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08-22-08, 11:34 PM
We're bugging out tomorrow, so today was my last chance to go for a ride before heading home. This time, I elected to turn south and strike out for Round Valley, just north of Bishop.
I saddled up at about 8am, and took off down 395. It was a pleasant enough ride, but sort of boring compared to the last few I've done here. At McGee Creek, I exited 395 and spun on down the frontage road. Nice scenery, but still a bit ho-hum. Cruising though Lake Crowley Resort and Long Valley, I was treated to a nice climb in a warming sun. Summiting, I was then able to descend down into the town of Tom's Place. I stopped here to call the girls, and see if they were pursuing yet. They were just getting into the chase car some 30 miles behind me, and I thought seriously about sitting at the café and having something to eat while I waited for them to collect me.
In the end, I decided to press on until they caught up - they knew the route, and I wanted some more miles. What a good call that turned out to be! Departing Tom's Place, I had to rejoin 395 south and then exit at the next offramp at Lower Rock Creek Road. That was a very pleasant several mile descent, followed by a 2 mile grind in dead air and ever warming conditions. As I reached the top, I was treated to a glimpse of what was to be the centerpiece of the entire ride. Before me lay Round Valley, far away and shimmering like a mirage at the base of the far mountains.
As I started down, I had no idea what a descent this was to be. Rock creek Road had turned into the Old Sherwin Grade, and I was rocketing along on an open mesa, descending down into Round Valley with the hand of God on display everywhere I looked. The descent wasn't too steep - about 30mph coasting - but the sight-lines were wide open, the pavement was marvelous, and it when on forever. Almost 10 miles later, I rolled out onto the valley floor, and cruised along on lush lanes lined with Cottonwoods.
Next to the descent off of Sagehen to Adobe Flats, it was simply one of the most exhilarating descents I'd ever experienced.
The girls finally hauled me in at the town of Rovana, and we enjoyed a nice lunch together before heading back to spend the remainder of the day.
Signpost, 6 miles into the ride:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/sign.jpg
Coming out of Mammoth, looking south down 395 towards Bishop:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/395.jpg
Glacial moraine:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/terminalmoraine.jpg
Mt Morrison, 12,268' in elevation, as seen from 395:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/MtMorrison-1.jpg
Looking back down Rock Creek Road climb:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/rockcreekclimb.jpg
Beginning of Sherwin Grade descent - downhill all the way to that green patch in the distance:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/sherwingradedescent-1.jpg
Wheeler Crest 13,780' in elevation, at the bottom of the descent:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/wheelercrest-1.jpg
Mt Tom, 13,652' in elevation, seen from Round Valley:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/mttom-2.jpg
Coming into the Cottonwoods:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/vanishingpoint.jpg
Round Valley, with the Four Gables in the upper right:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/roundvalley-4.jpg
I saddled up at about 8am, and took off down 395. It was a pleasant enough ride, but sort of boring compared to the last few I've done here. At McGee Creek, I exited 395 and spun on down the frontage road. Nice scenery, but still a bit ho-hum. Cruising though Lake Crowley Resort and Long Valley, I was treated to a nice climb in a warming sun. Summiting, I was then able to descend down into the town of Tom's Place. I stopped here to call the girls, and see if they were pursuing yet. They were just getting into the chase car some 30 miles behind me, and I thought seriously about sitting at the café and having something to eat while I waited for them to collect me.
In the end, I decided to press on until they caught up - they knew the route, and I wanted some more miles. What a good call that turned out to be! Departing Tom's Place, I had to rejoin 395 south and then exit at the next offramp at Lower Rock Creek Road. That was a very pleasant several mile descent, followed by a 2 mile grind in dead air and ever warming conditions. As I reached the top, I was treated to a glimpse of what was to be the centerpiece of the entire ride. Before me lay Round Valley, far away and shimmering like a mirage at the base of the far mountains.
As I started down, I had no idea what a descent this was to be. Rock creek Road had turned into the Old Sherwin Grade, and I was rocketing along on an open mesa, descending down into Round Valley with the hand of God on display everywhere I looked. The descent wasn't too steep - about 30mph coasting - but the sight-lines were wide open, the pavement was marvelous, and it when on forever. Almost 10 miles later, I rolled out onto the valley floor, and cruised along on lush lanes lined with Cottonwoods.
Next to the descent off of Sagehen to Adobe Flats, it was simply one of the most exhilarating descents I'd ever experienced.
The girls finally hauled me in at the town of Rovana, and we enjoyed a nice lunch together before heading back to spend the remainder of the day.
Signpost, 6 miles into the ride:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/sign.jpg
Coming out of Mammoth, looking south down 395 towards Bishop:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/395.jpg
Glacial moraine:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/terminalmoraine.jpg
Mt Morrison, 12,268' in elevation, as seen from 395:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/MtMorrison-1.jpg
Looking back down Rock Creek Road climb:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/rockcreekclimb.jpg
Beginning of Sherwin Grade descent - downhill all the way to that green patch in the distance:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/sherwingradedescent-1.jpg
Wheeler Crest 13,780' in elevation, at the bottom of the descent:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/wheelercrest-1.jpg
Mt Tom, 13,652' in elevation, seen from Round Valley:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/mttom-2.jpg
Coming into the Cottonwoods:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/vanishingpoint.jpg
Round Valley, with the Four Gables in the upper right:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/Mammoth%20trip%20ride%204/roundvalley-4.jpg