Southern California - Eastern Sierras - Onion Valley - A Long Overdue Ride Report

Ok, this ascent was actually two weeks ago. And was long overdue since I originally did the climb a year ago.

My ride report: Eastern Sierras – Onion Valley – The Toughest Single Climb in California? (http://www.toughascent.com/blog/?p=289)

A few picture from the most recent ascent:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E1cf0kcEFAE/T95teH42HTI/AAAAAAAA0hQ/XcaAtPRL4mI/s800/CIMG0989.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J-TYbx6vnBM/T95tv5z61YI/AAAAAAAA0jg/Qj7QWi_q3J4/s800/CIMG1007.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eP_46iBfZSg/T95t0pz7_QI/AAAAAAAA0kQ/1t3Rju_nLyw/s800/CIMG1013.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SfwFkEX1_X0/T95uESHatxI/AAAAAAAA0mQ/wWSp7ZqQzLM/s800/CIMG1030.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MnRLq10IUEI/T95uISr6NYI/AAAAAAAA0mo/L_1xoB8DNXY/s800/CIMG1033.JPG (http://www.toughascent.com/blog/?p=289)

Short version: If you've not done Onion Valley, do it. Long version: read the ride report (http://www.toughascent.com/blog/?p=289)!

Recently rode Rock Creek to Mosquito Flats from Hilton Creek. Man, that Sierra **** is so awesome. I haven't done The Onion yet. So I appreciate the heads up on that.

That looks like a great day. Right on. That's a nice, nice ride. Good, good job.

that last switchback before the relative straightaway to the top to onion valley? ungodly.

Awesome to see another ride report from you! Great climbing!

Recently rode Rock Creek to Mosquito Flats from Hilton Creek. Man, that Sierra **** is so awesome. I haven't done The Onion yet. So I appreciate the heads up on that.

That looks like a great day. Right on. That's a nice, nice ride. Good, good job.

The whole of the eastern Sierras has some of the best climbs around. Horseshoe and White Mountain are also must do climbs.


that last switchback before the relative straightaway to the top to onion valley? ungodly.

Yes, yes it is.


Awesome to see another ride report from you! Great climbing!

Thanks! I have more I want to post - just hard to find the time!

Thanks for the report. I am planning on doing my first double next year after doing the KOM this year. One of the double I hope to do is White Mountain and then the following year the White Mountain mtn bike ride.

GREAT write up. And your enthusiasm is contagious. I try to camp at Bridgeport every year, but I may have to add this to my list for next year. I LOVE that scenery.

Thanks for the report. I am planning on doing my first double next year after doing the KOM this year. One of the double I hope to do is White Mountain and then the following year the White Mountain mtn bike ride.

White Mountain alone is quite a climb. White Mountain in a 200 mile day would make for a pretty epic day.


GREAT write up. And your enthusiasm is contagious. I try to camp at Bridgeport every year, but I may have to add this to my list for next year. I LOVE that scenery.

Thanks! Onion Valley, White Mountain, Horseshoe Meadows, Whitney Portal - all are great climbs in the area. And Bridgeport is a cute little town - any spots you prefer to camp at around there?

The road ride of white mountain only does the paved section but that is still 11000+ ft.

The ranger station at White Mountain is at 10,100'. I've only ever ridden that far but I thought the pavement ended there.

I agree that White Mountain is a tougher climb than Onion Valley. Those steep pitches in the last 3 miles make it extra hard. But Onion Valley is nicer. So far it's my favorite eastern sierra climb but I have yet to do Horseshoe and it's been 20 years since I did Whitney. I hope to address both of those by doing the Whitney stage race next month.

BTW, the Everest Challenge, besides being a race, also offers a non-competitive organized ride. You get to do six big eastern sierra climbs over two days. They're all scenic, and the support is good.

Nice report and pics.

Hey, the dude at the top of the Strava leader board is JasonA (posted in your blog), my buddy from GMR. He's posted here a few times :thumb:




http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/Jason2.jpg