2010 California Trip

Overview Map

Snow Depth in High Passes

Date

Week Day

Ride Profile & Route Map

Climbs (Category*)

Length

Max Grade

Average Grade

Climb Start

Climb Finish

Climb Total

Difficulty

Total Ride Climb

Daily Update

Weather

Pass Conditions Staying

6/8/10

Tuesday

Fly Boston to Reno NV Journal Boston

OPEN

House
Drive to House Reno
Drive to XXX S Lake Tahoe
Checkout Ride 14 miles Barker Pass Road (3)
4.6 miles
11%
5.6%
6,385 ft
7,805 ft
1,371 ft
67.36
1,447 ft
S Lake Tahoe
Drive to XXX

6/9/10

Wednesday

Drive/Ride from House Journal Lake Tahoe

OPEN

House
Lake Tahoe Loop 70 miles Inspiration Point (4)
2.94 miles
7%
3.0%
6,280 ft
6,736 ft
472 ft
31.8
2,746 ft
Spooner Junction (3)
7.04 miles
6%
2.6%
6,24 ft0
7,083 ft
948 ft
40.49
Drive/Ride from House

6/10/10

Thursday

Drive to Lee Vining Ranger Station 120 Miles approx 2:40 Journal

Tioga Pass

CLOSED

House
Tioga Pass 55 miles Tioga Pass East (1)
10.02 miles
10%
4.9%
7,293 ft
9,964 ft
2,612 ft
95.55
5,059 ft
Tioga Pass West (2)
14.85 miles
6%
2.4%
8,173 ft
9,964 ft
1,900 ft
68.0
Tioga Pass
Drive to House 120 Miles approx 2:40

6/11/10

Friday

Drive to XXX Journal Carson Pass

OPEN

House
Carson Pass 73 miles Carson Pass East (1)
14.31 miles
8%
3.6%
5,633 ft
8,596 ft
2,710 ft
83.20
6,135 ft
Carson Pass West (2)
10.95 miles
7%
2.7%
7,142 ft
8,619 ft
1,578 ft
57.94
Blue Lakes Road (3)
8.75 miles
6%
2.3%
7,133 ft
8,271 ft
1,040 ft
45.43
Luther Pass South (4)
2.97 miles
8%
4.6%
7,067 ft
7,792 ft
715 ft
46.70
Drive back to House

6/12/10

Saturday

Drive to XXX Journal Sonora Pass

OPEN

House
Sonora Pass 45 miles Sonora Pass East (HC)
10.24 miles
12%
5.2%
6,752 ft
8,656 ft
2,818 ft
98.48
6,709 ft
Sonora Pass West (HC)
10.29 miles
13%
6.2%
6,138 ft
9,590 ft
3,346 ft
123.23
Drive to House

6/13/10

Sunday

Drive to XXX Journal Monitor Pass

OPEN

House
Monitor Pass 45 miles Monitor Pass West (1)
7.96 miles
12%
5.9%
5,696 ft
8,297 ft
2,493 ft
96.90
5,938 ft
Monitor Pass East (HC)
9.56 miles
9%
6.2%
5,082 ft
8,34 ft3
3,140 ft
115.23
Drive to House

6/14/10

Monday

Drive to XXX Journal Ebbets Pass

OPEN

House
Ebbetts Pass 71 miles Ebbetts Pass East (1)
13.25 miles
7 %
4.2%
5,705 ft
8,773 ft
2,963 ft
93.25
7,064 ft
Pacific Grade East (2)
2.49 miles
20%
7.5%
7,077 ft
8,081 ft
991 ft
71.56
Pacific Grade West (2)
9.76 miles
7%
2.4%
7,077 ft
8,100 ft
1,237 ft
49.05
Ebbetts Pass West (2)
5.25 miles
11 %
5.6 %
7,077 ft
8,770 ft
1,673 ft
50.49
Drive to House

