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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 15, 2014 - 05:22pm PT
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Anyone done it? Which way did you go? How far? Out and back or whole thing? Logistics of going one way?
When is the road going to open for bicyclists....? I know I know a week before it opens for traffic!
Anyway, I want to do it this year! How hard is it?
Also, pics would be cool!
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Modesto Mutant
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Apr 15, 2014 - 05:24pm PT
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I can't imagine doing the Lee Vining Ascent unless your totally burly. That's a long steep grade.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Apr 15, 2014 - 05:28pm PT
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A client of mine did it from Mammoth to Yosemite Valley in a day in the early 1990's. I think Bruce Cooke used to ride from Berkeley to Tuolumne Meadows in the 1960's, so I know it's been done in both directions. A couple of summers ago, we hosted a lone cyclist in our campsite who had started in the Napa Valley, ridden down the coast, cut over to the Sierra around Bakersfield and came across over Tioga Pass. Now there was a stud!
John
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Apr 15, 2014 - 05:28pm PT
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I did it several times in the late 80's. It is burly, but great. Long finger gloves and extra layers are good to have. Watch out for rocks/ice on the descent.
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 15, 2014 - 05:33pm PT
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Wow Tom Smith!
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crøtch
climber
Whale's Vagina
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Apr 15, 2014 - 05:55pm PT
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I did the Lee Vining ascent a couple of years ago. There are two or three sections where I had to get up out of my saddle, but with 34/25 gearing it was doable and took about 90 minutes from Mobil station to the top. Coming back down was a blast though I was worried about gravel on the road in places. I'd love to ride from Lee Vining to El Cap Meadow.
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DesertRatExpeditions
Trad climber
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Apr 15, 2014 - 06:18pm PT
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I've ridden down to Lee Vining, pretty awesome ride. Just make sure your brakes are in good shape, although it probably doesn't matter since they didn't seem to want to even slow me down anyway.
I imagine riding up, I would just take a few feet at a time.
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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Apr 15, 2014 - 08:07pm PT
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I've done it a couple of times from the Lee Vining side before the road opened to cars .I do not think it's that hard but I was only 75. My 85 year old friend found it more challenging. Go for it !
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markf
Trad climber
Frisco, CO
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Apr 15, 2014 - 08:24pm PT
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In the late '80s, I would ride from Mammoth to the top of Tioga Pass, then turn around and go back. I did go from Mammoth to the Valley once, which was a long fun day. I brought a change of clothing and a few other things in a single pannier, and stayed the tent cabins in Curry Village. Sometimes in spring the road would be gated at the bottom on the east side, even though the road was dry. I guess they needed to do last minute checks or something. I would lift my bike over the gate, ride to the top and turn around. It was fun having my own private road to ride on, as long as I didn't forget about the gate across the road on the way back. I used to max out at 50+ mph around Saddlebag Lakes, which was quite the thrill.
I think the east side of Tioga maxes out at 8%, which is pretty steep for modern roads but manageable. On the west side, the spot to worry about is a really narrow bridge somewhere near Porcupine flat. If someone in a big RV decides to take his half out of the middle on that bridge, you could have trouble getting past.
If you continue down into the Valley, put a red LED blink light on your bike for the tunnels. If you're touring with camping gear, the rangers will make an effort to find you a campsite, they seem tone a little more flexible with self-propelled travelers than with the rest of us.
Have fun, it's a great ride!
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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Apr 15, 2014 - 08:53pm PT
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last year they didn't open the road to cyclists before the pass was open for cars. i hope they open it again. i bike all over, but the roads in tuolumne make me pretty nervous when i have to share them with cars.
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Mtbphoto
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, Ca
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Apr 15, 2014 - 09:42pm PT
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I rode from the gate on the Eastside almost to Tuolumne Meadows after a day of backcountry skiing, I was just too tired to head all the way to the Meadows. I have also ridden up Tioga Pass from to Mobil, the road was closed which made it easier, but there was still some debris in the road which made the decent very sketchy. It beats walking up the pass, which I have also done.
I would really like to ride from the gate to Olmstead, hopefully I will be around
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Apr 15, 2014 - 09:50pm PT
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Rode from lee vining to the T u o l u m n e store and back a few years ago.great fun. No shoulder in some sections so I recommend it not be done on a weekend. Make sure your brakes are in good shape for return ride. Going by big scree slope is eerie as it moans and groans. Have great fun!
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Apr 15, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
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Yep.
Valley to the meadows to the pass and back
Never went down the eastside but I need to cuz it would be a sweet ride.
