Hey Phil, I have a harder climb in California for your obsession with steep climbs. Silver Canyon Road is just outside of Bishop, CA. It is a dirt road that goes up into the White mountains and eventually intersects with White Mountain Road at about 10.5k feet. It will require a mountain bike, not only because I've heard the surface is not as good as Cerro Gordo but also because the gradients are so insane that I think even a rider like you would find it nearly impossible to get traction on Gravel Bike gearing. The main section is 10.5 miles long with an average gradient of 11.5% but this is deceiving because the first half averages 7.5% while the second averages a frankly ridiculous 15.8%. Lots of sections that easily sail past 20% and even reach 25 sometimes. From there you can turn right on White Mountain Road for a much easier and safer descent or you can have someone meet you at the top with a car, resupply with food and water, and then climb the highest road in California and possibly the US to the summit of White Mountain. If you descend the road and ride back to Bishop you will have completed quite possibly the hardest century in the state

@TheXcrayrun

28 күн бұрын

Agree, attempted this on a gravel bike and failed miserably around 12k high

@quarkonium3795

28 күн бұрын

@@TheXcrayrun I'm impressed you made it that high. The part from 6k to 10.5k looks absolutely miserable gradient-wise. Strava says there's a stretch in that section that is 26% and that's on pretty slick dirt

@jayobannon5359

28 күн бұрын

My thought exactly

@cufsae27

28 күн бұрын

Agreed, and I tried pinging Phil on this a couple times so I assume he's just scared ;) Also, you can continue on from Silver Canyon rd and bike all the way to the top of White Mountain, which is over 14k feet.

@quarkonium3795

28 күн бұрын

@@cufsae27 If he is, who can blame him? Those kinds of climbs go from challenge to just pure hell. You might try the same strategy with Tyler Pearce from VC Adventures. He's nowhere near as strong as Phil but he seems like the type of guy who will attempt just about any insane thing if his viewers point him in the direction of an "Impossible Route" (I am currently picturing what I imagine Tyler's suffer face would be like on that climb-he suffers through rides like no one else)

I'm loving the juxtaposition of the off-road jeep guys airing down their tires vs the bone stock crv going up the same road

@worstretirementever

24 күн бұрын

I think you can go a lot further than the town where we turned around at the top. I didn't see any of those vehicles on the way up or parked at the top so they must have gone somewhere wild

@JoshuaTootell

9 күн бұрын

There is a very popular off road spot (not far from Phil) where you can easily drive a CRV from start to finish. All the obstacles are on side chutes and are totally optional. Cleghorn, in Phelan right off interstate 15.

I love that you're able to take the KOM on a ridiculous climb like this while keeping your HR below 170 and the fact you were anticipating traffic on that route! 😂

@worstretirementever

28 күн бұрын

There were cars (jeeps) coming up before we started!

Congrats to the other guys on that leaderboard, that’s a tough climb

I love Lone Pine and Bishop. Alabama Hills for breakfast, Schat’s bakery for lunch, and the views from any of the roads leading to the passes! OMG Kearsarge rules, especially at sunrise or evening moonrise, when it is magical with alpenglow.

Congrats on the KOM, I appreciate that you put a screen grab of strava so we can see how well you did.

@worstretirementever

28 күн бұрын

Thanks! I try to make it more about the adventure than “look how fast I am” but try to balance both

Wow!! Kudos on the KOM. That “road” is brutal. I drove up to Cerro Gordo and back down a couple of years ago in my Taco. There were spots that were challenging in my truck. I had not even dreamed of someone doing it on a bike until this video. You are a badass on a bicycle.

America really contains some stunning scenery, can't wait to visit again

Pretty there! Very high up and steep. I haven't seen you struggle like that before. Congrats!

You're not getting a cement mixer up that road, well you are if you call Dave Sparks. Phill needs to go binge watch some ghost town living

Dude that shot at 3:10 is art. I would put this on my wall.

Cerro Gordo is one of the stops on CA BDR.... I did it on a motorcycle, downhill.... I can't imagine climbing this hill peddling. I recall large rocks on the road, slipping down on the hill and switchbacks.

Well done! Liked the video and wondered what that road looked like. Just heard Brent's stories. BTW, awesome WTF!!! Got to go back next year. Challenging ride, cool roads...and water crossings...and super folks helping and riding! (yes, there are gravel specialists out there leaving me in the dust!) So much fun. Thanks for an excellent event!!!

What’s funny is I follow ghost town living and Brent hasn’t shown anything of the new American hotel lately so it’s kinda a spoiler alert that we get an update from you 😂 thanks for that!

In Owens Valley, the paved climb to Onion Valley is rated by PJAMM Cycling to be the hardest in California with gain of 5,236 ft, length of 12.9 miles and average grade of 7.7%. It summits at 9,200 feet and it's steepest mile is at 9.2% and steepest 3 miles at 8.5%. In 09, I climbed it and it has a spectacular view near the top looking back down at all the switch backs. However, I suffered more on another Owens Valley paved climb a couple days later which was to the Ancient BristleCone Pine Forest(White Mountain) which summits at over 10k feet with 10 percent plus grades near the top. The U.S. Forest Service has a visitor center there and a campground.

