October 4, 2020
More than a half of a year, and no real substantial motorcycle trips...until now. A portion of the following text has been recycled from my writings on various motorcycle-based forums.
Introduction
About a year and a half ago, contemplating about various rides to plan - and maybe do - a long-dormant brain cell recollected hearing about a ride in California called the "Five Passes" ride. According to what I thought I'd recalled, there was a given route across a small portion of the twenty-odd passes that cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
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| The Sierra Nevada mountain range - no roads across them here! |
Wikipedia listing of the paved passes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sierra_Nevada_road_passes
A bit of detective work on-line located a long-ago ride that could have been where I'd heard about this: http://carsontahoemoto.com/five-passes-sierra-nevada/
Shortly after, I learned more of the story. That event was last held in 2014 - a lot of work (as all motorcycle rallies are...) and little reward for those putting on an event like that.
Discussion
A defunct motorcycle forum could have held additional nuggets of wisdom. It was based in California; and featured many other California-based rides. Sadly, due to health issues with the founder, it was closed down not long ago.
The active motorcycle forum did provide me a link to an individual who has been involved with rides in the region, since it's in his backyard: https://www.SierraMountainPasses.com You could certainly spend a bit of time there and learn about both the history and the topography of the region.
Earlier this year, PBS had replayed the Ken Burns' documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" on the history of America's national parks, originally released in 2009. Highly recommended viewing for anyone that might be interested in American history and the history of how lucky we are to have these places preserved.
Yosemite has a starring role in one segment of the program, along with John Muir and his writings about the area.
In 1894, the Muir book "The Mountains of California" was printed. One chapter in the book is about "The Passes". In the chapter, a lengthy description of more than five passes is given.
Between the Sonora Pass and the southern extremity of the High Sierra, a distance of nearly 160 miles, there are only five passes through which trails conduct from one side of the range to the other. These are barely practicable for animals; a pass in these regions meaning simply any notch or cañon through which one may, by the exercise of unlimited patience, make out to lead a mule, or a sure-footed mustang; animals that can slide or jump as well as walk. Only three of the five passes may be said to be in use, viz.: the Kearsarge, Mono, and Virginia Creek; the tracks leading through the others being only obscure Indian trails, not graded in the least, and scarcely traceable by white men; for much of the way is over solid rock and earthquake avalanche taluses, where the unshod ponies of the Indians leave no appreciable sign.
Even by 1894, there were many more than five passes that could be accessed. Only a few years later did the first motorcycle and automobile crossing the Sierra's (both in May, 1903) happened and that was through Donner Pass.
Some of the early passes were originally footpaths, and later expanded as toll roads for wagons and team animals to move passengers and freight over the range. Some of the paths still exist today as trails, just as they were 100-odd years ago.
Planning
In planning this ride, I made contact with the author of the Sierra Mountain Passes web page and queried him about weather conditions. Weather seems to be adequate at that time of year, but I'll take the necessary precautions for warmer-weather apparel.
There's going to be a couple of family stops made; one at the beginning and one at the end.
With the many wildfires that are happening in the state, I've been watching, but right now, I've not seen where the roads I'd like to go on in the Sierras have been closed.
Trip Link:
Come back to the web page for updated info - and photos - as the next week is spent 'passing' the time in the mountains.
October 5, 2020 7PM
Animals seen today...
Dead
Skunk
Bird impact on bike; right fork. Zero damage to bike. ;)
Live
Coyote
Cow
Fox
Deer - dead center in middle of road. Suspect there will be more - many more!
Squirrel
Smoke has reduced somewhat by the end of the day. Got a good bit of video today; will post in a separate blog entry. A few photos...
The remainder of this blog entry will tell the ride story in photos. I'll post a subsequent blog entry that'll share the videos.
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Mono Lake, California, along U.S. 395
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Tomorrow: Donner - off I-80 as much as possible, Echo US-50, Luther CA-89, Carson CA-88
October 6, 2020
"The road" was a blast! The fun part was not being in pain as a result of having carpal tunnel surgery performed earlier this summer.
At the beginning, I'd mentioned the on-line discussions I'd had with people that either lived in the region or had familiarity with the region to determine the methods to ride those five major Sierra passes. I hadn't looked at anything as far as plans...maybe I should have.
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"Tall Green Bridge" to cross North Fork of the American River, near Auburn, CA
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| Echo Summit, elevation 7377 feet |
Even planning on a computer, you just don't realize the next pass comes up quickly!
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| Luther Pass, elevation 7740 feet |
So, thinking I'm getting video, I'm not shooting any photos - but my wife is. A couple from her to continue the story with photos...
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| Zoom across a meadow up here in the high country... |
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| ...colors of the aspens are changing rapidly now! |
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| Carson Pass, elevation 8574 feet. |
Great time for a break. From here, 90 miles to end the day. I *thought* I was still getting video...sadly, when I got to the room, I figured out that I lost it when stopped for lunch. Ugh.
October 7, 2020
The last couple of days of riding has been top notch. Another couple of Sierra mountain passes, then we head toward the coast.
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A one-laned highway! Fortunately, at this time of day, not many coming the other direction.
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| Boy, oh boy, I'd do this one again! |
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A bit of a breeze has kept a lot of the smoke away, until we're on this western side of the pass.
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We end up back onto US 395, and take the short ride back to the road for the final pass. Fortunately, there was a community for a fuel break as well as a rest stop.
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| Leftovers from dinner on the snack-time menu... |
Astounding views as we came over Tioga Pass! Again, very short list to have another run over these roads...
The rest of the day? Well, crossing the Central Valley as we headed toward our lodging in Gilroy, CA was...if you've never been there, it's just how to describe one of the most productive agricultural regions - in the world?
October 8, 2020
Today was mostly video shooting, but did a few still images.
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| Near Malpaso Creek, Carmel-by-the-sea, CA |
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Along CA-1, near Garrapata Beach
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| Along CA-1, looking north, near Notley's Landing |
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| Along CA-1, Bixby Bridge in the center of photo |
As we were rolling along, there were signs of recent fire activity that in places burned completely down to the highway. I wanted to get another photo from near the end of Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd., but it was closed at the base.
There was really only a fairly short segment, again from Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. south to The San Simeon turnoff (35 miles) that we'd not covered in our past rides out this way. Part of that was the Elephant Seal Vista.
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| Elephant Seal Vista, San Simeon, CA |
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| The stink? Ugh! |
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| Quite the stop to see (and smell) sea life up close. |
From here, another few hours of riding toward SoCal. One road I thought was a short-cut took us to an excursion into the oil patch. Maybe I'll add some of those images in another editing session for this blog entry.
We visited with family for a couple of days, then made the trek across the desert toward home.
Next trip? Who knows...
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