Carson Pass (Route 88), named after famous explorer Kit Carson, begins at Pickets Junction in Hope Valley and traverses along Route 88 up to an elevation of 8,650 feet. I must have terrible luck with this 9-mile climb, because on two occurrences (
Death Ride 2009 and
Alta Alpina Challenge 2009), unforeseen winds, rain, and hail fumed over the pass. Needless to say, this made for a bone-chilling descent. Thankfully, Route 88’s return to Picketts Junction is more or less a straight shot, a condition that enabled my skinny road bike tires to steer in such slick circumstances. If you should be so fortunate to climb Carson Pass in sunshine, views eastward overlooking Red Lake are especially astounding. Source:
http://www.southlaketahoe.com/biking/guide-to-mountain-passes
