34 Days Through the Western United States and Canada

Day 7 – Friday August 5th
Pollock Pines, California to Sonora, California
Mormon Emigrant Trail, Carson Pass, Ebbetts Pass

I awake this morning a tad on the hungry side. Although Jim and I enjoyed watching a mesmerizing sunset at Loon Lake last night, we were also to learn that Pollock Pines is not a good place to show up hungry if it's late at night. Apparently, the definition of late in Pollock Pines is “after 9:00pm”.

Today we plan to get an early start to take advantage of the early morning sun, and the weather couldn’t be nicer. No sooner do we finish loading up the bikes than the purr of a red Honda VFR 750 is heard as it rolls into the parking lot. V4 Fury (Kipp) shows up bright and early to join us for today’s ride, which will take us through the Eldorado National Forest on Mormon Emigrant Trail, then on to Carson Pass, Ebbetts Pass, and ultimately to this evening’s destination of Sonora.

Although we're all a little hungry, it's a beautiful morning, and all parties agree that a beautiful morning's ride on some of California’s greatest motorcycle roads (the Sierra Passes!) should certainly get the nod in favor of instant gratification in the form of breakfast. After all, breakfast will wait, but sunrise won't. It sure is great fun to ride in a group that shares the same priorities!

Kipp joins in the ride



Leaving Pollock Pines, we head south on Sly Park Road, and are only a few miles south of town when we come upon Jenkinson Lake. This photo is taken from the Sly Park Dam, at the intersection of Sly Park and Silver Lake Roads.

Jenkinson Lake



Silver Lake Road eventually becomes Mormon Emigrant Trail. It’s also shown as Iron Mountain Road on the map. I’m not sure where the name changes take place, but from Jenkinson Lake to Highway 88, we basically followed one road. Mormon Emigrant Trail is very light on traffic this morning, and what little traffic we do see consists mostly of logging trucks working in the area. Passing through the beautiful wilderness of the Eldorado National Forest, I delight at the discovery of what must be considered one of California's many hidden gems. Those who prefer the less traveled path are sure to find the allure of Mormon Emigrant Trail irresistible.

Photo stop along Mormon Emigrant Trail



Yours truly



Mormon Emigrant Trail - narrow corridor through thick, lush forest



Endless twists and turns



The road is all ours



Jim and his Suzuki Madura 1200



Recorded visions over the last 2,000 years of a mysterious "flaming red wing in the sun", have often preceded miraculous victories in battle. Witnesses have often attributed their visions to the fiery wing of St. Michael the Archangel, and so the visions are believed to be preludes to miraculous events. On a more scientific note, the dates of these recorded sightings have been confirmed by NASA, but attributed as coinciding with various appearances of Halley's and other comets. Whether in reality the visions were St. Michael the Archangel, a comet, or even a bright red Goldwing, such a vision could inarguably only be the omen of a very good day – and of course, an incredible stretch of scenic motorcycle road doesn't hurt either!

A flaming red Wing in the sun – prelude to a very good day



Jim and Kipp have been raving about a beautiful vista that is a "must-see" stop for anyone riding the Mormon Emigrant Trail. If I remember correctly, the location of this vista was just a couple of miles north of Highway 88.

Scenic Vista - Eldorado National Forest



After stopping at a curious old deserted resort at the intersection of Mormon Emigrant Trail and Highway 88, we start making our way east on Highway 88. I know we are getting close to Silver Lake from the unique appearance of the terrain, which I remember from my last trip out to California one year earlier. Located in Amador County, the terrain surrounding Silver Lake is stunning, formed by volcanic activity of ages past.

Nearing Silver Lake



Silver Lake






Nestled in the incredible landscape on the west end of Silver Lake is the Plasse Resort. Having discovered Plasse Resort in search of a restaurant, we luckily stumble upon a hungry man’s oasis. If ever out this way, be sure to stop at the Thunder Mountain Restaurant, offering great home-cooked food and friendly service, it’s a rare find on the road. Just be sure to bring your appetite along.

Thunder Mountain Restaurant at Plasse Resort



After breakfast, we stop briefly at this turnout for Silver Lake.

Kit Carson Road Turnout – Silver Lake



Looking forward to the ride ahead, we continue our gradual climb into the Sierras.

Eastward ascent into the Sierra Nevadas on Highway 88



The ride from Silver Lake to Caples Lake is a short one, crossing from Amador into Alpine County. To give an idea of the steep ascent of this terrain, consider that Caples Lake is at 7800 feet, about 500 feet higher than Silver Lake, but less than 8 miles further east.

Caples Lake



After we leave Caples Lake, things start happening rather quickly. A dead deer in the middle of the road with bits and pieces of motorcycle fairing laying around the carcass signals big trouble. We immediately slow down, and just beyond the deer, a shaken motorcyclist on the side of the road inspects damage to what appears to be a very new BMW K1200LT. He looks OK, and since other people have already stopped to help him, we continue on for a few hundred yards and stop to take pictures of Red Lake from a scenic pull-out. While stopped for pictures, a group of concerned motorists stop to tell us about the motorcyclist who just hit the deer, thinking he was a part of our group. It wasn't until several minutes later that another rider who actually was with the wrecked rider realized he was missing his partner and had turned around to look for him. He stopped to ask us if we had seen him and we pointed to the location of the crash behind us. I don't know of a single motorcyclist who wouldn't be sympathetic in that situation. We all know how fast things like that can happen. If things had been offset by only a few seconds, that collision could very well have involved us. Silently, I say a word of thanks in advance for a continued event-free and safe ride, and we are on our way.

