Northern California - Sonora Pass Fail

I attempted Sonora Pass East today after Monitor Pass East & West. I felt ok on Monitor but after the drive to Sonora my legs didn't want to get going again, and when the rain started coming down I contemplated turning around. The thunder sealed the deal. 1000 feet up and I turned around and headed back to my car in shame. Oh well I guess I'll try again next year.

How was Monitor? Great descent, right.

Sorry to hear that. There's plenty of tails of woe from Sierra rides round these parts...

Monitor was great. Very nice descent. I slowed to about 35 to get this shot...

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/6965.jpg

Sonora I probably would have pushed through but for the thunder. This was shortly before it started dumping on me.
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/6966.jpg

I'm heading south and doing Horshoe Meadows tomrorow and either Onion Valley or Whitney Portal again. I'd like to do all three if I can get started early enough.

At least you didn't get snowed on :)

Sonora is no Monitor, it's much steeper. The West side is even worse.
Horseshoe Meadow should be fun, that's a long one with many hairpins. Are you coming down on a hanglider? Near the top of the steepest climbing part there's a launch place that is very popular for them, fastest way to reach Owen's Lake.

Damn, I just missed you up there. I did Monitor yesterday for the first time.

I had a couple of days off and I was inspired by all the recent Death Ride and Diamond Valley RR talk so I headed up to Markleeville for a few rides. Did Ebbetts on Tuesday and Monitor Wednesday. I had no idea that Sonora Pass was so close. I need to spend more time up there and get familiar with it. Fantastic riding in that area............and yeah, you can pretty much set your watch to those afternoon thunderstorms. :thumb:

I attempted Sonora Pass East today after Monitor Pass East & West. I felt ok on Monitor but after the drive to Sonora my legs didn't want to get going again, and when the rain started coming down I contemplated turning around. The thunder sealed the deal. 1000 feet up and I turned around and headed back to my car in shame. Oh well I guess I'll try again next year.

Nothin' to be ashamed of, especially with Monitor already in the bag. I think you made the right call. Between the chance of getting hit by lightening and the idea of descending down a very steep, twisty wet road :eek: . . . way too much risk of serious injury or worse.

Besides, Sonora Pass is nasty-@ss steep. :p

Let's see....2X Monitor, then bagging it on Sonora in the rain, lightning and thunder...Oh the shame. :D

Sonora is definetly our hardest local climb(s). We usually start at the Cal Trans station on the east side, up and over to the Dardanelles Store and back. About 58 miles and 7,100 ft.....and darn scenic. Definetly next year ***!

http://www.altaalpina.org/rides/dsp_selroute.php?area=15&type=Road

http://www.sagebum.com/BikeForums/SonoraEast%20BF


http://www.sagebum.com/BikeForums/SonoraSlot%20BF.JPG

I don't remember seeing a caltrans station... Next year I'll skip monitor and just do sonora east and west

It is on the east side of 395 just north of the Sonora Pass road. We have never been bothered there in terms of parking.

A couple other climbs to do near there just for the sake of doing them all....near the bottom of the south side of Conway Summit is Lundy Canyon...short. Also, ride up Conway from the south and then at the top turn left and go up the road to Virginia Lakes. It is a very nice climb and very scenic too.