Originally Posted by Heathpack

Very surprised the road was open today. Not much traffic but we did get to see a motorcyle impatient to pass us almost have a head-on with an oncoming motorcycle.

It was pretty pleasant for most of the ride. But hot by the time we left Baldy Village for the ski lifts. Steep stuff like that is really tough for me, heat is really tough for me, and I start to feel the altitude around 5000 ft.

For the rest of you, this final climb is 4.7 miles at ave 9% but theres a short flat section and a tiny descent, so most of it is 10-11%. The village is 25ish miles into your ride (depending on where you start) and is at 4000 ft, the ski lifts are 6200 ft. It's gnarly and I was feeling the pain. I had to stop to regroup once on the way up, sit in the shade for a minute. Temps in the upper 80s/low 90s by that point.

Piles and piles of switchbacks. I tried to get a pic but this is the best I got, just an example of one of em:


This climb is also always a bit deceptive, somehow you still have 1500 ft of climbing on what should be the way down! Im always in disbelief when that happens, it seems impossible. Lol, not sure if that happens to you, too. You know it's coming but think you're just remembering it wrong.

In the end it was around 65 miles/7700 ft of climbing. Whew, I'm tired.