Safest Winter Pass

[tomatocity]

January 13th: Might be riding from Sacramento to Las Vegas and prefer to ride through Markleeville and over Monitor Pass. Was wondering what would be the safest mountain pass to ride? US-50; Carson Pass, 88; Hwy 4. If not any of those I would consider Tioga Pass, 120. Trying to avoid black ice. A couple January's ago I rode Tioga Pass and hit one patch of black ice. Thought I was having transmission problems and turned around at Lee Vining. Rode Monitor Pass; Markleeville; Carson Pass, Hwy 88 on the return trip. Looks like there won't be any rain for the week before.

Any information appreciated.

 

[EricV]

Considering the temps we have been having all over, the safest route is down I-5 or 99, then out 58.

LINK

edit: Well, Monitor pass on 89 is closed. It's January, and over 7k feet it's still cold.

Carson Pass, (hwy 88), is looking like snow on Sat and Sat night with lows well below freezing.

Tioga pass is closed. Nov-May, not sure how you rode over it in Jan. Snow there on Sat too.

You can probably get over Walker Pass above Lake Isabella if you don't hit it too early in the morning. Not expecting snow there according to the NOAA forecasts.

Basically I see it as Walker Pass on 178 or just bit the bullet and go out 58 to Barstow and get there on one piece. Even with 58, it's possible to get snow on Tehachapi

 

[nvzman]

Tomato:

Supposed to get a small weather system this weekend which might mess things up in the passes that are open - Hwy 50 to Tahoe and I-80 over Donner. Like Eric said, bite the bullet and do the I-5 or 99 shuffle down to B-field(be sure to say hi to Buck).

 

[Juiceman34]

Have to agree with the other two posts. It may not be the most scenic route, but heading down to the 58 looks to be the safest.... at least for a January trip.

 

[tomatocity]

If I wasn't sick earlier this week I would be returning from the Hwy 99 / 58/ route. Friends returned today but I haven't talked with them. If I read an earlier post correctly Trona/178 was closed.

Since I originally posted I decided not to go to the SHOT Show. Too many loose ends. Still want to ride the passes but enough poor weather to be concerned. Looks like I will be headed to Central Valley CA. This http://goo.gl/maps/KaLBK will be part of it. Highways 25 and 198 will be included. Maybe Mt Hamilton on the return.

Appreciate all the replies.

 

[EricV]

Glad to hear you're feeling well enough to get out for a ride. FWIW, 178 is not a seasonal road, but Walker Pass tends to be icy in the mornings. I've crossed it in January many times, but try to hit it later in the day. Have a nice ride. Last time I wanted to ride hwy 33 it was closed due to mud slides, but I was in Maricopa and it was the end of Jan, '05 or '06. Cold East of the Sierras, but plenty warm West of them.

 

[tomatocity]

Glad to hear you're feeling well enough to get out for a ride. FWIW, 178 is not a seasonal road, but Walker Pass tends to be icy in the mornings. I've crossed it in January many times, but try to hit it later in the day. Have a nice ride. Last time I wanted to ride hwy 33 it was closed due to mud slides, but I was in Maricopa and it was the end of Jan, '05 or '06. Cold East of the Sierras, but plenty warm West of them.

178 has a few miles of single lane delayed traffic on the west side for construction. My guess is clearing possible rock slides.

I have been wanting to ride to Tehachapi Loop. I like oddities and found it on a map and realized what it is. Now include the small town of Keene and Caliente Bodfish Rd from Caliente to Bodfish and this will be a spirited ride. http://goo.gl/maps/29kdp This would add another day to the Central Valley ride.

I do enjoy Hwy 33 from Ojai to Lockwood Valley Rd. If there is any water run-off that will reduce some of the fun.

As I mentioned before. On 1/16/2011 (MLK Day) I rode Tioga Pass/120 and the cold was not a problem but I did find one piece of black ice. By the time I got to Lee Vining it was not that cold and removed a layer on clothing in Markleeville after riding Monitor Pass and before Carson Pass. Both of those passes were ice-less. Even though Tioga and Monitor were scheduled to be closed, if the weather has been dry, California will open a pass(es) for convenience and commerce.

 

[EricV]

I did not know CA would open the pass routes that are listed as seasonal. Someone ought to tell CATrans.

I've done that route, but from the opposite direction.

Last year the wife and I went over to 3 Rivers for a RTE and after a late breakfast, rode this route to Visalia, (stopped at the NP visitor centers, etc and took the rest of the day. 245 is super fun), then rode over to Beatty the next day, leaving us a short ride home from there. http://mapq.st/1gqrsxI

 

[advswede1981]

The bigger the road, the better...

 

[tomatocity]

I did not know CA would open the pass routes that are listed as seasonal. Someone ought to tell CATrans.

I've done that route, but from the opposite direction.

Last year the wife and I went over to 3 Rivers for a RTE and after a late breakfast, rode this route to Visalia, (stopped at the NP visitor centers, etc and took the rest of the day. 245 is super fun), then rode over to Beatty the next day, leaving us a short ride home from there. http://mapq.st/1gqrsxI

Like your route. I was supposed to ride that area last year and had a severe bout of vertigo while riding Carrizo Plain (Soda Lake) so cancelled the meet-up. Hope to ride it in June this year.

Do you stop at Ranch House Cafe when in Olancha? Very good food and service.

What is an RTE?

Yosemite was packed with visitors that January day. One of the lakes was frozen enough they allowed hundreds of visitors to play on the lake. The valley was uncomfortable with visitors and 120 was littered with parked vehicles. At the NP entrance I wanted to show my Senior Pass and they said it was a national holiday with free visitation to ALL. It was a beautiful day.

Caltrans does not change their advertised seasonal closures but you can check online to see if the roads are open or closed. Another way to get information for 120 is call a business in Groveland or Lee Vining. The word spreads quickly.

 

[EricV]

I haven't tried the Ranch House Cafe. RTE= Ride To Eat. Someone in one of the riding groups I frequent like LDRiders will post the location and date/time, people show up or not. This one was just below the Sequoia NP entrance on 198.

 

[tomatocity]

I haven't tried the Ranch House Cafe. RTE= Ride To Eat. Someone in one of the riding groups I frequent like LDRiders will post the location and date/time, people show up or not. This one was just below the Sequoia NP entrance on 198.

RTE= Rich Text Editor and I did not know how that would fit into a 2up motorcycle ride

I belong to a NorCal BMW group HDDC, Hump Day Dinner Club, that meet a various places for dinner on Wednesday Evenings. They have been doing this for approximately 10 years. Has to be at least two riders. Last Wednesday it was two riders that were traveling together in Death Valley. If you are in the area contact me... we enjoy drop-in's.

 

[EricV]

RTE= Rich Text Editor and I did not know how that would fit into a 2up motorcycle ride

I belong to a NorCal BMW group HDDC, Hump Day Dinner Club, that meet a various places for dinner on Wednesday Evenings. They have been doing this for approximately 10 years. Has to be at least two riders. Last Wednesday it was two riders that were traveling together in Death Valley. If you are in the area contact me... we enjoy drop-in's.

It's all about the context. I'll certainly keep you in mind, as well as the HDDC, the next time we're out that way. Oh, no two up, my lovely wife rides her own. Same offer for you, if you're over in Vegas area, let me know and we'll try and get together.