Red Lake



We are now well into Carson Pass. It's late morning now and although the traffic is continuous, it’s not heavy. There's still plenty enough space between cars to have a little fun with the camera, although we have to stop and wait for them to go by.

Fun on Carson Pass



Kipp



We continue eastward as we make our way over Carson Pass, enjoying the incredible vistas as we ride. The further east we travel, the more overcast the skies become. Its particularly dark to the south, the way we're going. Looks like we’re headed into some rain.

Carson Pass and the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas



As we head south on Highway 89, the clouds get darker and there’s now a few drops of rain in the air. Our plan is to head west on Highway 4 and to cross Ebbetts Pass. About 2.5 miles south of the little town of Markleeville, we reach the intersection of Highways 89 and 4. Jim and Kipp are due for fuel, so we stop here to fuel the bikes and grab a snack at the Carson River Resort. Our timing is perfect, as a passing cloud rains a gentle shower as we make our pit stop. But the rain is very short lived. By the time we're ready to roll, the rain has practically stopped.

I’m especially looking forward to this part of today’s ride. I have fond memories of Ebbetts Pass from last year’s ride, and aside from Sonora Pass, this is in my opinion, one of the very finest motorcycle roads in California. There’s nothing like the Sierra Passes, these are the best motorcycle roads anywhere. I hope you won’t mind that I follow up with a large number of photos. It’s hard to do justice to the beauty of Ebbetts Pass. The bikes are fueled and we're ready to ride. We begin our ascent toward Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4 west, entering the wild and beautiful Stanislaus National Forest.

Highway 4 West – ascent to Ebbetts Pass



The countryside around Ebbetts pass is rugged, wild, and beautiful. Too rugged to be anything but wilderness, there are very few signs of man here besides the road itself.

Rugged Ebbetts Pass



The road blends beautifully into the countryside. The road, like the countryside is wild and beautiful. The surface is well maintained, smooth as velvet, and as twisty as your favorite motorcycle dreams. If Ebbetts were the only motorcycle road in California, I would still come all the way from Indiana just to ride it - yes, it really is THAT good!

Twisting through Ebbetts Pass



Not only am I a lucky man to be riding Ebbetts Pass this day, but now the weather looks like it will be on our side as well. The rain has stopped and the overcast is lifting and breaking up. Looks like this is summer in California after all!

Sun trying to peek through the clouds



View of the valley – note the road in the distance



As usual, some of the best views in the road don't always come with a parking spot. And even though there isn't much traffic here at all, you never know what's coming around the turns. Sometimes you just have to park the bike and hoof it!

Worth the walk



Looking Behind



A short walk in these high altitudes and steep roads will give a prompt indication of one's physical condition. Add to that the warm temps with the sun peeking out, and it's still better than an air-conditioned office at work!!

Now, where did I leave that motorcycle?



There it is!



As you read this, you're probably thinking about the large quantities of photos I've posted. Considering that I’ve only posted a fraction of them, that gives you an idea of the patience of my riding companions. I can hardly blame them for wanting to open the throttle up a bit and leave the camera guy behind. So that's what they did. They took off for a while to retrace some of the miles we just traveled. I didn't mind a bit, as it gave me a chance to catch up on my picture taking!

While they were gone, I take a break walking around Kinney Reservoir with the camera. Kinney Reservoir is only a mile or two east of the summit. As I wait for Jim and Kipp to get back, I have a chance to re-organize my gear and clean the bike up little. I should have brought a fishing pole!

Kinney Reservoir



Peaceful and serene



Should have brought a fishing pole!



View from the earthen dam of the Kinney Reservoir



Looking West on Highway 4 from Kinney Reservoir



Soon enough Jim and Kipp return from their "need-for-speed" ride and we're back on way to the summit of the pass.

Wild and beautiful Stanislaus National Forest



Ebbetts Pass lies in the furthest Northeast quadrant of Stanislaus National Forest, in an area surrounded by designated wilderness lands. To the east lies Toiyabe National Forest, and a few miles to the south is the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, with the Mokelumne Wilderness only a few miles to the west.

Asphalt ribbon through deep forest wilderness



Three bikes and the road



Trying the big 70-200 zoom lens



More fun than a roller coaster



Ebbetts Pass - nearing the summit



Ebbetts Pass - The Summit



When one reaches the summit of the pass, you won't miss Mosquito Lake. It's like looking at a painting. And that little cabin, does someone actually live there? What a slice of heaven this is!

Mosquito Lake



The stunning beauty of Mosquito Lake – can this be real?



Having reached the summit, the rest of the ride is downhill, and soon takes us back into civilization. Turning south on Highway 49 at Angels Camp, we will soon be in Sonora, our destination for the night. About 10 miles north of Sonora, we pull into a turn-out for a few shots of New Melones Lake.

New Melones Lake



Highway 49 bridge crossing New Melones Lake



What an incredible day's ride we had today. After checking in at the Gold Lodge Hotel, we find a great place to eat in Sonora and celebrate over a thick slab of prime rib.


End of Day 7
Location: Sonora, California
GPS Mileage = 3418 miles
Today’s Mileage = 184 miles

Route Map: Day 7



Partial Route: Mormon Emigrant Trail



Partial Route: Silver and Caples Lakes - Carson and Ebbetts Passes