Monashee Pass

Overview

Monashee Pass is a Category 3 climb in Canada, running 6.5 km from a start elevation of 903 m to a summit at 1205 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 302 m, placing it firmly in the medium-length, moderate-difficulty bracket where the challenge comes from sustained work rather than a single wall.

The number that matters most here is the gap between the net gain and the total ascent. You climb 302 m on paper, but the total ascent is 337 m — 35 m more than the elevation difference between bottom and top. That mismatch tells you the road is not a clean, monotonic ramp. Somewhere along the way you give back and re-earn about 35 m, which means the effort is punchier and less rhythmic than the average gradient alone would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.66% average is an honest headline, but it hides the shape. With 35 m of extra climbing folded into an undulating profile and a steepest pitch of 13.05%, the road swings well above and below its mean. Expect the gradient to spike toward the double-digit ramps and then relent into flatter recovery.

• Flatter or gently descending recovery sections where the road gives back elevation
• Repeated short climbs that force you to re-accelerate rather than settle
• A steepest ramp reaching 13.05%, well above the average — the pitch that defines your low gear

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can hold even effort and even speed together. Monashee Pass does not allow that. Because of the undulation, chasing even speed will spike your power on every ramp and leave you overcooked. Instead, anchor your ride to sustainable power output and let your speed rise on the flatter recovery and drop on the steep pitches. Hold a steady effort through the 13.05% ramps, accept the slower pace there, and resist the urge to hammer the descents back to speed. Know your ceiling before you start — run the numbers through the FTP estimator so you have a target watt figure rather than a guess.

Gearing

Your gearing is governed by that steepest 13.05% ramp, not the 4.66% average. At those gradients on tired legs, a standard setup will leave you grinding. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a bailout gear to spin the steep pitches at a sustainable cadence instead of muscling them. Check your setup before the ride; confirm your rear derailleur handles the largest sprocket and that the chain is long enough.

Summary

• Length: 6.5 km
• Average gradient: 4.66%
• Maximum gradient: 13.05%
• Net elevation gain: 302 m
• Total ascent: 337 m
• Category: 3

Monashee Pass rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace by effort, gear for the 13.05% ramp, and treat the 35 m of hidden climbing as the real difficulty. Do that, and this Category 3 climb rides exactly as its numbers promise.