The Specialists in California Bike Tours

Kiss
Of Death

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	introduction
	Itinerary
	lodging
	reviews
	questions?
	Reservations

 

Days 4 Nights 3 2008 Start Dates June 13 June 27 July 25 August 15 Start City Markleeville Level Avid-Challenging Average Daily Distance 40-90 miles Price (double occ.) $588 per person Single Supplement $129

KIss of Death™ — High Sierra Challenge Bike Tour

Daily Itinerary

Day One: Friday

We arrive independently at our leisure on Friday afternoon in Markleeville, at the J Marklee Toll Station. Your rooms will be available by 4 PM. There are no scheduled group activities planned today, so we suggest taking some time to relax from the drive to Markleeville. If you arrive in the afternoon, you may want to soak in the nearby Grover Hot Springs pool. It’s a short 4-mile drive from Markleeville. Or if you would like to stretch your cycling legs on a not too strenuous route, you can take a self-guided bike ride through Diamond Valley (route sheets and maps supplied). We recommend a casual dinner at the nearby Wolfcreek Restaurant and Cutthroat Saloon. Markleeville is so tiny that the Wolfcreek is the only dinner option on Friday nights.

Day Two: Saturday

Gather for breakfast-to-order at the J Marklee Toll Station, when we go over the day’s plans and answer any questions you may have. After breakfast, will head south on our bicycles towards Ebbetts Pass, arguably the prettiest of the Sierra mountain roads—and the third pass of the Markleeville Death Ride. We choose to do it first, because we don’t want anyone to miss it.

The Death Ride climbs Ebbetts Pass from the east, descends the west side down to Hermit Valley, then turns around and climbs Ebbetts Pass back to Markleeville. Instead of turning around in Hermit Valley, we keep going (of course, you decide how far you want to go and may turn around at any point). We climb the steep Pacific Grade Summit from the east (24% grade in spots), descend the west side past Alpine Lake into Bear Valley. We then turn around and head back to Markleeville. And if climbing four major passes in one day is not enough for someone, we include the option of climbing Monitor Pass on the way back to Markleeville.

Saturday Ride Options

# of Passes	Miles	Vertical	Passes Climbed
1	36	3200	Ebbetts East
2	46	4900	+ Ebbetts West
3	52	5800	+ Pacific Grade Summit East
4	74	8000	+ Pacific Grade Summit West
5	90	10,200	+ Monitor Pass West

 

For dinner, we walk up a short hill to Villa Gigli for an outdoor dining delight—a fresh pasta dinner prepared by Ruggero Gigli of Villa Gigli. Dinner on the outside deck of Villa Gigli as the sun sets is always a highlight of this trip.

 

Day Three: Sunday

Today we turn our attention south and east. After another hearty breakfast, we head out to climb Monitor Pass. The terrain here is completely different than on yesterday’s route, this is a high desert landscape with breathtaking vistas of the nearby Sierra Nevada crest.

The single pass option for today is climbing to Monitor Pass and returning to Markleeville. The two-pass option continues down the east side of Monitor Pass, then south on Highway 395 to lunch at The Meadowcliff Resort, then returns by climbing the east side of Monitor. The real climbing addicts can take a shuttle from the Meadowcliff to the base of Sonora Pass, the steepest and second highest pass in California, shuttle back to the base of Monitor, climb Monitor, then return to Markleeville. Phew!

Sunday Ride Options

# of Passes	Miles	Vertical	Passes Climbed
1	26	2700	Monitor Pass West
2	59	6200	+ Monitor Pass East
3	87	9400	+ Sonora Pass East

Day Four: Monday

After two days of climbing multiple passes, today we take it a little easier. After another breakfast to order, we head north from Markleeville towards Carson Pass. For those who want to take it easy, you can stop on the way towards Carson Pass in the broad alpine Hope Valley at Sorensen’s Resort—a delightful place to rest and have a light lunch amid the aspen trees. Turning around here brings a fast descent, followed by a rolling ride back to Markleeville.

Continuing past Sorensen's Resort begins a climb up to Carson Pass—the final pass of the Markleeville Death Ride. You may choose to warm yourself at the pass (if the sun is shining) on one of the many granite boulders at the visitor’s center. Turning around here brings a mostly straight and very fast descent on a smooth highway road.

If you are inclined to do still more climbing after Carson Pass, you can turn right onto Blue Lakes Road (the optional sixth pass on the Death Ride). Blue Lakes Road rises gradually along the broad Faith Valley, then climbs more seriously over the Pacific Crest to two lakes frequented by fishing enthusiasts and campers. Until two years ago, it was a dirt road, then the county paved it all the way to the lakes. Thanks to the road being closed in Winter, the pavement is buttery smooth.

Monday Ride Options

# of Passes	Miles	Vertical	Passes Climbed
0	23	1800'	(Hope Valley)
1	41	3500	+ Carson Pass East
2	58	5800	+ Blue Lakes

After enjoying the fast descent and rolling ride back to Markleeville, we can shower and change at the J Marklee, say farewell to old and new friends, and head home.

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Reservations

The Kiss of Death is by far our most popular trip of the year. It has sold out earlier each year since we began the trip in 2003. To give more people a chance to experience this special mountain tour, for the first time we will be holding the Kiss of Death four times —twice in June, once in July, and once in August. Please click here for information on how to register.