Sonora pass.....? Current conditions?

[AngryScientist]

I think it’s closed to car traffic right now. Does that mean I can’t ride over it and puke at the top like the out of condition east coaster that I am?

[cadence90]

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[joosttx]

as of March 29th Sonora Pass was under 64 inches of snow. it is about at the historical average for April 1 too. we have had some precipitation since then.....

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/COURSES.04

[AngryScientist]

as of March 29th Sonora Pass was under 64 inches of snow. it is about at the historical average for April 1 too. we have had some precipitation since then.....

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/COURSES.04

Great link. Thanks for that.

I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

[joosttx]

Great link. Thanks for that.

I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

there is a satellite map of the Sierras. which shows everything between mono lake and lake tahoe in snow.

here is where the Sonora Pass weather station is located.

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecstation2/?sta=SRP


there is a map which shows snow depth in the Southern Sierras like contour lines. i cannot find it though but its out there on the internet.

[joosttx]

found the map.

https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/SierraSnowDepth/

[CaptStash]

You sure you want to do this?

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=101316&d=1346713224

CaptStash....

[cadence90]

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[AngryScientist]

Confirmed Closed.

It's damn cold up in the mountains today.

https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/eea6e6b1598a16bf6ec13422e80bffa7/5B59809B/t51.2885-15/e35/30830553_1856664844633466_3775737012980547584_n.jp g

[Peter B]

PM if you want to borrow a pair of these for your upcoming ride. :fight:

[AngryScientist]

PM if you want to borrow a pair of these for your upcoming ride. :fight:

Ha; thanks for the offer Peter. Rode up to that point from Strawberry today. Work tomorrow then off to warmer elevations for the end of the week.

[Steve in SLO]

You don't know how lucky you are. The last bit is brutal, and coming back down is brutal. Hard to believe they were able to get oxen/mule teams over it, even with ropes/chains. I've done it, but only once on a bike. I wised up and used gas on subsequent trips.
Here is a great site that tells of the area's trails and history:
http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/California_Trail

[joosttx]

https://www.strava.com/routes/12135047

this is further south and about half the route is under snow which is the dirt part but you could start further down trimmer springs road. I promise you, itll blow your mind .... and legs.

how far did you make it up 108?

[joosttx]

You don't know how lucky you are. The last bit is brutal, and coming back down is brutal. Hard to believe they were able to get oxen/mule teams over it, even with ropes/chains. I've done it, but only once on a bike. I wised up and used gas on subsequent trips.
Here is a great site that tells of the area's trails and history:
http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/California_Trail

RE: your link we ride the Henness Pass Rd which is dirt on our R2C route. (they no longer require a toll).


Henness Pass Road
The Henness Pass Road (est. 1850)[35] was a 80 miles (130 km) trail over the Sierras from today's Verdi, Nevada (Dog Valley) to Camptonville and Marysville, California. The route was developed as a wagon toll route by Patrick Henness starting in about 1850. The Henness Pass Road was located about 15 miles (24 km) north of the Truckee trail. The route went from The Truckee Trail in Dog Valley (near today's Verdi Nevada) up the Little Truckee River to Webber Lake[36] to the summit, through 6,920 feet (2,110 m) Henness Pass, along the ridge dividing the North and Middle Yuba Rivers and into Camptonville and Marysville. Freight could be shipped by steamboat to Marysville and picked up there for shipment over the Sierras. After 1860 extensions went southward to Carson City, Nevada and on to the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada. Commencing in 1860 and continuing for some nine years the road under went major improvements becoming one of the busiest trans-Sierra trails being favored by teamsters and stage drivers over the Placerville Route (Johnson Cutoff) because of its lower elevations and easier grades and access to ship cargo. Many summer camps and relay stations were created along the route at roughly seven to ten miles intervals to accommodate oxen, horse and mule powered wagons. In busy times the wagons traveled all day, filling the road, and the six or so stages traveled at night. The route was given up by most teamsters when the Central Pacific Railroad and Virginia and Truckee Railroad [37]was completed in 1869 and it became cheaper and easier to ship freight by the railroad(s). People in Virginia City reported a 20-50% lower cost for supplies when the railroads were put in. Today the Henness wagon road is a mostly gravel U.S. Forest Service road called the Henness Pass Road from Verdi Nevada to Camptonville California.

[AngryScientist]

That didn’t look too brutal until I realized you had the elevation set to meters, not feet.

I made it about 15 miles east of Strawberry when I ran into the snow.

Good thing too; I was underprepared for the temps and the descent was really uncomfortably cold.

[AngryScientist]

Yea; good link Steve. I love California.

[JimmyTango]

I grew up in Sonora and spent the winters snowmobiling on the Sonora pass, and I can tell ya that if it’s closed you don’t want to ride it.

When open and no snow banks it’d be a hell of a ride! Gnarly pass.

[Ralph]

Enjoyed the museum about the Donner Party.