Death Ride Passes

[maillotpois]

Ebbets without a doubt.

What dates will you be up there?

[Veronica]

And which others? I'd like to do all 5 naturally. But two or three is more realistic I think.

June 17 and 18th. I was going to try to be there when you are, but the end of the school year is always stressful. I didn't need to be planning a camping trip too.

V.

[maillotpois]

Ebbetts is 2 passes (1 each side). So is Monitor. Do both sides of Ebbetts. If you are feeling ambitious continue beyond the Ebbetts turnaround (the level part at the bottom of the back side of the pass) to Pacific Grade. 24%

Carson will be the most heavily trafficked pass - but it is also the widest. Monitor is nice. Dropping down to 395 on the backside is the lowest elevation (which means it is the longest sustained climb on the way back up.)

ETA: I just looked back at my journal. Ebbetts out and back from Grover Hot Spirings is 55 miles. About 5500 feet of climbing - but it has the nice long rolly/flat stretch by the river.

[yellow]

V, I loooooooooooooove Monitor. Expect some serious speed on the east side! MP, all the cattle guards are gone now on Monitor, yes?

Another nice ride in the area that isn't a "Death Ride Pass" is up Blue Lakes Road off of 88 near Hope Valley. They just paved it for the first time about 3-4 years ago.

[maillotpois]

Yellow - I recall no cattle guards on Monitor.

Monitor's a lot drier. More the type of terrain you'll get at ESDC (eastern Sierra like). The view from Monitor can be amazing. Ebbets is pine foresty and just beautiful. Ebbett's is the hardest of the passes in terms of steepness, but done on its own it's a fun ride. Carson's easy, flattish (except at the bottom and top), meadow with lakes.

[smilingcat]

yeah I vote for Ebetts pass.

So now its Monitor-Monitor-Ebetts-Ebetts-Carson? hmmm Haven't been down the back side.
Monitor just seem just too open for me. Luther is gone... Well it is a very beautiful ride.

No cattle guards!!! The real cattle guards have been replaced with white lines painted across the road.

wondeful memories...
smilingcat

[maillotpois]

Yep, that's been the route/order for at least the last 7 - 8 years. (One of those years they threw in Pacific Grade as a bonus 6th; I think that was 2001.) They haven't done Luther in a while. Did they also do Luther as an out and back? Daggett pass out of South Lake is fun - much like Monitor but a faster descent with wider roads.

You gotta love how cows are just as petrified by LINES painted in the road as they are by grates. I wish people had figured that out a long time ago!!!

[spokewench]

V, I loooooooooooooove Monitor. Expect some serious speed on the east side! MP, all the cattle guards are gone now on Monitor, yes?

Another nice ride in the area that isn't a "Death Ride Pass" is up Blue Lakes Road off of 88 near Hope Valley. They just paved it for the first time about 3-4 years ago.

YAHOO - The serious speed is the best part! said by Crazy woman who still hasn't learned she is getting old!

[maillotpois]

Yup.

I hit 59 mph coming down Carson in 2005. Still a personal land speed record (on a bike ). Not likely to go any faster than that, either....