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Five Sierra passes test cyclists across Alpine County
Endurance cyclists climb multiple high Sierra passes from Markleeville during a celebrated one-day challenge requiring training, altitude adjustment, and overnight planning.
Event details
Death Ride challenges cyclists with a long succession of high Sierra climbs, sweeping descents, and thin-air scenery around Markleeville, with aid stations and a communal finish supporting riders through one of California’s best-known mountain cycling tests each July. Volunteers staff each summit aid station with food, water, and encouragement for riders tackling the final climbs.
Families supporting a rider can treat each mountain pass as its own destination, driving ahead to a summit viewpoint to cheer a climber on before moving to the next, a structure that turns a demanding day for the cyclist into an active sightseeing day for everyone else.
The 5 a.m. start and remote location make nearby lodging or camping essential rather than optional for riders and their support crews alike. Reserve a Markleeville-area Stay well in advance, pack layers for dramatic temperature swings between valley and summit, and stay afterward for hot springs, quiet roads, and alpine lakes. It is a genuinely demanding ride best supported with real advance planning, since both riders and their support crews need a clear plan for the day. Alpine County’s limited services mean it pays to arrive with full fuel and supplies rather than counting on finding them locally.
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