At the restaurant in Baggs I met up with 3 guys from the Seattle area on big bikes. Not sure of the exact models, but this is my best guess.
Curtis was on a KTM super adventure R 1290
KC was on a BMW GS
Matt was on another KTM Super adventure R.
All 3 were well kitted out and modified to fit their respective needs. Additionally all of them were/are superb riders. What each of them could do with those huge bikes was impressive.
We all packed up and were at breakfast back at the restaurant by 8:15am. I would recommend the Cowboy Inn to anyone needing food or beverage while in Baggs.
The campground was also decent enough for a quick stop over. It had a shower house, clean bathrooms, and enough grassy area for a decent group of tents.
After the guys got “supplies” we hit the trail and got after it. The track left Baggs to the north on pavement before turning East on fast gravel. And when I say fast gravel, I mean 60mph+. We stopped after about 45 minutes for a break and I grabbed a few pics while my adrenaline waned back to normal levels.
Stopping in the middle of the road was just fine out here.
Anything look odd about my bike? Other than it being about half the size of the others?
Pretty empty here.
The guys kicked off the ride in their style.
Curtis is the guy on the left and KC on the right.
Right after we took off, I felt some squirm under me. Curtis said over the Sena, your real is flat! Ugh, not the way to start a ride. Curtis took off to let the other 2 guys know about the flat. At least it was easy to find the problem.
I had the tire off by the time Curtis got back to help. We had the tube switched out in 30 min and back on the move in 45. I really appreciate Curtis and the help he provided. The other 2 guys were a little ways down the trail just waiting. Thankful for their understanding and not saying “see you later”.
I had a 3mil ultras heavy duty tub but it was no match for a 3 inch deck screw.
All fixed and ready roll with my back up rear tube. We would fix the damaged one at camp later that night.
Curtis says let’s go!
The riding here is wide open and fast.
We heard there was some pretty aggressive sheep dogs a the bottom of the hill. I let Curtis go first and as reported, he got chased a little.
I was surprised any animal would chase those big bikes with their exhaust growl!
As soon as he cleared the sheep, the dogs backed off. They knew their job well.
I had no issues and got clear quickly.
We stopped at the viewpoint before heading up the Alt Hard section to the top of Bridger Peak.
The stories of the pioneers out here are not for the faint hearted. Any mistakes get you and anyone you were with often got you killed.
We started to find ourselves picking our way through some drifts leftover from winter.
Matt and KC charges up first and left Curtis to watch over me.
We took a few quick breaks to scout parts of the trail.
Alpine lakes were crystal clear
The track got increasingly steep, rocky, and wet from snow melt. Picking the wrong line resulted in a downed bike. They watched me approach and pointed out the better line and the 450 kept chugging to the top.
We got Curtis stood back up and headed back up.
I might have been smarter to keep my helmet on while pushing from the back.
Cameras never show the actual steepness.
Let me tell you, this was expert only territory and it was dicey the whole way.
If it wasn’t the ruts, it was the water/snow, rocks, or mud.
But we all made it and made it to the next plateau.
The air is thin here over 10k feet.
The smell is a perfect combination of pine, moist dirt, and crisp mountain air.
Curtis letting the big KTM hunt!
Matt got crossed rutted and slid a little sideways in the very slimy mud up here due to melting snow. I chickened out and rode in the grass.
Getting near the top we had to Oren ride around big drifts.
Sometimes even the GPS knew we were off track.
Approaching 11K
The track is rugged but easy to follow.
End of the line just short of the top.
KC ripping up to the top.
Matt got his KTM back on the road after fixing his side case.
Pics from the top.
The peak is supposed to be 11,004 feet. Not sure my GPS was accurate. We were more than 31 feet below the top.
Even the 450 wouldn’t make it past the last snow drift.
Time to head down toward Encampment for lunch and gas.
The path down was much cleaner and devoid of snow.
Lunch in Encampment was a time to celebrate with a beverage.
The burger was good at 307 Pub and Grub.
2nd half of Section 1 tomorrow. Heading to Centennial.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The ride along the time was easy and scenic. Here is where I had my only tip over. 
it was here that I was the most confused. The GPX line indicated to just drop off this ledge into the basin below. 
As soon as he cleared the sheep, the dogs backed off. They knew their job well. 