6/15/10

Tuesday

Drive to Incline Village Journal North Lake

OPEN

Fairfield Inn & Suites Reno
North Lake Tahoe 69.5 miles Brockway Summit South (3)
3.4 miles
8%
5.3%
6,247 ft
7,228 ft
948 ft
53.88
6,549 ft
Donner Pass East (3)
3.4 miles
11%
6.3%
5,955 ft
7,159 ft
1,135 ft
64.45
Brockway Summit North (3)
4.8 miles
11%
5.4%
5,823 ft
7,228 ft
1,375 ft
64.19
Mt Rose South (1)
7.53 miles
10%
6%
6,476 ft
8,947 ft
2,379 ft
96.71
Drive to Reno Airport Hotel

6/16/10

Wednesday

Fly Home Reno NV to Boston    

* Note: Definition of Categorized Climbs

Category 4 - the easiest which is typically less than 2 km (1.24 mi) long and about 5% grade, or up to 5 km (3.1 mi) at a 2-3% grade.
Category 3 - can be as short as 1.5 km (.93mi) with a very steep grade, perhaps 10%; or as long as 10 km (6.2 mi) with a grade less than 5%.
Category 2 - can be as short as 5 km (3.1 mi) at 8%, or as long as 15 km (9.3 mi) at 4%.
Category 1 - can be anything from 8 km (5 mi) at 8% to 20 km (12.4 mi) at 5%.
Hors Categorie ("above category") rating is given to exceptionally tough climbs. This could be a Category 1 whose summit is also the finish of the stage, or one that is more than 10 km (6.2 mi) long with an average grade of at least 7.5%, or up to 25 km (15.5 mi) long at 6% or steeper

Category
Easy
Medium
Hard
Extreme
Day Ride Length
< 30 Miles
30-50 Miles
50-70 Miles
> 70 Miles
MaxGrade
<5 %
5-10 %
10-15 %
> 15 %
Average Grade
<4 %
4-8 %
8-12 %
> 12%
Difficulty
< 50
50-100
100-150
> 150
Ride Climb
< 2000 ft
2000-4000 ft
4000-5000 ft
> 6000 ft

 

 

 

Option 1: Fly to Reno, Stay South Lake Tahoe

Click to see ride map

Notional Miles

Ride Information Links

Other Data from various sources

Day 1: Fly to Reno

    Drive Reno to Lake Tahoe XX Miles

Day 2: Ride around Lake Tahoe

87 Miles

70 w/o Barker Pass

Lake Tahoe

Barker Pass Road

Ride is around Lake Tahoe with an excursion up Barker Pass Road

Day 3: Climb Ebbetts Pass and Pacific Grade

Alternate is to cut back side of Ebbetts short and climb Monitor Pass after Ebbetts descent

71 Miles

Ebetts Pass Discussion

Ebbetts Pass Overview

California Bike Tours Page

Ebbetts Pass Youtube

Ebbetts Pass Descent Youtube

Steephill on Ebbetts

 

Drive ~30 miles to Markleeville.

The Death Ride climbs Ebbetts Pass from the east, descends the west side down to Hermit Valley, then turns around and climbs Ebbetts Pass back to Markleeville. Instead of turning around in Hermit Valley, we keep going (of course, you decide how far you want to go and may turn around at any point). We climb the steep Pacific Grade Summit from the east (24% grade in spots), descend the west side past Alpine Lake into Bear Valley. We then turn around and head back to Markleeville.

Day 4: Ride Tahoe City, Squaw Valley and Donner Pass 51 Miles Donner Pass

 

 

Day 5: Climb Sonora Pass 57 Miles

Sonora Pass Opposite Direction

Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass Youtube

Sonora Pass Motorcycle Youtube

Drive ~75 miles to Junction 395/108

This route delivers breathtaking vistas of snow covered mountain peaks, mountain meadows, wild flowers, wild life, water falls, and trees of every description. Panoramas so beautiful, they look painted. This is strictly a summer road as it is closed in winter. You can still see snow at the end of summer near the mountain peaks.

