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Spring ride over the Sierra
Spring Tour in the Sierra 04-05 June 2005 Weather this year has been wetter than usual giving us wonderful wildflowers and green hills that are turning brown now, similar to what we had in 2002. On average, temperatures have been cooler than usual but not enough to require long sleeves. Brian Cox, Ray Hosler, John Woodfill and I headed for Sonora, that lies at the base of the Sierra at about 1800ft elevation and is on the intersection of HWY4 and HWY108, convenient to making a loop over Ebbetts, Monitor and Sonora Passes. After a good nights rest at the Sonora Gold Lodge we got on the road at 06:00 as planned and headed north. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday 4 June 2005 At 6:00, with little traffic we headed up the hill to Columbia (2143ft), a historic gold mining town with preserved gold rush buildings, from which Parrots Ferry Road descends through the canyon of the Stanislaus river to connect to HWY4. We stopped to take pictures of the "new" Parrots Ferry bridge that spans the high waters of high bridge, (not shown on the attached map) at Parrots Ferry (1100ft) spans the backwaters of the New Melones reservoir that inundated this beautiful white water river. http://tinyurl.com/clw2y The bridge is worth mention because, after it was built, the center of its graceful arch broke and hung there from it's reinforcing steel about five feet below where it was. It was repaired by splicing huge reinforced concrete beams under the arch that now has a flat dip in its center. As we crossed, white throated swifts darted past doing what they are best as... being swift and graceful. Not visible on the pictures we took, were 30-40 turkey vultures that were circling over the road at the north end of the bridge for some carrion that we could not see. We climbed up the other side past the turnoff to Moaning Cavern. At Vallecito, a wide spot in the road, we turned east on HWY4, the Ebbetts Pass route, back up at 1800ft. We were still in the foothills of oaks with pastel blue-green foliage and willows that marked the abundance of water. While most of the grasses in the valleys to the west were already turning golden, here in the hills they were still green, with small swamps and springs in the middle of fields under the trees. From the bird calls, I detected robins, grosbeaks and woodpeckers, the others being too shy to make a showing. http://www.caverntours.com/MoCavRt.htm At Murphys we began the long gradual climb up the western slope of the Sierra, and the forest changed from oaks to conifers as we passed through Hathaway Pines, Arnold, Big Trees, and Camp Connell. After Arnold (3960ft), there was still some snow between the trees that were a lovely mix of Red and White Fir, Ponderosa, Sugar and Jeffrey Pine, Incense Cedars, Douglas Fir and many Dogwoods blooming in the shade of the big trees. The road breaks out of the forest along a ridge that gives a view across the North Fork Stanislaus Basin, a huge rugged area called Hells Kitchen and crisscrossed by many roads remaining from logging and mining. Although we had a cool tailwind, the warming sun brought out the scent of pine pitch and dried needles emerging from receding snow. The faint odor of Mountain Misery, reminiscent of artichoke, could also be found. http://tinyurl.com/dda2u The meadows around Bear Valley were completely covered with snow with Canada geese waiting to continue their migration north. We stopped at the general store to stock up on food for the next three climbs, there being no other services en route until HWY395. A short climb brought us past the Mt Reba (HWY207) ski area, now called Bear Valley ski area from where it's a cruise to Lake Alpine that was still completely frozen over. Here the road becomes narrower loses its center stripe as it makes the short steep climbs to Pacific Grade Summit. These first indications that this is no longer an average state highway gets reinforced by the 24% grade signs farther on. Nothing exciting happens until Mosquito Lake and Pacific Grade Summit (8087ft) with a breathtaking view over Pacific Valley and Pacific Creek. The road dives downward to a set of steep ess bends that cross many contour lines in short order. We stopped at the bridge where Pacific Creek looks as though it might jump over the road as it cascades over huge boulders between snow banks. http://tinyurl.com/a6wmu Although less steep, the road makes some wonderful whoop-de-doos that can be taken in true roller coaster fashion on the way down to the Mokelumne river (7069ft) that drains Pacific and the much larger Hermit Valley. From here the road climbs gradually with a beautiful view to the south into Hermit Valley to Ebbetts Pass (8731ft) that itself has no view to either side. Oddly, it has a cattle guard as though there were range cattle here in the midst of this high forest. A swift descent got us out of the woods with a view across Kinney Reservoir and the rugged canyons beyond. Kinney Creek joins Silver creek and both raging cascades find their way quickly to the floor of the canyon far below as the road stays high before finally descending in a