Monitor Pass to Walker

25 June 2010

Today was one of the harder riding days on this trip. From Sorenson's to Markleeville, then a long climb up to Monitor Pass before a long descent to the east side of the Sierra and a ride down Hwy 395 to the small town of Walker. In all, we rode about 44 miles and climbed 3800 feet. The climb to Monitor Pass was about 2800 feet in about 8 miles.



Overall, we did fine, completing the ride in 4 hours of seat time and just over 5 hours total. Both Ingrid and I took the climbing portions slowly and steadily. There is one place that rises steadily at about a 10% grade for almost 2 miles. I slowed to about 3.5 miles per hour (no more than a moderately fast walking pace) and got into a rhythm that I felt I could sustain for as long as I needed to. It helped (a lot) that we had ridden this way before, two years ago. Much of the challenge of climbing is mental and knowing the challenge helps preparing to face it.



It rained for almost the entire two hour climb up to the pass. For the first hour it was a light drizzle that we just tried to ignore. But for the second hour the rain fell steadily and we got wet. I had just enough to cope comfortably: rain pants, a fleece vest, and a light nylon jacket plus a change of clothes in a zip-lock baggie that I put on at the pass. The sag truck was stopped halfway up and Ingrid took shelter in it for the heaviest part of the rain. By the time we began descending on the drier, Eastern side of the Sierra, the rain slackened and the road was only damp.



I had been very much looking forward to the photo opportunities along the upper half of the ride up to Monitor Pass. The wildflowers were riotously blooming. But the dark gray sky and the wet weather made me focus on completing the ride efficiently (and staying warm) rather than taking photos.



This is the group (minus me, taking the photo, and minus Rod, recovering from a stroke).