Tenderfoot Pass

Overview

Tenderfoot Pass is a Category 3 climb in the US, running 11.1 km from a start elevation of 2695 m to a summit of 3079 m. The net elevation gain across that distance is 384 m, giving it a headline average gradient of 3.47%. On paper, that reads as a steady, manageable haul rather than a summit sprint.

The number that reshapes that picture is total ascent: 622 m against a net gain of 384 m. That 238 m gap is undulation — roughly 238 m of descent you ride through and then have to re-climb. The average gradient is diluted by those downhill and flat stretches, so the pitches that actually go up are steeper and more numerous than 3.47% suggests. Expect an effort defined by repeated transitions, not one long grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.47% average hides both the recovery you get on the descents and the sharpness of the climbing sections that sit between them. With a maximum gradient of 11.51%, the steepest ramp is more than three times the average — a pitch that will spike your effort well above what the overall figure implies.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections that give back roughly 238 m of the total ascent
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 622 m total ascent rather than one continuous grade
• A steepest ramp of 11.51%, the pitch that governs your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing even speed will burn you out — you would push huge wattage into every rise and coast the descents. Ride even effort instead: hold a steady, repeatable output through the ramps and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain. Anchor that effort to your sustainable power output so the steep pitches sit at a percentage you can absorb without going into the red. If you are unsure of your current ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you set your target numbers.

Gearing

The 11.51% maximum gradient governs your setup. Even with a modest average, you need gears that let you spin that ramp rather than grind it. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the cadence to hold even effort over the steep pitch without stalling. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; sorting gearing at the trailhead is far easier than surviving 11.51% with too much load.

Summary

• Length: 11.1 km
• Average gradient: 3.47%
• Maximum gradient: 11.51%
• Net elevation gain: 384 m
• Total ascent: 622 m
• Category: 3

Tenderfoot Pass is a Cat 3 that rewards riders who read past the average. Ride it on even effort, gear for the 11.51% ramp, and treat the 238 m of extra ascent as the real story of the day.