I'm having some difficulty coaxing the 10-ton bike up this last little steep part. But I'm almost there! This stretch of Poverty Flat Road "only" rises about 550 feet in 1.5 miles.
Steepness isn't the only factor that creates difficulty when it comes to dragging the 10-ton bike up a hill.
Slipperiness of the road surface, caused by loose gravel or powdered clay dust, can prevent me from getting the traction that my feet require for me to be adequately braced me while I push or pull on the bike.
Without enough traction, sometimes I slip backwards instead of pushing the bike forward a few feet.
Immediately after taking this photo, two pick-up trucks drive slowly over the hill and I have to rush out and pull the bike off the road to let them pass. They would be the last people I see for four days.