@quarkonium3795

27 күн бұрын

I believe the road you climbed is White Mountain Road. I've also done Onion Valley and Horseshoe meadows but I've never done that one. What was the main thing that made it difficult?

@CyclerJohn

27 күн бұрын

@@quarkonium3795 The higher elevation with 10% plus grades near the top. I did both climbs on a 30 pound mountain bike, with toe-clips and a front shock with no lock out. The 20 mile descent on that bike was a lot more more comfortable than a road bike.

@paullefko

20 күн бұрын

White mtn road is crazy 🤪 was there last weekend; snow covers the road still; you can’t make to the research station easily nor to the top stand of Bristlecones

@CyclerJohn

17 күн бұрын

One more suffering factor was a lot more sun exposure going up the White Mountain(BristleCone) climb. It was mostly cloudy on the way up the Onion Valley climb and at my start I meet another cyclist who had just finished the descent and he warned me of a thunder storm at the top but It had finished before I got there .

When it's a struggle, you can always say the bike is the limiting factor...

Well done Phil, but there's just something unsettling about a skin suit on a gravel/mtb climb....... KOM in baggies and a flannel shirt would be cooler! 😎🤠

The real amazing thing is having friends that would follow you for so long for internet points. Kudos to them.

Thats crazy I have been following the ghost town for a few years now. crazy tracks. would love to do this..

Missed title opportunity: "Climbing the mountains of Tatooine!"

Mt Evans is no more, it's mt. Blue sky now :) great vid!!!! Congrats on the KOM!

The collab I've been waiting two years for!!!!

Bretts channel is really good 🙂

Fun fact: They have gotten a cement mixer up there!!

Harder road to go up; From the ranger station at Bristle cone forest to top of white mountain. You’re at 14k feet plus at the top. Most of that ride is above 10k feet.

I ran it a few years ago. Nice scenery. The trail goes up another 1000f up to Cerro Gordo Peak 2.5 miles from the Cerro Ghost town. Probably too steep for riding on a gravel bike but doable.

No way ive been waiting for some maniac to try this on a bike.

Congrats, Phil, on this epic KOM. I loved this video. 💪🚴💪

Looks like Saskatchewan minus the hills and mountains. Just the wind.

I was wondering when you would get up there. I'd love to give that one a go. Beautiful area.

Somewhat like Peru

Yes, I will. Thanks!

Middle earth 😬 Congratulations on the KOM 😉🌟🌟 👏👏👏👏👏

Great views

Probably super sketch at night

vicious!! Bravo

I bet that descent was good

0:01 yep, it's windy in Mojave

You should do Penang hill in Malaysia 24-30% avg for 5km

hot damn old man, inspiring ride

I knew I had seen this place on YT before.

Come do Mineral King Road, not as hard as this but it's a dusy

hey, how does this compare to Mt. Wash? Similar overalll%, similar elevation gain, similar mileage. and yes, I've done Mt. Wash,.

@worstretirementever

27 күн бұрын

Nothing is quite as bad as that last 200 m at mt Washington

@juliesmith8644

27 күн бұрын

And no finishers tape to clothesline you 😂

You kind of give away the result when you say "the previous KOM" @3:39 🤣😂

@ 4:09 > Phil might've saved some time by not hauling his 'junk' up that climb ...jus' sayin'...

i love that area did epic 6 day hike just north west from cool city It does not feel like Ca until you see gas $$

“…Ghost Town-Houses”

Phil, come snatch the skyline dr KOM .

What’s with the weird jersey lack of collar?

I bet the guy who did hold the KOM is gutted, he probably thought his record would last for a while.

A ski suit for an average of 9 mph

Living the East coast of Canada sucked. It takes 4/5 days to drive to any of these cool places

What? You didn’t ride down? Pain with no reward.

@lvtiguy226

23 күн бұрын

The downhill could have been much more pain. Lots of loose gravel, steep drop offs and no guardrails.

Soon you can stay in the new American Hotel !

Wish he talked to the KZread guy up there

I love Brent's KZread channel too!

@lorensmith624

28 күн бұрын

Yeah and they did bring a cement truck up there! kzread.info/dash/bejne/q4qjpbOLeNXdoqg.html

Phil averaged 6.9mph up that climb... the video seriously doesn't convey how steep it is if that's his average. It looked fun until I saw that.

@quarkonium3795

27 күн бұрын

6.9 is my average over a 7% gradient road climb of the same length 😭

Why were other people required? For safety? For video? Do it 6.6 times for an Everesting "at altitude".

Fat hill

I turned up my volume trying to hear you over the wind smh

@worstretirementever

27 күн бұрын

😂

first

Climate change must be responsible for your subdued excitement in this video and the narration was flat. No fire in your soul on this ride. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 🚴🏼__ __ 👀🙈

Climate chamge my arse.

@Avioto

28 күн бұрын

Bro who can't type has strong opinions on climate change 😂

@worstretirementever

27 күн бұрын

there's always one. I blame youtube feeding people garbage more than I do this guy

youtube.com/@ghosttownliving?si=QPU3qePVIpSEPvaG This is the channel for the guy who owns the ghost town!