From Reno, every good road sans a couple of local havens, is a stretch of dull. Simply getting through Reno, takes riding dedication as you anticipate the endless twisties of the Sierras and know that they are at least an hour away.

Two weekends in a row Gary and I took to the hills. Our first journey was the least direct way possible to Sonora Pass, via Geiger Grade to Virginina City, down to Carson City to Jack’s Valley, Genoa, Woodfords, Diamond Valley via dirt to some lake, Markleeville, Monitor Pass, and finally Hwy 395 to Hwy 108, Sonora Pass. I don’t know a better way!

My first trip to Sonora was adventurous as we rode into the approaching storm, sampling a dusting of snow in the higher elevations and damp pavement in the lower. The road is a exercise in riding skill with decreasing radius turns, sand, gravel, switchbacks and massive hill climbing. It lacks the narrow line-less blind corners of Ebbetts Pass, Hwy 4, but more than makes up in one challenge followed immediately by another.

The views are epic. The terrain much like that found in Yosemite, it is unparalleled in beauty and sadly missing from this report. We were so engrossed in the ride that we rarely stopped for photos on the Sonora summit.