set of four large traverses with sharp hairpin turns to end the unusually steep section. Much of HWY4 in from Alpine Lake to the bottom of Silver Canyon has no center stripe or warning signs for such curves. One of these (at the Noble Lake trailhead) is known by locals as "Cadillac Curve" for the car at the bottom of the cliff that was too fast for the curve. A pickup truck joined the Cadillac some time later. Of course this has all been cleaned up years ago. http://tinyurl.com/7lstf We descended along the now docile Silver Creek to its confluence with the East Fork Carson River, that like all major rivers in Nevada, flows into the desert to evaporate. Blue skies and pleasant temperatures were predicted to change as a cold front with strong winds was approaching. Although wind was picking up, this is common for afternoons in the mountains and in this case, it was a tailwind. We turned up Monitor Creek on HWY89, an oddly small stream for such a large drainage. In contrast to former years, it was visibly clear water although probably unfit to drink for all the runoff from the mines along the canyon. The road levels off at Heenan Lake (7084ft), from which Monitor Creek flows. http://tinyurl.com/7cowp Toward the top of the climb, we left the sparse conifers and rode through groves of aspen. I remembered to check my altimeter at the false summit and again at Monitor Pass summit (8314ft) to find that the two summits are not the same height as they appear, but differ by about 100 feet. This broad nearly flat summit has Leviathan Peak (8942ft) overlooking the plateau as in the old days, when these fire lookouts guarded against wildfires, something done today by satellites. We took pictures at the stone marker in the grove of aspen before heading down across the broad gently sloping plateau to the Mono county line a mile and a half away. We didn't see many birds probably because the pleasant tailwind we had. I have seen many here, among them the brilliant mountain bluebird that appears to have its own light source. Unusually clear air gave us a broad panorama of Antelope Valley below was framed by snow capped mountains as we approached the county line. On this steeper long runs heading east high speeds were reached with the wind that was more apparent on the opposing runs into the wind than here. It was a swift run to the narrows of Slinkard Creek just before reaching HWY395 (5084ft). Here the tailwind became a headwind or at least a stiff side wind on the nine miles on HWY395 up the valley to Walker (5400ft). On the way we saw two Highway patrol cruisers writing speeding tickets on the northbound side of the road. Then the two went cruising by and after a couple of miles they had again stopped cars heading north. We saw this three times and realized that they were radar measuring speed of approaching traffic, making a U-turn and pulling them over. I interviewed such a patrol since and was told that the computers are so good at deciphering speed taken by radar through the windshield that there is no doubt. We stopped in Walker, a favorite stopping place on these rides for comfortable accommodations, at the West Walker Motel and the hearty food offered in several eateries. Our room had front and rear windows so we had a cool desert breezes blow through the room. That breeze got stiffer during the night and was less friendly as we started after breakfast. That was 113mi and 13340ft climbing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday 05 June 2005 After a good night of refreshing air we had a generous hot cakes and syrup breakfast before getting on the road and heading into the West Walker River canyon where a 20-30mph wind was in our face as we climbed the 13 miles to Sonora Junction (6950ft). We turned onto HWY108 and headed west across marshes with blue iris, waterfowl but saw no yellow headed blackbirds that we usually find there. The road descends to the West Walker River before climbing to Pickel Meadows and the USMC Mountain Warfare training center. The old main entrance was apparently not secure enough and was blocked by concrete barriers. The new entrance is steep up-hill and is a zigzag between highway divider slabs. After following the north side of the valley, the road abruptly heads up Leavitt Creek with some bumps of 18% grade, leveling out at the site of the former Leavitt Meadows Store. Just past the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station the road makes a sharp right turn into its steepest grade of 26% and lets up to about 20% for another quarter mile. The half mile from the curve is probably the most challenging part of this side of the pass, the rest being a moderate grade between steep sections and a couple of descents. About three miles from the top, the road heads up Sardine Creek with a jolt. A sign at the junction warned of 26% grades and one of these is a surprise bend for descenders, an ess curve hidden behind a verge for downhill traffic. I have encountered this on years ago between snow walls that were melting onto the road. No one crashed but we were close to it. This curve is not trivial even from below because unsuspecting uphill traffic should get into low gear and