Traversing three CA Sierra passes...
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:19 pm
I had the pleasure of riding approximately 400 miles Saturday with a couple of good friends. California has some of the best roads for motorcycles anywhere in the world, especially in the mountains. We crossed three passes, all of them over 8000 Ft. in elevation, one near 10,000 feet.
We started our ride in Oakhurst, my home-town about 20 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. We rode north on Highway 49, and took numerous side-road excursions, mostly devoid of traffic. The road surfaces were very good, and very twisty. Are you beginning to get the picture?
This was an epic ride.
I usually try to get as many pictures as possible, but this was one of those rides where stopping the flow, or interrupting the pace seemed like sin.
I'll post a few pics, but you'll just have to believe me: This was a ride to remember!
First pass: Sonora Pass - At the junction of Highway 49 and 108 in Jamestown, we headed east on 108 toward Sonora Pass. The road turned relatively steep, and pleasantly twisty soon after leaving Jamestown behind. One of my favorite elements of crossing these passes in California is the stark contrast in scenery at different elevations. You can ride half an hour and seem to be in a completely different world. Sonora Pass crests at 9,643 ft. in elevation. I was surprised to find it still below the tree-line. The scenery was breath-taking, but we had no time for pics.
Second pass: Monitor pass, at 8,314 ft. was almost shocking. After climbing steep, super-tight switchbacks for what seemed like hours, the kind that you have to devote all of your attention to - we rode through a line of trees to find this plateau spread out before us - on top of the world, no less!
Between Monitor and Ebbitts pass, we stopped for a water break, and to excitedly discuss our ride, and the unbelievable scenery we had just rode through. Our resting point was almost as awe-inspiring as the rest of the ride. A picturesque alpine lake - boy would I love to own that cabin!
Ebbitts Pass was the third and final pass at 8,732 ft. Each of these passes offered stunning views, and superb roads. I almost feel guilty about living and riding in this state. Almost.
We started our ride in Oakhurst, my home-town about 20 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. We rode north on Highway 49, and took numerous side-road excursions, mostly devoid of traffic. The road surfaces were very good, and very twisty. Are you beginning to get the picture?
This was an epic ride. I usually try to get as many pictures as possible, but this was one of those rides where stopping the flow, or interrupting the pace seemed like sin.
I'll post a few pics, but you'll just have to believe me: This was a ride to remember!
First pass: Sonora Pass - At the junction of Highway 49 and 108 in Jamestown, we headed east on 108 toward Sonora Pass. The road turned relatively steep, and pleasantly twisty soon after leaving Jamestown behind. One of my favorite elements of crossing these passes in California is the stark contrast in scenery at different elevations. You can ride half an hour and seem to be in a completely different world. Sonora Pass crests at 9,643 ft. in elevation. I was surprised to find it still below the tree-line. The scenery was breath-taking, but we had no time for pics.
Second pass: Monitor pass, at 8,314 ft. was almost shocking. After climbing steep, super-tight switchbacks for what seemed like hours, the kind that you have to devote all of your attention to - we rode through a line of trees to find this plateau spread out before us - on top of the world, no less!
Between Monitor and Ebbitts pass, we stopped for a water break, and to excitedly discuss our ride, and the unbelievable scenery we had just rode through. Our resting point was almost as awe-inspiring as the rest of the ride. A picturesque alpine lake - boy would I love to own that cabin!
Ebbitts Pass was the third and final pass at 8,732 ft. Each of these passes offered stunning views, and superb roads. I almost feel guilty about living and riding in this state. Almost.