Just did a long ride here last weekend. One stretch was 50km of downhill with Nanda Devi views all the way- so sweet!
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Apr 15, 2014 - 10:10pm PT
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Riding up from Lee Vining is a great ride with few really narrow spots and plenty of good visibility for drivers coming up on you. I don't think I'd care to ride down beyond the TM store given the fact the road narrows as you drop by Fairview and there are some sweeps that leave you less visible. Besides every other driver is looking at rocks instead of the road.
We'll typically ride up and down from Tioga Pass and throw in the June Lake Loop, 395 has a great wide shoulder. You can also head out east on 120, check out the High Sierra Century that starts down near Mammoth.
Safe travels.
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Hoots
climber
Toyota Tacoma
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Apr 15, 2014 - 10:12pm PT
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Skied Ellery Bowl last week from the bottom closure gate carrying my skis and boots on my pack- on a mountain bike no less! No way in hell would I peddle up there with traffic on the road.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Apr 15, 2014 - 10:24pm PT
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I didn't know it was (sometimes) open to cyclists before cars. That would be great. How/who would one find out if its open this year? The ride up from Lee Vining isn't that bad if you have a granny gear and take your time. 50 mph easy on the way down though its hard to not feather the brakes a bit. 50 is scary fast on a bike. :)
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Apr 15, 2014 - 10:33pm PT
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Rode Mammoth to Mariposa in a day , off the couch , with some friends..When we approached the east entrance gate , we discovered that each cyclist would have to barf up 20 bucks to enter the park...Luckily our sag wagon rolled up and 4 of us crammed into the ford van to avoid paying the fee..As soon as the van crossed into the park , we all jumped out and re-mounted our bikes...great ride and the winding descent into the valley is exhillirating...
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 15, 2014 - 11:22pm PT
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That's good to know rottingjohnny.
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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Apr 16, 2014 - 12:44am PT
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Yerian. That cat has done the pass about a billion times!
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2014 - 01:10am PT
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Cool. I really want to do it. Just one way, east entrance to crane flat. I'm having trouble with logistics.
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Greg Barnes
climber
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Apr 16, 2014 - 01:11am PT
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I was thinking of doing it with a friend a few years back from Crane Flat to Tioga pass and back, I remember figuring out it was around 10,000' vertical to get there and back (lots of ups & downs) and a lot of miles. The mileage was enough that I bailed on the plan, since the closest I have to a road bike is a full suspension mountain bike with the shocks locked out and fat tires pumped up. Jon did it and said he was really tired - and he had a road bike and was generally in way better shape.
edit: I'm wrong, it's actually 8,080' vertical and 94 miles round trip Crane flat - Tioga pass - back - see the details in Bruce's post.
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
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Apr 16, 2014 - 01:54am PT
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I have done it numerous times in both directions. There isn't much of a shoulder for the first 5 miles or so out of Crane Flat, but after that it's not bad. There isn't any steep climbing, much is in the 5-7% with a few sections of 8%.
Here are some stats for you:
Crane Flat :0 mi :0 feet climbed
White Wolf :14 mi :2330 feet climbed
Olmstead Point :29 mi :3930 feet climbed
Tuolumne Meadows :40 mi :4530 feet climbed
Tioga Pass :47 mi :5830 feet climbed
Lee Vining :58 mi :5830 feet climbed
Other direction:
Lee Vining :0 mi :0 feet climbed
Tioga Pass :11 mi :3160 feet climbed
Tuolumne Meadows :18 mi :3160 feet climbed
Olmstead Point :29 mi :3730 feet climbed
Crane Flat :58 mi :5410 feet climbed
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2014 - 02:43am PT
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Thanks a bhilden! Awesome info.
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kovarpa
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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Apr 16, 2014 - 10:29am PT
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Did Crane Flat to Mobilmart and back a couple of years ago. It is awesome and actually not that hard. I have a triple on the road bike and never used the smallest front ring (whatever it's called). That road is well graded (Sonora pass from the east is harder...). I think the total was about 135 miles or so and I finished with plenty of daylight. Go do it, it is pretty special to be there without cars and bunch of other people!
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Apr 16, 2014 - 12:57pm PT
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Surfer Bob probably rides it out and back from Portal to warm up before hitting the Cookie in the afternoon.
