by Brian Chun

ACTC riders in the June 13th Alta Alpina Cycle Club’s Riding the Wild Sierra Challenge included ~160 miler, ~16700′ climber Carlos Perez Gautrin, who completed 6 passes: Kingsbury Grade East, Luther Pass East, Carson Pass North,  Blue Lakes, Monitor West & East (Topaz) and ~176 miler, ~17000′ climber Brian Chun, who completed Kingsbury Grade East, Luther Pass East, Carson Pass North, Blue Lakes, Ebbetts Pass East & West (wet & cold above Hermit Valley), and Monitor Pass West.  Brian arrived at Monitor West at 1920 hrs., just 20′ shy of starting the eighth pass: Monitor East (Topaz), which is a 22 mile,  8% descent and climb. Altogether, there were a total of  about 220 participants, with about 80 registered for the 8 Pass Challenge.  Other noted cyclists included Triple Crown Speed Champion Robert Choi of Santa Rosa Cycling Club,  Sean Smith of Lafayette, Vidas Placiakis of the SF Randonneurs and many past and present Devil Mountain Doublers.  Wildlife seen but not photographed included a juvenile brown bear, seen during the Blue Lakes climb, and a young fisherman dangling his catch of a huge wild brown trout, seen during the Blue Lakes descent. Lunch and dinner were prepared at the Turtle Rock Community Center by members of the Washoe tribe.  In the morning, juvenile youth fulfilled community service hours at the Pickett Junction rest stop along Emigrant Trail.

Brian Chun with Triple Crown Champion Dr. Robert Choi of Santa Rosa Cycling Club

Our thanks to the Alta Alpina Cycling Club, Washoe Nation, Juvenile Justice Youth, and all the public safety professionals and volunteers for supporting this unique event.

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