205 miles with 29,035 feet of elevation gain*
Day 1: Mosquito Flat, Pine Creek, and South Lake (120 miles / 15,465 feet)
Day 2: Glacier Lodge, Waucoba Canyon, and White Mountain (85 miles / 13,570 feet)
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
Everest Challenge - Description:
The Everest Challenge, held in the Eastern Sierra, is the California/Nevada State Climbing Championship - the hardest two-day U.S.C.F. (United States Cycling Federation) race and ride.
The route allows a view of most of the fourteen thousand foot peaks in California, including Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. The total elevation gain equals that of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
Each day includes three major out-and-back climbs. The time is stopped at the top of the last climb of the day, on day one at mile 100 and on day two at mile 65 (all climbing is done in only 165 miles).
[Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Route Profile]
Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Counties Visited:
Inyo County
Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Cities/Towns Visited:
Bishop
Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Climbs:
Mile 13 (HC), 58 (cat. 2), and 83 (HC)
Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Stops:
Mile 33 (Mosquito Flat), 55 (Round Valley), 66 (Pine Creek), 80 (Millpond Park), 86, 92, and 101 (South Lake)
Everest Challenge - Day 1 - Description:
Day one starts in Bishop (4,425') and climbs to Mosquito Flat (10,250'), Pine Creek (7,420'), and South Lake (9,835'). Mosquito Flat, the «Cima Coppi», is the highest paved road in California.
Mosquito Flat is 22 miles long with an average grade of 5% and an elevation gain of 5,825'. Pine Creek is 8 miles long with an average grade of 7% and an elevation gain of 2,995'. South Lake is 20.4 miles long with an average grade of 6% and an elevation gain of 5,410'.
[Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Route Profile]
Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Counties Visited:
Inyo County
Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Cities/Towns Visited:
Big Pine
Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Climbs:
Mile 4 (cat. 1), 28 (cat. 2), and 45 (HC)
Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Stops:
Mile 13 (Glacier Lodge), 26 (Owens Valley), 36 (Waucoba Canyon), 45 (Owens Valley), 50, 57, and 65 (White Mountain)
Everest Challenge - Day 2 - Description:
Day two starts in Big Pine (3,940') and climbs to Glacier Lodge (7,800'), Waucoba Canyon (6,538'), and White Mountain (10,100').
Glacier Lodge is 9 miles long with an average grade of 8% and an elevation gain of 3,860'. Waucoba Canyon is 8.5 miles long with an average grade of 5% and an elevation gain of 2,598'. White Mountain is 21 miles long with an average grade of 6% and an elevation gain of 6,204'.
Everest Challenge - Pictures:
[Mosquito Flat]
[Pine Creek]
[South Lake]
[Glacier Lodge]
[Waucoba Canyon]
[White Mountain]
Everest Challenge - Personal Notes:
It was great to see some guys from San Clemente (John W. and Tom DeB.) as well as riders from the Son of Death Ride (Jim M. from San Diego and Tony M. from Cherry Valley).
Everest Challenge - Current Weather:
See also Top Bike Climbs in California and Top Bike Climbs in the United States.