Gallery - Markleeville Death Ride
129 miles, 15,000', 5 passes over 8,000'
07/13/08
the start! calm now - but there will be 1,000 riders later
129 miles and 5 HC climbs - all
ahead
coasting South exiting Turtle Creek park
...huh... what's
that
doing here?
Markleeville coming up
the town: 'road closed ahead'
policemen escorting the peleton
heading for the high mountains...
... accompanied by a tinkling stream
here we go - pass one, coming up
9 miles @ 7%
goodbye for now, stream
the base of Monitor Pass
here comes the sun!
made it up the first climb! - now in the high meadows
... sierra beauty ...
chkpt 1, 19 miles
a big crowd - including a news chopper
still smiling, 1/5 done
so long, news chopper...
back in the saddle, heading for the pass
summit #1
down we go, all the way to Lake Topaz
wow, look at that
some of the early starters are climbing back up already
down we go
a warning; we have to climb back up this!
made it - at Lake Topaz
chkpt 2, 29 miles
back up we go, pass two
9 miles @ 8%
a bit disorganized getting started up
'scenic route' - riight...
... grinding, grinding ...
beautiful view back down the valley
onward and upward
amazing how far you can climb on a bike :)
yep, we started 'down there' 90 minutes ago
coming up to the top
made it, pass two! - back to the Monitor Pass
the meadows along the top of the mountain
summit #2
smiling with a long lost friend
bottom of the descent, Markleeville to the right, Ebbetts pass to the left
no comment
the stream is back
rolling along the valley
chkpt 4, mile 43 - getting ready for pass three
miss Markleeville and court
Noble canyon
and the crowd goes wild
IXL Lake
climbing Ebbetts
8 miles @ 12%
yay, made it - summit #3 - 3/5 done
barreling down backside of Ebbetts
turnaround in Hermit Valley
the Rolling Bones' mascot
up the backside of Ebbetts - climb four
6 miles @ 7%
summit #4
the view into Noble Canyon
flying down the 12% descent
whee
entering the feed zone - lunch!
false flat back to Markleeville
the everpresent stream
beautiful meadows
equine spectators
the cows however pay us no mind
ride parking - heading to Woodfords
at Woodfords - just one pass left
a different stream to keep us company
Picketts Junction - in the middle of climb 5
15 miles @ 7%
a temporary flat
Carson pass visible at left
storm clouds gathering
the 100 mile mark - still climbing
2,000' left (!)
Carson pass ahead - the final 5 miles are 8%
yay made it! - summit #5 - 5/5 done!
everyone is too tired to hang their bikes
some weary legs, happy brains
one happy guy - I made it!
five passes - you get to sign the ride poster
... just in case ...
Red Lake, with final climb at left
descending, passing all the riders still climbing
OMG rain!
(I feel sorry for those still climbing)