Monitor Pass

Overview

Monitor Pass is a Category 1 climb in the US, running 17.1 km from a start elevation of 1,522 m to a summit at 2,532 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 1,010 m at an average gradient of 5.9%. Those numbers put it firmly in the long-and-sustained bracket: a climb you settle into rather than sprint, where the summit is far enough away that early pacing errors compound the whole way up.

The headline figure to watch is the gap between the net elevation gain of 1,010 m and the total ascent of 1,428 m. That 418 m difference is climbing you do twice — you gain it, give some of it back on descents or false flats, then earn it again. The practical effect is that Monitor Pass asks more of you than a smooth 5.9% ramp would suggest. Every metre you descend has to be reclaimed, so the real workload sits above what the average implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.9% average is a blend, not a description of any single kilometre. With a maximum gradient of 19.06%, there are pitches more than three times steeper than the average, and the 418 m of undulation means the climb is not a single continuous grind but a series of rises broken by flatter or downhill sections.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends — use these to spin, not coast mentally.
• Repeated short climbs that follow each dip, each one re-earning elevation you just surrendered.
• The steepest ramp near 19%, where cadence drops and gearing decides whether you stay seated or grind.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady sustainable power output through both the steep ramps and the flatter stretches rather than fixating on holding a constant km/h — your speed will naturally rise and fall with the terrain. Pushing to keep pace on the 19% pitches will blow your effort budget for the kilometres still above you. Know your number before you start; the FTP estimator gives you a target to anchor the ascent, and on the flatter recovery sections keep pedalling to bank progress without spiking your effort.

Gearing

The 19.06% maximum gradient governs your setup. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low gear to keep turning the pedals on the steepest ramp instead of grinding to a near-stall. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared at 19% with kilometres left to climb is a mistake you cannot fix on the road.

Summary

• Length: 17.1 km
• Average gradient: 5.9%
• Maximum gradient: 19.06%
• Net elevation gain: 1,010 m
• Total ascent: 1,428 m
• Category: 1

Monitor Pass is a sustained Category 1 effort where the undulation, not just the average, defines the difficulty. Pace to power, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 418 m of extra ascent as the real story.