Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/531879
June 2015 13 throle in an effortless near 180 degrees turn that lands the front wheel perfectly in the center of this damned goat path, he does something different. This me he stops with his wheel facing uphill at about 12 o'clock and uses the clutch and throle to move the front wheel down several inches at a me, as if "slicing off pieces of the pie" as he says. He finally los the front wheel gently on to the center of the goat path and rolls ahead. As easy as he made it look, I see it as too complicated and sck with trying to do it all in one single, inelegant turn. I almost pull it off unl my front wheel overshoots the goat path and slides a few inches down the slope. Several unnecessary expleves later, I gently pull the front wheel back on to the trail and inch ahead. Finally past the switchbacks, the trail begins a long, straight, and steep ascent. I crane my neck all the way back and see that there is no end to this ungodly steep trail. I roll gently ahead and travel another quarter mile with my feet off the pegs, inching along with my weight back over the rear wheel while leaning forward. The for- est is now completely enveloped in fog, causing water droplets to form on my goggles. There is lile room for error in these condions so I keep my goggles in place rather than risk stopping. If I have to stop here, I will have to perform a series of switchbacks to get going again and that is not something I want to risk, so I press on. Eventually I gain enough momentum and balance that I can place my feet back on the pegs. I travel another ¾ of a mile at an angle I would have to slide on my ass to get down. 40 or so yards before the top, I weave between a few annoying saplings before I pop out atop the ridgeline of this soul-sucking mountain. Legs shaking and covered in sweat, I am elated, stunned that I just rode up something I wouldn't want to walk up or down I am so happy that I take a selfie and send it to my family. I never take selfies. Ever. I sit alone atop the mountain and enjoy the majesc Transylvanian wilderness as the clouds tumble and roll gently below me. I don't even remember passing through them. One by one the group makes their way to the top. We congratulate one another before moving on and cross sev- eral alpine ridgelines that offer more stunning views of the vast wilderness I am so wildly fond of. At our highest point, we veer off the trail and Paul conducts a brief train- ing session on how to properly ride over a big rock that re- sembles a step-up. As things wind down, we sit atop this mountain and enjoy the view for several minutes before moving on. Praccing step-ups with Sibiu, Romania in the background. Enjoying the road less traveled.