TomInPA
Well-known member
It was hardly a banner year for snow in the Sierra, and both Sonora and Tioga have opened, with Hwy 4 Ebbetts Pass soon to follow. Today I played hooky and charged up to Jackson,and took Hwy 88 over Carson Pass, then bypassed the closed Ebbetts Pass, went over Monitor, and on to Sonora. The objective was to go in stealth mode, so I waited for the wife to go to work, and took off at about 9:40 AM. Traveled with out the top case today and just took a jacket liner for the high altitudes.
Most camera work is from the seat of the bike in motion. This was a quick trip.
Heading up Hwy 88 I could look north to Desolation Wilderness and Pyramid Peak. This is at 7500 feet and clearly no snow. In fact during the entire trip, I never passed between high walls of plowed snow and there was none to be seen below 8000 feet.
Heading up Carson Pass through the Spur. This would be a good time not to fixate on a target.
Kirkwood Meadows is melted out, but the North facing ski resort is holding on to winter.
Silver Lake was free of ice and snow, but up higher, Caples is just opening up. Last year it was fully frozen well into June.
Right off the Summit of Carson Pass
And looking down to Red Lake and Hope Valley. Spring is in the air.
Approaching Hope Valley a little fast the RD started alerting on a Ka signal. I had a good 3/4 mile warning for a CHP hidden well down the road from here behind some trees on the right side. Hope Valley is well patrolled, and it can be tempting to push the speeds up down this grade as the road straightens out..
Past the CHP and into the heart of Hope Valley, you can see that we are almost snow-free this year in the meadows and surrounding peaks above Luther Pass.
Turning towards Markleeville there is a rare sign of winter lingering on. Monitor Pass Hwy 89 is open, but Hwy 4 is still closed.
A fast dash over Monitor Pass offered a chance to Laminar Lip at triple digit speeds. I though it was over 110, but the GPS says only 106. :angry:
Oh no problem with the windshield contraption. It looks funny but it sure gives a quiet ride.
Time for a quick lunch in Walker
Not really worthy of food porn, but here ya go. The Walker Ortega Chile Burger and Fries. Mountain View BBQ was closed. Maybe next time.
More to come
Most camera work is from the seat of the bike in motion. This was a quick trip.
Heading up Hwy 88 I could look north to Desolation Wilderness and Pyramid Peak. This is at 7500 feet and clearly no snow. In fact during the entire trip, I never passed between high walls of plowed snow and there was none to be seen below 8000 feet.
Heading up Carson Pass through the Spur. This would be a good time not to fixate on a target.
Kirkwood Meadows is melted out, but the North facing ski resort is holding on to winter.
Silver Lake was free of ice and snow, but up higher, Caples is just opening up. Last year it was fully frozen well into June.
Right off the Summit of Carson Pass
And looking down to Red Lake and Hope Valley. Spring is in the air.
Approaching Hope Valley a little fast the RD started alerting on a Ka signal. I had a good 3/4 mile warning for a CHP hidden well down the road from here behind some trees on the right side. Hope Valley is well patrolled, and it can be tempting to push the speeds up down this grade as the road straightens out..
Past the CHP and into the heart of Hope Valley, you can see that we are almost snow-free this year in the meadows and surrounding peaks above Luther Pass.
Turning towards Markleeville there is a rare sign of winter lingering on. Monitor Pass Hwy 89 is open, but Hwy 4 is still closed.
A fast dash over Monitor Pass offered a chance to Laminar Lip at triple digit speeds. I though it was over 110, but the GPS says only 106. :angry:
Oh no problem with the windshield contraption. It looks funny but it sure gives a quiet ride.
Time for a quick lunch in Walker
Not really worthy of food porn, but here ya go. The Walker Ortega Chile Burger and Fries. Mountain View BBQ was closed. Maybe next time.
More to come
