Friday
Morning: optional short drive
Saturday
Morning: Targa Tahoe drive gathering on the ramp.
How long and how many miles should the drive on Friday morning be? My feeling is that we should do some sort of drive either around the entire lake (about 2.5 hrs with stops and traffic) or at least a drive over to Emerald Bay and back. It's a Tahoe event, so the lake shouldn't be totally ignored, right? I realize that this isn't going to be a sporty/speedy drive due to traffic. It's certainly more of a scenic tour than anything else.
Here's the lake loop:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...695572&z=11
The shorter route, up the west shore and back:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...695572&z=11
These are rough routes, not from the hotel (just the city), so please don't repost them.
I'll explore the longer route for Sat next.
Full Version: Two tours, two routes
Alright, so there isn't a "perfect" long route up there, but there are some amazing drives.
This one will be around 2+ hours of driving, which means we could just do lunch on the way back. It goes right by heavenly on the way back, so maybe we could get a meal there. I'm sure the views would be stellar!
South Lake Tahoe to Hope Valley, a few miles down 88, and then over to Markleeville via 89. These roads are AWESOME. There's a general store in Markleeville, as well as bathroom, etc. Not sure about fuel. Continuing on, we follow the Yuba River along a ton of twisties. We then break off and go up and over Monitor Pass (9k'!!!) and then town into the desert. The only bad part is that then we have to go up 22 miles on 395. Not terribly exciting. We then cut back over to the mountains and come up over Kingsbury Grade Road (again - AWESOME) and come up over to an amazing view of the lake. This is where Heavenly is too. It's on a few minutes from there back to South Lake.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...695572&z=11
My concerns are that this route may be too short, though it's fun packed. It's about 100 miles. The other problem is that Monitor Pass may still be closed in May. I'll look that info up now.
I'll put an alternate route together in a moment.
This one will be around 2+ hours of driving, which means we could just do lunch on the way back. It goes right by heavenly on the way back, so maybe we could get a meal there. I'm sure the views would be stellar!
South Lake Tahoe to Hope Valley, a few miles down 88, and then over to Markleeville via 89. These roads are AWESOME. There's a general store in Markleeville, as well as bathroom, etc. Not sure about fuel. Continuing on, we follow the Yuba River along a ton of twisties. We then break off and go up and over Monitor Pass (9k'!!!) and then town into the desert. The only bad part is that then we have to go up 22 miles on 395. Not terribly exciting. We then cut back over to the mountains and come up over Kingsbury Grade Road (again - AWESOME) and come up over to an amazing view of the lake. This is where Heavenly is too. It's on a few minutes from there back to South Lake.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...695572&z=11
My concerns are that this route may be too short, though it's fun packed. It's about 100 miles. The other problem is that Monitor Pass may still be closed in May. I'll look that info up now.
I'll put an alternate route together in a moment.
Monitor pass will be open:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm
Randy,
I agree. We ought to show them the lake. How about a once around on Friday so they can see the vistas and shoot some passenger seat video and stills.
The drive that includes Markleeville looks good.
It should be pointed out to the participants in the Targa Tahoe that this route follows an annual bicycle race route called the Markleeville Death Ride. It was meant to mean that the ride is very tough and to intimidate the weak from clogging up their sag wagons. However, people have died hitting cows and deer on bicycles on these roads. These same animals would do big damage to a Porsche.
I agree. We ought to show them the lake. How about a once around on Friday so they can see the vistas and shoot some passenger seat video and stills.
The drive that includes Markleeville looks good.
It should be pointed out to the participants in the Targa Tahoe that this route follows an annual bicycle race route called the Markleeville Death Ride. It was meant to mean that the ride is very tough and to intimidate the weak from clogging up their sag wagons. However, people have died hitting cows and deer on bicycles on these roads. These same animals would do big damage to a Porsche.
I know some people are not interested in going to Virginia City itself, but the routes from South Lake to there are nice. People could take 45 min to stretch, wander around the city and then we could make our way back to Carson City or Heavenly for lunch.
South Lake, up the east coast of the lake, up to Incline Village and up and over Mt. Rose (another 9k pass), down to the valley (this is a fantastic road), cross the valley (takes five minutes) and then up the famous PERFECT road to Virginia City. People can snack, walk around, take photos, yatta yatta. Then we head down the other side of the mountain and drive into Carson City. Number of decent food options here. Then up and over the Kingsbury Grade into Tahoe (I HATE Hwy 50 from Carson City to Tahoe as it's way too steep and fast for our little aircooled cars).
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...391144&z=10
South Lake, up the east coast of the lake, up to Incline Village and up and over Mt. Rose (another 9k pass), down to the valley (this is a fantastic road), cross the valley (takes five minutes) and then up the famous PERFECT road to Virginia City. People can snack, walk around, take photos, yatta yatta. Then we head down the other side of the mountain and drive into Carson City. Number of decent food options here. Then up and over the Kingsbury Grade into Tahoe (I HATE Hwy 50 from Carson City to Tahoe as it's way too steep and fast for our little aircooled cars).
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...391144&z=10
QUOTE(ConeDodger @ Mar 19 2010, 03:01 PM) 
Randy,
I agree. We ought to show them the lake. How about a once around on Friday so they can see the vistas and shoot some passenger seat video and stills.
The drive that includes Markleeville looks good.
Sweet!
Check out these images of Monitor Pass:
http://images.google.com/images?q=monitor+...ved=0CCQQsAQwAw
Oh, monitor pass is 'only' 8314'!
Randy,
I am thinking we can put some sizzle in that first day ride around the lake by making it a Photo Rally. They would need a passenger and a digital camera and we need to come up with a list of things they need pictures of. The team with the most correct pictures wins.
We would make the Photo Rally optional so people who have no friends like Mark Debernardi
can still go on the ride!
I am thinking we can put some sizzle in that first day ride around the lake by making it a Photo Rally. They would need a passenger and a digital camera and we need to come up with a list of things they need pictures of. The team with the most correct pictures wins.
We would make the Photo Rally optional so people who have no friends like Mark Debernardi
can still go on the ride!
I like it! Good idea.
Wait... whaaaaaa...... 
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