The Sonora Pass scenic drive twists up forested ridges on the gentle western slope of California’s mountain backbone, the Sierra Nevada, to the airy summit of 9,624-foot Sonora Pass, one of the highest automobile roads in the state. The drive follows paved California Highway 108 and offers a wealth of scenic vistas and recreational opportunities. The road’s upper reaches from Kennedy Meadows on the west to Leavitt Meadow on the east is unsuitable for large RVs and trailers. The winding road has no shoulder, narrow lanes, and grades as steep as fifteen percent.

Day 6: Climb Luther Pass and Carson Pass

or Climb Carson and Monitor Pass

62 Miles

or

87 miles (can be shortend to ~66 miles

Carson Pass

Luther Pass Youtube

Carson Pass Youtube

Steephill on Monitor Pass

 

On the way towards Carson Pass this 12-mile road to Blue Lakes is a real treat for cyclists, climbing up and over the Pacific Crest to the tiny Blue Lakes since there is no through traffic on this road.

After Blue Lakes is the final climb up to Carson Pass. You may choose to warm yourself at the pass (if the sun is shining) on one of the many granite boulders at the visitor’s center. Turning around here brings a mostly straight and very fast descent on a smooth highway road.

If you are inclined to do still more climbing after Carson Pass, you can turn Left onto Luther Pass Road for one more brief climb. Looking back from Luther Pass over the Hope Valley provides a splendid view of a classic high alpine meadow, with lush grasses, the meandering Carson River, and granite boulders deposited during the last Ice Age.

Luther Pass in South Lake Tahoe is one of the mellower road bike climbs in the region and makes a great outing for casual cyclists who are looking to push themselves a bit or improve their climbing endurance. From the Tahoe side the climb to the 7400-foot summit is about 8 miles, with most of the climbing in about 5 miles along that route. Then you go up and over and down to the Carson River basin at Highway 88, and the return to the summit is shorter but a bit steeper, about 700 feet in 3 miles.

Monitor Pass. The terrain here is completely different than on earlier days' routes, this is a high desert landscape with breathtaking vistas of the nearby Sierra Nevada crest.

The single pass option for today is climbing to Monitor Pass and returning to Markleeville. The two-pass option continues down the east side of Monitor Pass, then south on Highway 395 to lunch at The Meadowcliff Resort, then returns by climbing the east side of Monitor.

Day 7: Fly home from Reno
Other Ride:
Alternate to extend a day or replace a ride: Climb Tioga Pass 40 Miles

Tioga Pass

Tioga Pass Youtube

Tioga Pass Car Youtube

Short Youtube on start of ride

Drive 116 miles to Lee Vining (~2:37 in mountains)

Yosemite National Park's Tioga Pass is at 9,941 feet elevation, on the east side of the park, six miles east of Tuolumne Meadows on CA 120. The drive to Tioga Pass is one of the most scenic in the Sierras, according to National Geographic magazine.

The Tuolumne Meadow(s) area of Yosemite National Park is quite different from the valley and Wawona.  It's the high country, with an altitude of 8,500 at it's lowest point.  Nearby Tioga Pass, the eastern gate of the park is at the 10,000 foot elevation and is the highest elevation you can attain by car. 

 

Option 2: Fly to Sacremento, Stay Santa Rosa and South Lake Tahoe

Click to see ride map

Notional Miles

Ride Information Links

Other Data from various sources

Day 1: Fly to Sacremento

    Drive Sacremento to Lake Tahoe 114 Miles ~2 hours

Day 2: Ride around Lake Tahoe

87 Miles

70 w/o Barker Pass

Lake Tahoe

Barker Pass Road

Ride is around Lake Tahoe with an excursion up Barker Pass Road

Day 3: Climb Ebbetts Pass and Pacific Grade

Alternate is to cut back side of Ebbetts short and climb Monitor Pass after Ebbetts descent

71 Miles

Ebetts Pass Discussion

Ebbetts Pass Overview

California Bike Tours Page

Ebbetts Pass Youtube

Ebbetts Pass Descent Youtube

Steephill on Ebbetts

 

Drive ~30 miles to Markleeville.