doesn't. Because this section is short it probably doesn't leave the bicyclist with a lasting impression as does the section at Leavitt Meadows or the last half-mile to the summit. However, descending this curve is memorable. This last section crests a small apex, in a curve and descends through a dip that appears to be the maximum 26% grade on either side, from where it relaxes to a 12-15% grade to the summit. Descending this section is the only place where I have exceeded 50 mph without wind and had to brake hard while coasting up a 26% grade to safely round the curve at the top. It's an exciting road in both directions. Fortunately the wind that plagued us in the canyon seemed to go overhead as we climbed. http://tinyurl.com/ceo7b After a photo session the summit of Sonora Pass (9624ft) we descended toward Dardanelle. The road descends gently for about a mile next to Deadman's Creek before it dives down the Golden Stairs past the 9000ft marker and around a pair of ess bends to level off at 8000ft briefly before the next steep section. The road was in excellent shape with little traffic. We were down to Kennedy Meadows (6500ft) in no time as we passed the uphill challenges of the west slope at speed. Kennedy meadows lies at the bottom of the steep climbs from where the road makes a few rollers along the Stanislaus River before the Dardanelle Store (5265ft). We stopped for some eats and drink before continuing to Clark Fork JCT where the road suddenly looks like a regular state highway again with gentle curves and mild grades. From Clark Fork JCT (5671ft) a gentle two and a half mile hill got us to Donnells Vista Point (6291ft) with a 1500ft near vertical drop to the surface of Donnells Lake (4800ft) on the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. Across the valley, the Dardanelle Cones (9524ft), ancient volcanic formations, stand high above with large skirts of scree. From here, the road climbs to 6500ft and levels off again at about 6000ft with a few more ups and downs before a two-mile descent to Strawberry (5100ft). We stopped at the store for a snack before crossing the South Fork of the Stanislaus up to Pinecrest Junction and on to Cold Springs (5720ft). Down here there was hardly a trace of the rain and wind that was approaching. That's about it for climbing; the rest was mainly downhill to Sonora with a few little bumps before Twain Harte where we turned off down Tuolumne Rd to the city of that name. So we turned west on Tuolumne City road that climbs to Ralph, the former junction of the Sierra Railroad and Pickering (logging) Railroad that had its shops at a huge mill in Standard a bit farther down. The Pickering climbed to Twain Hearte before descending into the Middle Fork Stanislaus crossing Beardsley Dam to the forests on the north side of the river. http://tinyurl.com/adnk2 We passed Wards Ferry Rd and descended back to the start in Sonora and loaded out bicycle in the car for the uneventful ride back home. 98mi and 7300ft climbing ------------------------------------------- |
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#2
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Spring ride over the Sierra
As a matter of curiosity, did all of you ride up all these grades? Were
they all taken non-stop or was there some resting along the way? wrote in message ... Spring Tour in the Sierra 04-05 June 2005 Weather this year has been wetter than usual giving us wonderful wildflowers and green hills that are turning brown now, similar to what we had in 2002. On average, temperatures have been cooler than usual but not enough to require long sleeves. Brian Cox, Ray Hosler, John Woodfill and I headed for Sonora, that lies at the base of the Sierra at about 1800ft elevation and is on the intersection of HWY4 and HWY108, convenient to making a loop over Ebbetts, Monitor and Sonora Passes. After a good nights rest at the Sonora Gold Lodge we got on the road at 06:00 as planned and headed north. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday 4 June 2005 At 6:00, with little traffic we headed up the hill to Columbia (2143ft), a historic gold mining town with preserved gold rush buildings, from which Parrots Ferry Road descends through the canyon of the Stanislaus river to connect to HWY4. We stopped to take pictures of the "new" Parrots Ferry bridge that spans the high waters of high bridge, (not shown on the attached map) at Parrots Ferry (1100ft) spans the backwaters of the New Melones reservoir that inundated this beautiful white water river. http://tinyurl.com/clw2y The bridge is worth mention because, after it was built, the center of its graceful arch broke and hung there from it's reinforcing steel about five feet below where it was. It was repaired by splicing huge reinforced concrete beams under the arch that now has a flat dip in its center. As we crossed, white throated swifts darted past doing what they are best as... being swift and graceful. Not visible on the pictures we took, were 30-40 turkey vultures that were circling over the road at the north end of the bridge for some carrion that we could not see. We climbed up the other side past the turnoff to Moaning Cavern. At Vallecito, a