Northern California - Tioga Pass!

OK, the Chain Reaction guys described it much better than I ever could: http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/tiogapass.htm

Still, I did it so you all get to at least see some pictures!

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1st altitude sign - I've already climbed almost 2,000 feet, and the ride is only 12 miles old! It'll take the next 26 miles to climb the next 1,000 - and those will hurt worse (because you go down into several deep valleys on the way up, so you get an extra 2,500 feet of climbing to go with the 1,000). One weird thing - I checked the temperature at this point - and it was 10 degrees cooler than when I started! It got all the way down to 52 degrees before it started getting warmer again - then it got up to 91 degrees.

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Half Dome from a different perspective.

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I got a tourist to take this (oh, wait, I was a tourist, too!). That's Lake Tenaya in the background.

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Tenaya Lake.

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Cool little meadow and pond above the 9,000 elevation sign. I had to stop and catch my breath.

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At last! almost 5 1/2 hours after I started. 6,500 feet of climbing to cover the 4,000 feet between Crane Flat and the pass. The only thing missing is John Belushi, dressed up in a bed sheet, jumping around and shouting, "Tioga! Tioga! Tioga!"

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Finally, the inevitable tourist photo of Half Dome from Glacier Point. At least I hiked up there this morning! Just imagine how many counter tops could be made from that hunk of granite.

JB

Congratulations!:beer:

Great Pictures.

I've lived in CA for 22 years and never even been to Yosemite. Does that make me a bad person?

I've lived in CA for 22 years and never even been to Yosemite. Does that make me a bad person?

Nah, I lived in the NYC area for more than 30 years (and in the city for 8), and never made it to the statue of Liberty, the Central Park Zoo, etc. etc. etc. Sometimes you just don't do what the tourists do.

However, Yosemite is really, really nice.

JB

When I went out to Mammoth last week, I transited Tioga Pass on the way out, and Sonora Pass on the way back. I thought Tioga looked tough (great job, by the way!!), but Sonora looked absolutely brutal - and it was tough, even on the truck.

I just don't think I could do Sonora. Especially the climb up from the east side.

Stunning pictures! Must have been a nice ride. Wow...

Thanks for posting them!

When I went out to Mammoth last week, I transited Tioga Pass on the way out, and Sonora Pass on the way back. I thought Tioga looked tough (great job, by the way!!), but Sonora looked absolutely brutal - and it was tough, even on the truck.

I just don't think I could do Sonora. Especially the climb up from the east side.

Thanks - the Chain Reaction guys described it well - lots and lots of climbing, but no killer climbs. I wouldn't be surprised to find out there's nothing over 10% the entire way.

Sonora, on the other hand - check out the Chain Reaction description. http://www.chainreaction.com/sonora_pass.htm

Usually, I read about a climb and think, "I should try that someday." Not this one.

JB

I've lived in CA for 22 years and never even been to Yosemite. Does that make me a bad person?

I've been here for 15 years and not been yet either. Now I don't feel so bad!

Great photos and report, JB!

Nice ride photos. How was the traffic and shoulders on the road?



I've been here for 15 years and not been yet either. Now I don't feel so bad!

Pheard missed out climbing Half Dome, do I hear a BF Half Dome hike?

Nice ride photos. How was the traffic and shoulders on the road?

Pheard missed out climbing Half Dome, do I hear a BF Half Dome hike?

Thanks. The shoulders were mostly minimal - I rode to the left of the white line most of the time. Traffic was about what I expected, although lots of horse trailers. The drivers were courteous and safe for the most part, with a few idiots not leaving much room or passing when it wasn't really safe. I wouldn't want to try this ride on a weekend, though.

I'd go back for a Half Dome hike, but my weekends are now booked until after Thanksgiving. If everyone decides to do it on a weekday, I'm in (I have a very understanding boss!).

JB

I made the mistake of doing Half Dome two days in a row a couple of years ago. I've done it three times altogether. The longest hike I've done in Yosemite was from the valley floor up to Cloud's Rest and back in the same day. Most of my riding has been done on the valley floor. Loved your riding pics! I think your advice about not riding on the weekend is well taken!

Pheard missed out climbing Half Dome, do I hear a BF Half Dome hike?

Road trip!!! :D

Is that the next BF ride? Who's leading it?