The Death Ride climbs Ebbetts Pass from the east, descends the west side down to Hermit Valley, then turns around and climbs Ebbetts Pass back to Markleeville. Instead of turning around in Hermit Valley, we keep going (of course, you decide how far you want to go and may turn around at any point). We climb the steep Pacific Grade Summit from the east (24% grade in spots), descend the west side past Alpine Lake into Bear Valley. We then turn around and head back to Markleeville.

Day 4: Climb Sonora Pass 57 Miles

Sonora Pass Opposite Direction

Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass Youtube

Sonora Pass Motorcycle Youtube

Drive ~75 miles to Junction 395/108

This route delivers breathtaking vistas of snow covered mountain peaks, mountain meadows, wild flowers, wild life, water falls, and trees of every description. Panoramas so beautiful, they look painted. This is strictly a summer road as it is closed in winter. You can still see snow at the end of summer near the mountain peaks.

The Sonora Pass scenic drive twists up forested ridges on the gentle western slope of California’s mountain backbone, the Sierra Nevada, to the airy summit of 9,624-foot Sonora Pass, one of the highest automobile roads in the state. The drive follows paved California Highway 108 and offers a wealth of scenic vistas and recreational opportunities. The road’s upper reaches from Kennedy Meadows on the west to Leavitt Meadow on the east is unsuitable for large RVs and trailers. The winding road has no shoulder, narrow lanes, and grades as steep as fifteen percent.

Day 5: Climb Luther Pass and Carson Pass

or Climb Carson and Monitor Pass

62 Miles

or

87 miles (can be shortend to ~66 miles

Carson Pass

Luther Pass Youtube

Carson Pass Youtube

Steephill on Monitor Pass

 

On the way towards Carson Pass this 12-mile road to Blue Lakes is a real treat for cyclists, climbing up and over the Pacific Crest to the tiny Blue Lakes since there is no through traffic on this road.

After Blue Lakes is the final climb up to Carson Pass. You may choose to warm yourself at the pass (if the sun is shining) on one of the many granite boulders at the visitor’s center. Turning around here brings a mostly straight and very fast descent on a smooth highway road.

If you are inclined to do still more climbing after Carson Pass, you can turn Left onto Luther Pass Road for one more brief climb. Looking back from Luther Pass over the Hope Valley provides a splendid view of a classic high alpine meadow, with lush grasses, the meandering Carson River, and granite boulders deposited during the last Ice Age.

Luther Pass in South Lake Tahoe is one of the mellower road bike climbs in the region and makes a great outing for casual cyclists who are looking to push themselves a bit or improve their climbing endurance. From the Tahoe side the climb to the 7400-foot summit is about 8 miles, with most of the climbing in about 5 miles along that route. Then you go up and over and down to the Carson River basin at Highway 88, and the return to the summit is shorter but a bit steeper, about 700 feet in 3 miles.

Monitor Pass. The terrain here is completely different than on earlier days' routes, this is a high desert landscape with breathtaking vistas of the nearby Sierra Nevada crest.

The single pass option for today is climbing to Monitor Pass and returning to Markleeville. The two-pass option continues down the east side of Monitor Pass, then south on Highway 395 to lunch at The Meadowcliff Resort, then returns by climbing the east side of Monitor.

Day 6: Ride Tahoe City, Squaw Valley and Donner Pass 51 Miles Donner Pass

 

Drive to Santa Rosa after ride (202 miles, ~3 hours)

Day 7: Ride Potion of Levi's Grand Fondo Route

 

King's Ridge

Somona Discussion

Levi's Grand Fondo

 
Day 8: Fly Home from Sacramento