113 miles with 9,800 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Alta Alpina Challenge - Counties Visited:
Alpine County, Douglas County (Nevada), and El Dorado County
Alta Alpina Challenge - Cities/Towns Visited:
Fredericksburg and Woodfords
Alta Alpina Challenge - Climbs:
Mile 20 (cat. 2), 45 (cat. 4), 49 (cat. 2), 66 (cat. 3), 81 (cat. 4), and 111 (cat. 4)
Alta Alpina Challenge - Stops:
Mile 28 (Daggett Pass), 48 (Emigrant Trail), 59 (Luther Pass), 72 (Carson Pass), and 83 (Blue Lakes Road)
Alta Alpina Challenge - Description:
The Alta Alpina Challenge is a personalizable ride in the California Alps, offering the five passes of the Death Ride and three additional passes. Ride options include a century, super century, and the «world's toughest double century» (with over 20,000 feet of climbing), as well as any other combination of the passes.
This ride covers the first four passes of the double century, including the three which are not part of the Death Ride.
The ride starts in Turtle Rock Park outside Markleeville and initially leads down Diamond Valley Road towards Nevada. Then it continues on Foothill Road, which leads to Kingsbury Grade Road up Daggett Pass (7,334 feet).
The route then returns and climbs Emigrant Trail, which merges into Highway 88, the bottom of the climb to the next three passes. Highway 89 leads up Luther Pass (7,740 feet), Highway 88 leads up Carson Pass (8,574 feet), and Blue Lakes Road leads up the last pass.
Normally the route would return straight to Turtle Rock Park, but if Blue Lakes Road is closed after a few miles due to snow, a detour on Carson River Road, Diamond Valley Road, and Airport Road makes up for the lost mileage and elevation gain of Blue Lakes Road.
Alta Alpina Challenge - Pictures:
[Daggett Summit]
[Luther Pass]
[Carson Pass]
[Red Lake]
[Curtz Lake]
Alta Alpina Challenge - Personal Notes:
Sandra and I went for a long weekend to the Lake Tahoe area.
I was signed up for the double century and started early (3:30 AM). However, when I reached the lunch stop/start area after about 110 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing, the mix of challenge and fun felt just about right for the day. I will be back another time for the long ride.
On the road I ran into Tom Z. from San Clemente.
Alta Alpina Challenge - Current Weather:
