Just this a.m. I spoke with CalTrans about the current conditions on Monitor Pass (Hwy. 89) and Ebbett’s Pass (Hwy 4). Here’s the latest:
Monitor Pass
CalTrans is hoping to open it by this Thursday. There’s about 6″ of snow up there now and with this a.m.’s snow (yup, more of the white stuff fell just this morning) it’s not likely it will be open before then.
Tired bike on Monitor Pass. 
Chris coming up to the 8000′ mark. 
About 12 feet of snow still on Monitor (8000′) in May of 2019. 
Coming up to the sun – eastern side of Monitor. 2018 DR. 
Looking east down to the valley from near the top of Monitor. 2018 DR
Ebbett’s Pass
With the water on the road from the recent rains and snow melt, sheets of ice have formed making it a bit more time consuming to get the equipment up to where it needs to be. In some cases, the crews need to wait until later in the a.m. to begin their work.
There is also a lot of sand, rock and mud on the road, and between Hermit Valley and Lake Alpine, there’s still about 6′ to 8′ of snow, including a bit of Sierra cement, and ice, in places. The CalTrans crew based in Woodfords has made it through to Hermit Valley and the crew on the other side is making its way there now with the hope that the two crews will meet in the very-near future.
The initial plan was to have Ebbett’s open by Memorial Day but that’s now up in the air. You can get up to the 7000′ mark (Raymond Meadow Creek) currently, though. There’s a couple nice pitches just north of the RMC bridge so don’t worry, you can push some watts and get that heart rate up.
Ebbett’s closed at Wolf Creek Rd. 
It’s all good. At least I could get this far. 
Behind the gate earlier this year. 
Any day on the bike… 
Skeleton Stoker at last year’s Deathride 
Ebbett’s is open to Raymond Meadow Creek (7000′ mark).
Stay off the passes when the roads are closed
A reminder from CalTrans that those road closures are there for everyone’s safety. There are crews and heavy equipment up there and they’re not looking for cyclists or hikers, so it’s a bit dicey to go behind those gates. It also may get you a ticket if the CHP catches you – and it would be a moving violation too, meaning traffic school or points.
Be cautious – they’ll open eventually
There will be time for us all to get up there and enjoy these, and other passes in the California Alps, so please be patient. For me that means a bit more trainer time. I’m taking advantage and doing some HIIT and steady-state intervals to build my strength and stamina for what’s to come. I wish you well on your training and remind you to ride safely.
We’ll be able to kick some passes’ asses soon enough.
That skeleton stoker looks pretty weak. Cap’n must be an animal to drag a tandem and worhtless stoker up those passes. Love that wall of snow!