Lone Pine: Horseshoe Meadows
I've been doing some altitude training in the Lone Pine area this month. For cyclists this area has three of the big climbs in the USA: Onion Valley Road, Whitney Portal Road and Horseshoe Meadows Road. My first two trips were (for me) high heat survival riding: 102-105 degs. It's been a slow process acclimating to not only the temps but the humidity. Really enjoy the climbs and the serene beauty of the Sierras.
Horseshoe Meadows Road
Horseshoe Meadows Road
Horseshoe has a section of about 5 miles on the switchbacks that I was showing 9-11% all the way. It's a long climb too - about 20 miles from Whitney Portal Road. It's Baldy Ski Lifts x 3 = big effort.Zé wrote:nice! i'd love to do these eventually. what's the grade up to Horseshoe meadows?
The Summerson book lists Horseshoe as the 2nd toughest in CA. Onion Valley is 1st and Whitney Portal comes in at #5.
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Wow & Congrats! Is there a Masochists' Tour De Sierra?
Mt.Washington, NH is listed as #1. Adding to degree of difficulty is the fact that it used to be closed to cyclists except on the day of the annual hill climb event.Zé wrote:what's the toughest climb in all of the US?
Here's a thread that's kicking around on one of the bike forums which shows the CA/USA lists from Summerson's book on big climbs.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.ph ... California
This one has the Stelvio in Italy listed in the "19 Most Complex and Dangerous Roads in the World." The switchbacks on the Stelvio make for an interesting descent (I'm told) by cyclists.
http://www.waze.com/blog/the-19-most-co ... the-world/
I have not done Onion Valley or Horseshoe Meadows but want to get around to it one of these days. I do recall peddling to the Portal from Lone Pine one August day. It was really hot and I realized as I neared the switchbacks that I had left my water bottle back in town. Fortunately, a storm hit just before the real climb started. I was soon soaked and a bit chilled. It felt like heaven! There was no damage that Portal Store refreshment could not cure in short order. It all turned out to be a good warmup for the Whitney hike the next day.obie wrote:The Summerson book lists Horseshoe as the 2nd toughest in CA. Onion Valley is 1st and Whitney Portal comes in at #5.
There are two big amateur climbing events/races left on the calendar and the Sierras are the best place to train.
The Everest Challenge is some heavy lifting:
http://everestchallenge.com/
Furnace Creek 508 I find rather disturbing yet have friends who think it's a perfectly fun way to spend 40-50 hrs. on a bike.
http://www.the508.com/
The Everest Challenge is some heavy lifting:
http://everestchallenge.com/
Furnace Creek 508 I find rather disturbing yet have friends who think it's a perfectly fun way to spend 40-50 hrs. on a bike.
http://www.the508.com/