wide spot in the road, we turned east on HWY4, the Ebbetts Pass route, back up at 1800ft. We were still in the foothills of oaks with pastel blue-green foliage and willows that marked the abundance of water. While most of the grasses in the valleys to the west were already turning golden, here in the hills they were still green, with small swamps and springs in the middle of fields under the trees. From the bird calls, I detected robins, grosbeaks and woodpeckers, the others being too shy to make a showing. http://www.caverntours.com/MoCavRt.htm At Murphys we began the long gradual climb up the western slope of the Sierra, and the forest changed from oaks to conifers as we passed through Hathaway Pines, Arnold, Big Trees, and Camp Connell. After Arnold (3960ft), there was still some snow between the trees that were a lovely mix of Red and White Fir, Ponderosa, Sugar and Jeffrey Pine, Incense Cedars, Douglas Fir and many Dogwoods blooming in the shade of the big trees. The road breaks out of the forest along a ridge that gives a view across the North Fork Stanislaus Basin, a huge rugged area called Hells Kitchen and crisscrossed by many roads remaining from logging and mining. Although we had a cool tailwind, the warming sun brought out the scent of pine pitch and dried needles emerging from receding snow. The faint odor of Mountain Misery, reminiscent of artichoke, could also be found. http://tinyurl.com/dda2u The meadows around Bear Valley were completely covered with snow with Canada geese waiting to continue their migration north. We stopped at the general store to stock up on food for the next three climbs, there being no other services en route until HWY395. A short climb brought us past the Mt Reba (HWY207) ski area, now called Bear Valley ski area from where it's a cruise to Lake Alpine that was still completely frozen over. Here the road becomes narrower loses its center stripe as it makes the short steep climbs to Pacific Grade Summit. These first indications that this is no longer an average state highway gets reinforced by the 24% grade signs farther on. Nothing exciting happens until Mosquito Lake and Pacific Grade Summit (8087ft) with a breathtaking view over Pacific Valley and Pacific Creek. The road dives downward to a set of steep ess bends that cross many contour lines in short order. We stopped at the bridge where Pacific Creek looks as though it might jump over the road as it cascades over huge boulders between snow banks. http://tinyurl.com/a6wmu Although less steep, the road makes some wonderful whoop-de-doos that can be taken in true roller coaster fashion on the way down to the Mokelumne river (7069ft) that drains Pacific and the much larger Hermit Valley. From here the road climbs gradually with a beautiful view to the south into Hermit Valley to Ebbetts Pass (8731ft) that itself has no view to either side. Oddly, it has a cattle guard as though there were range cattle here in the midst of this high forest. A swift descent got us out of the woods with a view across Kinney Reservoir and the rugged canyons beyond. Kinney Creek joins Silver creek and both raging cascades find their way quickly to the floor of the canyon far below as the road stays high before finally descending in a set of four large traverses with sharp hairpin turns to end the unusually steep section. Much of HWY4 in from Alpine Lake to the bottom of Silver Canyon has no center stripe or warning signs for such curves. One of these (at the Noble Lake trailhead) is known by locals as "Cadillac Curve" for the car at the bottom of the cliff that was too fast for the curve. A pickup truck joined the Cadillac some time later. Of course this has all been cleaned up years ago. http://tinyurl.com/7lstf We descended along the now docile Silver Creek to its confluence with the East Fork Carson River, that like all major rivers in Nevada, flows into the desert to evaporate. Blue skies and pleasant temperatures were predicted to change as a cold front with strong winds was approaching. Although wind was picking up, this is common for afternoons in the mountains and in this case, it was a tailwind. We turned up Monitor Creek on HWY89, an oddly small stream for such a large drainage. In contrast to former years, it was visibly clear water although probably unfit to drink for all the runoff from the mines along the canyon. The road levels off at Heenan Lake (7084ft), from which Monitor Creek flows. http://tinyurl.com/7cowp Toward the top of the climb, we left the sparse conifers and rode through groves of aspen. I remembered to check my altimeter at the false summit and again at Monitor Pass summit (8314ft) to find that the two summits are not the same height as they appear, but differ by about 100 feet. This broad nearly flat summit has Leviathan Peak (8942ft) overlooking the plateau as in the old days, when these fire lookouts guarded against wildfires, something done today by satellites. We took pictures at the stone marker in the grove of aspen before heading down across the broad gently sloping plateau to the Mono county line a mile and a half away. We didn't see many birds probably because the pleasant tailwind we had. I have seen many here, among them the brilliant mountain bluebird that appears to have its own light source. Unusually clear air gave us a broad panorama of Antelope Valley below was framed by snow capped mountains as we approached the county line. On this steeper long runs heading east high speeds were reached with the wind that was more apparent on the opposing runs into the wind than here. It was a swift run to the narrows of Slinkard Creek just before reaching HWY395 (5084ft). Here the tailwind became a headwind or at least a stiff side wind on the nine miles on HWY395 up the valley to Walker (5400ft). On the way we saw two Highway patrol cruisers writing speeding tickets on the northbound side of the road. Then the two went cruising by and after a couple of miles they had again stopped cars heading north. We saw this three times and realized that they were radar measuring speed of approaching traffic, making a U-turn and pulling them over. I interviewed such a patrol since and was told that the computers are so good at deciphering speed taken by radar through the windshield that there is no doubt. We stopped in Walker, a favorite stopping place on these rides for comfortable accommodations, at the West Walker Motel and the hearty food offered in several eateries. Our room had front and rear windows so we had a cool desert breezes blow through the room. That breeze got stiffer during the night and was less friendly as we started after breakfast. That was 113mi and 13340ft climbing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday 05 June 2005 After a good night of refreshing air we had a generous hot cakes and syrup breakfast before getting on the road and heading into the West Walker River canyon where a 20-30mph wind was in our face as we climbed the 13 miles to Sonora Junction (6950ft). We turned onto HWY108 and headed west across marshes with blue iris, waterfowl but saw no yellow headed blackbirds that we usually find there. The road descends to the West Walker River before climbing to Pickel Meadows and the USMC Mountain Warfare training center. The old main entrance was apparently not secure enough and was blocked by concrete barriers. The new entrance is steep up-hill and is a zigzag between highway divider slabs. After following the north side of the valley, the road abruptly heads up Leavitt Creek with some bumps of 18% grade, leveling out at the site of the former Leavitt Meadows Store. Just past the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station the road makes a sharp right turn into its steepest grade of 26% and lets up to about 20% for another quarter mile. The half mile from the curve is probably the most challenging part of this side of the pass, the rest being a moderate grade between steep sections and a couple of descents. About three miles from the top, the road heads up Sardine Creek with a jolt. A sign at the junction warned of 26% grades and one of these is a surprise bend for descenders, an ess curve hidden behind a verge for downhill traffic. I have encountered this on years ago between snow walls that were melting onto the road. No one crashed but we were close to it. This curve is not trivial even from below because unsuspecting uphill traffic should get into low gear and doesn't. Because this section is short it probably doesn't leave the bicyclist with a lasting impression as does the section at Leavitt Meadows or the last half-mile to the summit. However, descending this curve is memorable. This last section crests a small apex, in a curve and descends through a dip that appears to be the maximum 26% grade on either side, from where it relaxes to a 12-15% grade to the summit. Descending this section is the only place where I have exceeded 50 mph without wind and had to brake hard while coasting up a 26% grade to safely round the curve at the top. It's an exciting road in both directions. Fortunately the wind that plagued us in the canyon seemed to go overhead as we climbed. http://tinyurl.com/ceo7b After a photo session the summit of Sonora Pass (9624ft) we descended toward Dardanelle. The road descends gently for about a mile next to Deadman's Creek before it dives down the Golden Stairs past the 9000ft marker and around a pair of ess bends to level off at 8000ft briefly before the next steep section. The road was in excellent shape with little traffic. We were down to Kennedy Meadows (6500ft) in no time as we passed the uphill challenges of the west slope at speed. Kennedy meadows lies at the bottom of the steep climbs from where the road makes a few rollers along the Stanislaus River before the Dardanelle Store (5265ft). We stopped for some eats and drink before continuing to Clark Fork JCT where the road suddenly looks like a regular state highway again with gentle curves and mild grades. From Clark Fork JCT (5671ft) a gentle two and a half mile hill got us to Donnells Vista Point (6291ft) with a 1500ft near vertical drop to the surface of Donnells Lake (4800ft) on the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. Across the valley, the Dardanelle Cones (9524ft), ancient volcanic formations, stand high above with large skirts of scree. From here, the road climbs to 6500ft