War on Bald Mountain

I knew the ride on Route 14A up Bald Mountain would be tough. The kind gentleman who gave me water at the depot in Warren, WY told me that sections of the road were 10% grade. This worried me, since my gearing only allows me to only climb up to 8% - and I haven't had anything steeper than that on the trip for any appreciable distance. (For reference, an 8% grade means that there is 8ft of elevation gain for every 100ft of horizontal distance traveled.)
The climb would also be tough as the climb was in mile 25-30 of an 84 mile stretch that did not appear to have any place to get water/food. This required me to use my 2 spare water containers (holding 2 liters) which meant additional weight on my back. Additionally, I was carrying the heavyweight sweatshirt and sweatpants used to weather the night on top of the Beartooth Highway. And I was carrying a decent amount of food as well.
I figured the climb would be tough, but it was not tough. It was nearly impossible. The climb quickly started at 7%, then settled into a steady 9%. Taxing. I looked up and saw the switchbacks going up the side of the mountain, but they were confusing because of their steep upward angle and the fact that there were relatively few switchbacks. A steady 9% was ok and I pedaled on. But then 9% turned out to the be the minimum on the climb. The climb was more like an 11-13% climb with the "flat" sections at 9%.
Brutal.
As the infamous Donald Rumsfeld reminded us, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you want. I was stuck with the gearing and the 25lbs of weight on my back. And I was going to get up this mountain.
Pedal pedal pedal, huff and puff. Stop. Pedal pedal pedal, huff and puff. Stop. Pedal standing up, pedal sitting down. Stop. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
This was WWI-style trench warfare. I made progress in segments that were measured in fractions of a mile. Demoralizing. Embarrassing.
The gearing was forcing me to work at a pace that I could only keep up for a couple minutes at a time. Essentially, I was doing two to four minute intervals at near maximum effort. No big deal, I had done plenty of intervals to train for this trip. But, the last time I did intervals was 45+ days ago. And I had to meter these intervals so I would not burn out and so that I had enough juice left for another 70+ miles of riding. Additionally the bulk of this climb was taking place above 6000' and the thin air was not helping.
Pedal pedal pedal. Stop. Pedal pedal pedal. Stop. All I could hear was my hectic breathing.
A passenger in a car was clapping for me. Every bit of encouragement helps...
Various leg parts started to weaken. Tendons started complaining. Stop.
There was no way I could walk the bike up in my biking shoes and I was not going to get a ride up in a pick-up. Or was I? It was getting late...I still had 70+ miles to go...this thing was just too steep.
Pedal pedal pedal. Stop. Flat tire. Oh well, I needed the break anyway.
I had made it up every hill on the trip so far, even when both my legs were practically crippled and I was going to make it up this hill. Right?
Pedal pedal...just make it to that sign. Stop.
Wow...made it up to 5mph during that last segment. Great job. At that rate we'll be done in about 14 hours. Excluding the breaks.
Pedal pedal...no more switchbacks...and only a 9% grade, which felt relatively flat! Stop...must appease those muscles and tendons.
8%...6%...4%...flats! I checked out the altimeter and I was about 8500' up. Only 900' of vertical to go. I passed a sign (facing the opposite direction) warning of the upcoming "10%" grades and pointing out the brake testing and runoff areas. The worst was over, but I couldn't quite believe that I in the clear yet.
Still more climbing, but it was relatively tame and the now familiar mountaintop landscape meant that the summit could not be too far off.
And finally, there it was, a modest sign that read "Summit Elev 9430'".
I erupted in tears of joy, in disbelief that I actually reached the top. My ascent was not pretty and certainly among the slowest on record, but I made it. The climb was the most difficult thing I have done on a bike, and probably the most difficult thing I have done, ever.
There was not too much time to celebrate as it was already well into the afternoon and I still had the majority of my 100 mile trip, from Lovell to Sheridan, to complete. The rest of the trip was largely uneventful...some more climbing (6500' on the day), but mostly downhill and I made it to Sheridan at dusk.
The most challenging day of the trip was over and I survived. The rest would be easy after this, right?