneath my saddle dry bag. I'm extremely grateful for a neighboring camper who had water, and later, bedtime lasagna, to share. That was heart and stomach warming.

Only real navigation I needed was through Ride W GPS. Sarah S's POI map is endlessly helpful.

Bike / Gear: https://lighterpack.com/r/cb6nxu

GDMBR from Butte, MT > Grand Teton NP (Jackson, WY) , 402 mi / 20.5k ft in 6 days