'Death Ride' for bikes is Saturday, July 10

The huge, annual "Death Ride" for bicyclists is scheduled for July 10 in Alpine County, Calif.

That special endurance event will consist of approximately 3,000 bicycle riders attempting to ride over a total of five passes in that California county.

Those five mountain passes are: Monitor (twice on S.R. 89), Ebbett's (twice on S.R. 4) and Kit Carson (once on S.R. 88).

As one of West's premier, endurance cycling events, this year's ride returns those riders to the infamous, five-pass course, which includes:

Monitor Pass (at an elevation of 8,314'), Ebbett's Pass (8,730') and Carson Pass (8,573')

Beginning and ending at Turtle Rock Park, north of Markleeville, California, the five pass ride includes 129 miles and 16,000 feet of lung busting climbing.

In addition, this year, riders will have the option of riding over a sixth "Pass," which is on the Blue Lakes Road in Hope Valley.

The Death Ride is sponsored by the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce and is co-produced with the Alta Alpina Cycle Club.

Any motorists traveling in Alpine County on Saturday between 5:30 a.m. and dark are advised to exercise extreme caution due to the huge number of bicycles on the roadways.

State Route 89 over Monitor Pass, from the junction of U.S. Highway 395, near Topaz Lake, to the junction of State Route 89/4, will be closed to all traffic, except for emergency, law enforcement and support vehicles from about 5:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon.

State Route 4 over Ebbett's Pass, will be closed to all traffic, except for emergency, law enforcement and support vehicles from about 5:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

These road closures are for the safety of the bicycle riders.

Please plan alternate routes if you are planning to travel in those areas on that date.

For information, call the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce at (530) 694-2475 during regular business hours.