Markleeville, CA - Monitor Pass
The Monitor Pass ride begins in Markleeville, CA. You can park in the lot behind the general store near the city building. It is not usually crowded. This is an area between the Death Ride passes and the start/finish area. For more info on the Death Ride you can check out this website: Tour of California Alps. The route will take you south from Markleeville to the intersection of CA89 and CA4. Turn left onto CA89 and proceed up the grade to the summit and over to US 395 where the road ends. The climbs here are a bit less steep than Ebbetts and Pacific grades but challenging none-the-less. These climbs are longer but the terrain is more barren. Monitor Pass is not technically located in the Sierra mountain range and its environment is more that of a desert in nature. The climbing on the Markleeville side of the pass is gradual and steady. There is a crest on the way up that you may think is the summit of the climb but continue past this and go downhill and through a valley to the real summit a couple of miles further on. There is a sign marking the summit so you will know it when you reach that point. Once over the summit you will head down toward Topaz Lake and the giant valley below. Beware, this side of the pass is much steeper and you may want to take it easy going down. The trip down to highway 395 is about 11 miles and will not take long. You can turn around at the road service area and catch your breath before starting back. The climb up this side of the pass is more difficult and longer than the side from Markleeville. Until you reach the tree line about a third of the way up the climb the land will be pretty baron (you might have missed this on the descent). Once you reach the tree line the climbing gets tougher for the next 5 miles or so until you reach the alpine county line. Once you pass that sign the climbing gets easier as you proceed on to the summit. Then enjoy the ride back down to the foot of the mountain turn right onto 89 and head back to Markleeville for a much deserved lunch in town.
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Keys to the Ride1. Depart Markleeville Elevation 5,500 feet2. Traffic is mild most of the time.3. The road over this pass is good on both sides the grade is more gradual going from Markleeville than from US 395.4. Be sure to go all the way to the summit. You might think you have gotten there but keep going till you find the marker above.5. The grade is steeper on the side going toward US 395 so take is easy going down and be prepared for the tough part of the return climb back to the summit.6. Remember no services on this ride.
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