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McHale's Navy
Trad climber
From Panorama City, CA
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Apr 16, 2014 - 01:55pm PT
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Tioga Pass is probably most pleasant to do in the Fall when most of the tourists have gone home. I've done Tioga maybe 12 times and never had a car incident. The cars and especially RVs are going pretty slowly and there's plenty of shoulder. It's actually the easiest of all the eastside high roads. I rode from Yosemite Valley to Lee Vining once. That was a good workout. That was in the Fall also though. The scariest part car-wise was just coming up out of the valley to the gas station. Generally, uphill riding seems safer because the cars are going slower and they have to pay more attention too. Rides like going up to Onion Valley and etc. are best because there are no through destinations for cars, so traffic is limited.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Apr 16, 2014 - 03:56pm PT
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You sickos have got it all wrong. Climbing is something we do on rocks not bikes. These were the steps I was told to follow, worked like a charm:
1. Drive over Sierra to east side, soak lazily in hot springs all weekend.
2. Drive back up and over Tuolumne, having your family drop you at Crane Flat. Kisses goodbye as they head home.
3. Put a rack and sleeping gear on your back, and point your wheels toward Camp 4.
4. Coast. Don't die crashing into deer on the road if it's dark! Park. Sleep in dirt.
5. Climb all day, throw your bike in friend's car, drive home.
Total elevation gain on bike: 0 ft. On rock: however many pitches you can fit in. Victory is yours.
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2014 - 03:58pm PT
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Good one leBruce. Nice pic of Hardd too!!
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
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Apr 16, 2014 - 04:17pm PT
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The fee for bikes entering Yosemite is $10.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Apr 16, 2014 - 04:49pm PT
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The climb up from Lee Vining always appeared like it would be tough, but doable, especially if you had a triple. Like all climbing, once you have that base level of fitness you can grind away for a long time. Heck, bike tourers do it with pull panniers of gear on their bikes. The downhill always seemed like it'd be kind of gnarly, for me at least, but then my descending skills probably aren't all they could be. But, between gravel on the roadway, some of those big sweeping turns with no guard rails and the frequent 'bago barreling down past you, it looked a little sketchy.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Apr 16, 2014 - 05:10pm PT
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I rode up from Lee Vining and the only issue I had was it was hot and ran out of water. To solve this issue got off my bike and stood under water cascading off this rocky enclave. Went ahead and filled my water bottles, to Hell with giardia.
The descent was amazing, let er' fly and went up to 50mph. What's great about Tioga is how far you can see down the road, so that enables one to go fast!
My goal has been to cycle up all of the Eastside roads/climbs. So far made it up from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal, Rock creek, Mammoth main lodge, then down and back from Red's Meadow, Sherwin Pass from Mill Creek, and Pine Creek. Still have a few to go:-)
I challenge any of you to enter and complete this....
http://www.tourofcalifornia.org/2006/09/everest-challenge.html
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Greg Barnes
climber
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Apr 18, 2014 - 04:49pm PT
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Tioga road/120 opens for bikes from Crane Flat to May Lake or so, tomorrow at 6am through Sunday at sunset.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Apr 18, 2014 - 07:00pm PT
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Skied it twice. Wished I'd had a bike for both up and down (especially down) from the 9000' hairpin where the good snow seems to start/end to the gate.
I'm gonna have to put this on the bucket list.
( think I'll invest in a 33t small ring first)
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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Apr 18, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
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If you are asking about such a ride on this forum you are probably not very in tune with your personal cycling fitness level and ability . . . I suggest you start training and become familiar with yourself and your bike. It is a mountain stage . . . tough but entirely manageable with the proper preparation.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Apr 19, 2014 - 12:03am PT
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20 bucks is the vehicle fee, fee for individuals on foot or bike is 10 dollars each.
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enjoimx
Trad climber
SLO
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 30, 2014 - 12:37pm PT
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Bump. Anyone know anything about the possibility of it being open to bikes this weekend?
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John M
climber
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Apr 30, 2014 - 02:49pm PT
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Bump. Anyone know anything about the possibility of it being open to bikes this weekend?
Dean on this post said it was going to open this week to traffic.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2398643&msg=2398643#msg2398643
I called the Ranger Office in Mather, who should know, but the lady who answered did not know and her boss was out. Tioga did open today to admin traffic, so Dean could be right.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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May 26, 2016 - 09:18pm PT
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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May 27, 2016 - 08:09am PT
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How can I forward the bike-bear picture to my email ? Thanks.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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May 27, 2016 - 09:36am PT
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*
There are a lot more cars on the road now, but In my 20's & 30's ...i would bike Tioga road... tons. At least once a week or more, I would ride my little red one speed from Tuolumne lodge to Tenaya Lake and back. I think that contributed to my messed-up knees.