and levels off again at about 6000ft with a few more ups and downs before a two-mile descent to Strawberry (5100ft). We stopped at the store for a snack before crossing the South Fork of the Stanislaus up to Pinecrest Junction and on to Cold Springs (5720ft). Down here there was hardly a trace of the rain and wind that was approaching. That's about it for climbing; the rest was mainly downhill to Sonora with a few little bumps before Twain Harte where we turned off down Tuolumne Rd to the city of that name. So we turned west on Tuolumne City road that climbs to Ralph, the former junction of the Sierra Railroad and Pickering (logging) Railroad that had its shops at a huge mill in Standard a bit farther down. The Pickering climbed to Twain Hearte before descending into the Middle Fork Stanislaus crossing Beardsley Dam to the forests on the north side of the river. http://tinyurl.com/adnk2 We passed Wards Ferry Rd and descended back to the start in Sonora and loaded out bicycle in the car for the uneventful ride back home. 98mi and 7300ft climbing ------------------------------------------- |
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Spring ride over the Sierra
Ron Wallenfang writes:
As a matter of curiosity, did all of you ride up all these grades? Were they all taken non-stop or was there some resting along the way? The grades were all ridden non-stop. In the days of yore, when we were young and beautiful, we raced up these steep roads and blew up from unreal expectations. Today, with measured stroke, we ride non-stop to the top. On the other hand we also stop to take pictures at the Rock Window above Kennedy Meadows where the road reaches a plateau with a drinking water stream cutting under the road. After that, it's up the big Ess and up to 8000ft. And then the Golden Stairs rise to 9000ft. The rock Window and the Golden Stairs are the main hurdle of Sonora Pass west as I see it. |
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Spring ride over the Sierra
As a matter of curiosity, did all of you ride up all these grades?
Were they all taken non-stop or was there some resting along the way? The grades were all ridden non-stop. In the days of yore, when we were young and beautiful, we raced up these steep roads and blew up from unreal expectations. Today, with measured stroke, we ride non-stop to the top. On the other hand we also stop to take pictures at the Rock Window above Kennedy Meadows where the road reaches a plateau with a drinking water stream cutting under the road. After that, it's up the big Ess and up to 8000ft. And then the Golden Stairs rise to 9000ft. The rock Window and the Golden Stairs are the main hurdle of Sonora Pass west as I see it. It's my opinion that the rock Window seems much tougher than it really is because the lead-in is so abrupt. You go from a pleasant cruise alongside a noisy stream to something that nearly-instantly demands your full attention (and lowest gear). Up to this point you've had nothing greater than perhaps an 8% grade (if that), and now you're at 20% for a bit. Mentally, you're thinking geez, I'm really going to do this today, I feel awful! You're not thinking about the fact that it lets up significantly. By the time you get to the Golden Stairs, which are considerably longer, higher altitude and often hotter, you've got a lot of tough climbing under your belt and nothing seems impossible anymore. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com |
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Spring ride over the Sierra
I am impressed! As a midwesterner, I don't get (or look for) many
opportunites for big climbs, though I count myself as tolerably good by local standards. I did have one occasion to climb the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse - much more familiar to you - and made it, but with 3 short stops on the way up. wrote in message ... Ron Wallenfang writes: As a matter of curiosity, did all of you ride up all these grades? Were they all taken non-stop or was there some resting along the way? The grades were all ridden non-stop. In the days of yore, when we were young and beautiful, we raced up these steep roads and blew up from unreal expectations. Today, with measured stroke, we ride non-stop to the top. On the other hand we also stop to take pictures at the Rock Window above Kennedy Meadows where the road reaches a plateau with a drinking water stream cutting under the road. After that, it's up the big Ess and up to 8000ft. And then the Golden Stairs rise to 9000ft. The rock Window and the Golden Stairs are the main hurdle of Sonora Pass west as I see it. |
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Spring ride over the Sierra
In article ,
Ron Wallenfang wrote: I am impressed! As a midwesterner, I don't get (or look for) many opportunites for big climbs, I have always said the same sort of thing but recently passed through the Cuyahoga region of Ohio. It's not like the hills go on for miles, but when the sign says "17% grade" and advises trucks to go elsewhere, you get to call it a climb. dave (Pennsylvania too, but I can't call that the MidWest.) |
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