- Whitney Classic
The Whitney Classic is a hardcore endurance cycling event that is held in late September or October every year. The ride runs from
Badwater ,Death Valley toWhitney Portal . Badwater, at 282 below sea level, is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere and Whitney Portal (8,360) is the trailhead that leads toMt. Whitney , the highest peak in the contiguous United States with an elevation of convert|14505|ft|m.The Ride
The ride is convert|136|mi|km long and has an actual elevation gain of convert|15800|ft|m, one of the longest and most sustained elevation differences in American cycling. There are three major hills...Townes Pass, climbing up from Stovepipe Wells; Hillcrest, climbing from Panamint Springs; and the Whitney Portal Road, which leaves the town of
Lone Pine, California to climb to the Portal.#Townes Pass is an agonizing convert|16.6|mi|km long with an 5,000'+ elevation gain.
#Hillcrest is convert|11.9|mi|km long, with slightly over 3,000' elevation gain.
#The Whitney Portal road gains close to 5,000' in convert|14.7|mi|km.In addition to long distances and heart-breaking hills, the temperature can play a major factor. At the start in Badwater, temperatures can routinely be as high as 130 degrees, but the temperature quickly drops as the pedal higher and higher. Below freezing temperatures are often encountered near the Portal, making a temperature swing of over 100 degrees in a single day.
The ride is a small event, with an average number of riders in the 50s. Riders may ride as individuals or as a team. Due to the heat, the cold, the length, the hills, the dark, and a number of other factors, it is not unusual for 25-50% of the ride not to finish.
History
The Whitney Classic started in 1981 as a fundraiser for Summit Adventure [http://summitadventure.com] , a non-profit wilderness ministry in
Bass Lake, California , and still serves as a major fundraiser for the organization. There are multiple races and runs that travel the same course, including theBadwater Ultramarathon , held in July every year.The ride was originally conceived as a Badwater to the summit of Whitney ride, making it the lowest to highest. In later years, as the
United States Forest Service required summit permits to climb Mt. Whitney, the official course was shortened to end at Whitney Portal. Forest Service regulations do not allow competitive events in theJohn Muir Wilderness , however, many riders choose to continue tradition and complete the ascent to Mount Whitney's summit on their own.External links
* [http://www.summitadventure.com/courses_whitney.htm The Official Whitney Classic Page]
Ride Reports:
* [http://paulasay.indstate.edu/summit.htm 1994 Whitney Ride Recap]
* [http://oj.egbt.org/dmoore/bike/whitney/1993/93-1.html 1993 Whitney Ride Recap]Photos
* [http://www.summitadventure.com/gallery/Whitney-Classic-2006 Official Photos From the 2006 WC]
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