I always hated riding my bike down the pass, but kinda enjoyed the grind riding back up. The last time i road up the pass, i forgot to bring a snack and barely ate any breakfast that morning. When i got to TPR, i was totally spent, felt sick and was shaking uncontrollably. Timid bought me orange juice and some snacks which i consumed than puked on the spot... I felt out- of -it for most of that day.
.....................................
JerryA, can't you right click photo and copy, or just drag picture into your photos album...
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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May 27, 2016 - 10:16am PT
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Always wanted to do this ride, what a goodie it must be!
Cyclists can ride into Glacier(at least on the west side) on a bike trail that bypasses the entrance station and is free. I've never ridden into Yosemite but many times into Glacier and always use the free bike trail. Do entrance fees for cyclists differ from park to park?
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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May 27, 2016 - 10:44am PT
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Timid,
Stumpjumper was a real workhorse back then.
Love the early season trips
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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May 27, 2016 - 11:16am PT
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What CharlieD said. With park traffic, I would not want to go beyond the store. Even with traffic, Lee Vining to the top isn't bad.
BAd
Edit: Hey, Stalhbro--classic shorts, man! Totally dates the shots.
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Ryan Tetz
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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May 27, 2016 - 12:26pm PT
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I did it once as a 27 hour push from the Golden Gate to Nevada as part of this crazy 6 week once a week endurance ultra challenge effort I cooked up a couple summers ago. I wanted to push myself as hard as I could in one ultra racing endurance feat a week for as many as I could hack it. I did this for the 4th week's enduro event after 3 others including setting a new record time 14:42 from Badwater to Mt Whitney summit the weekend prior verses the known local Alpinist Don Bowie.
I wanted to challenge one of the official across CA records from the 1980's during one of my chosen ultra challenges, but they all go out of their way around to avoid the mountain either through Barstow or Redding.
The official record office for Ultracycling in Colorado wouldn't approve my attempt out of respect to the 1980's routes, I considered heading down to Barstow, but alas decided the most inspiring route was to go right across the state over the highest pass starting from the Golden Gate Bridge through Yosemite. Let's go anyway! :
I wrote these few words in an update after-
My first go at crossing my home state! 320.1 Miles +26,019 feet elevation -27:20:22 - The Real Trans California Adventure!! Those that know me well know there is only one way this route could ever go. One of the more adventurous days I've ever had on the bike. The course could use some polish, but us 2 small town boys finagled it out on the fly (construction, bridge crossings, bay area traffic, road closures and all =). Thanks to James Nichols for the awesome support out there. We had originally planned to have 2 or 3 on the support crew, but plans fell through and he stuck it out with me to the end anyhow. I'd like to come back to drop this one to under 24 hours someday! Yeehaw! This might be the end of my ongoing ultra adventures for the season. We'll see how I feel the next couple weeks! Right now I feel pretty done!!!
*I do have one just more idea to finagle through my original week #6 finish day possibly if I'm feeling good*"
That didn't happen..
^As a footnote, the next week I attempted to do the Everest Challenge in 24 hours unsupported and flogged myself in 50+ MPH wind heading up South Lake at 3am to start the challenge. I realized I was both done (physical & mentally) and the weather had had me on the 5th week regardless. For the 6th week I was going to attempt a triple crossing of the Sierra Via Tioga/Sonoroa/Ebbets pass link up if I had any gas left. Still haven't attempted yet. I still really want to go back for that one!
As a last footnote the real crux of Tioga was dropping down to Lee Vining in the middle of the night from the Kiosk. It was 27 degrees and I was so sleepy I wanted to fall asleep while descending! I took 30 minute sleep break there for safety before finishing the rest of the route out to Benton/NV state line.
The highlight was definitely an evening date with the Old Priest grade after putting the central valley behind me =)
I burned out and ran out of money by the end of it all, but I'm hoping to come back to it again this year with my work/life balance more settled for training.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 27, 2016 - 12:40pm PT
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^^^Congratulations, Tiger!
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errett
Social climber
Grumpy Ridge
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May 27, 2016 - 12:45pm PT
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I rode from Mammoth to Tuolumne several times back in the '80s. Typically I would camp in Tuolumne for a few days and then ride back.
Riding down the pass is better than riding up :) -- tourists is cars would slow me down and I would pass them when possible - especially when I had to smell the stink of their burning brake pads. Always used a fat tire bike.
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berlindx
Trad climber
Sacramento, Ca
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May 27, 2016 - 01:39pm PT
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Not sure if someone mentioned this yet, but finding a friend who also wants to do this helps with logistics. One of you parks the car and bikes from the east side, the other parks and rides from crane flat. Swap keys and high-five in the middle. Drive out and meet-up somewhere to swap cars again.
Good luck!
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