BLM4102 Tri-Territory Rd(sh) by Bicycle - Velo

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BLM4102 Tri Territory Monument s(u)

This particular location was of great theoretical importance to the people who made the international deals, and entirely unimportant, actually even unknown to the people who wandered through this wild landscape . It was where once American territory (then called Oregon) met French territory (Louisiana) and Spanish territory (Mexico) met in a single point.

What is equally amazing is that such a contrived location (where the 42th parallel crosses the Continental Divide) happens to be in such an interesting location. Admittedly - the rim views to the Wind River Range and Oregon Butte stretch for several miles before and after the monument. But this is certainly one of the most amazing locations in the Great Divide Basin I have biked to yet.

There is a point about this location that has always confused me, and it has nothing to do with its historical significance. This is the great Divide Basin, a closed watershed, with the split Continental Divide defining both sides of that basin. How can you say that the parallel crosses the divide in just 1 specific place, when in reality it crosses it in 2 places, the other one being the dessert area between Rawlins and Wamsutter. Well, apparently, due to its elevation and more pronounced geography, the western side has been elevated to the role of the "prime continental divide", and nobody challenged this idea in the 18 hundreds, when the location had its significance.

1.START-END SOUTH-1:jct CR17 Chilteon Rd - CR83 Freighter Gap Rd
2.profile goes steeply up BLM4102 on left
3.TOP, 7960ft
4.jct with tracks to higher points on Essex Mtn
5.profile turns right on this CR83 Freighter Gap Rd summit
6.Freighter Gap
7.START-END SOUTH-2: low point shortly before reaching jct BLM4102 - Cr83, same as point 2

Approaches

From South.-1 The turnoff to Tri Territory Rd is even well signed on CR17 Chilton Rd. The route first follows CR83 direction Freighter Gap. The surface is good but not quite as excellent as on CR17. There is also a sand drift blocking the route, which explains why only saw a single vehicle and that was a jeep on the entire CR17.

The road contours along Steamboat Mtn, and a signed turnoff onto BLM4102 finally makes the climb real. You arrive on the edge of a plateau in a short time. The highest point comes a little later on this uneven surface, near where another unsigned track climbs higher towards Essex Mtn.

From South-2. (described downwards). This is the even more interesting side of the ride, even if all the curves and switchbacks are on the other approach. But on this side, the road approaches a rim over gentle, cream colored cliffs that set off the snowy Wind River Range in the distance. After a mile or so, the monument appears. It is discretely set off the road a bit, room is enough available here, and a short sign sums up the significance.

Rolling further back down to CR83 the views along the rim just keep improving, even with loosing elevation, but the vantage point gets better. Where BLM4102 meets CR83 is actually the highest point on CR83, not its namesake Freighter Gap, still several miles south of here.

The profile could go down either side of CR83. But in order to illustrate the short and hot dayride below, I chose the shorter and easier of the options, which meets the other approach after barely over 500ft elevation loss

cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow

Dayride with this point as highest summit:

COMPLETELY UNPAVED

( < CR15 Nine Mile Rd s(u) | BLM4102 Tri Territory Monument - Jack Morrow Creek(sh) > )

BLM4102 Tri Territory Monument s(u) , CR17 Chilton Rd s(u) , ORV area > CR17 east > CR83 Freighter Gap Rd north > up BLM4102 Tri Territory Rd > BLM4102 Tri Territory Rd s(u) <> short out and back on unnamed track leading higher on Steamboat Mtn > Tri Territory Monument > CR83 south > Freighter Gap(shp) > CR17 west back to starting point on CR17 Chilton Rd ORV area: 38.9miles with 2570ft of climbing in 4:19hrs (garmin etrex32x m6:25.05.31).
Notes: too hot for a normal length ride