Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:56:39 -0700
Reply-To: B <oddstray@ODDSTRAY.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: B <oddstray@ODDSTRAY.COM>
Subject: Re: Least Steep Passes over the Sierra Nevadas? (for a stock
Vanagon Westy)?
In-Reply-To: <166489.16449.qm@web54303.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Hi,
S has taken Ebbetts Pass on his m'cycle. He says, "I understand!".
He reckons the freeway (Hwy 80 through Truckee and Donner Pass) would
be the least insane route, since truckers have to use it.
And, you have accurately grasped the geography of the Sierra. Imagine
a brick laying north-south that was pushed up under its east side.
That's the shape of the Sierra.
Some of the topographical software (for example 'Topo') will let you
create elevation profiles.
B&S
'87 Westy 'Esmerelda Blanc'
SoCal
On Jul 23, 2008, at 5:29 PM, Michael Hart wrote:
> I am planning a round trip loop through the Sierras in California
> starting next week (starting from the San Francisco Bay Area)
> The Sierras have gradual gradients going East, but coming back West
> is a different story. Last year I took Highway 4 (Ebert's Pass) both
> ways (most convenient for our planned destination), but the West
> direction is VERY steep (25% for the last mile close to the summit),
> so I was down to 1st gear in my fully loaded Westy (temperature
> gauge running at the high side on a very hot day > 100F and strange
> sounds coming from the engine/transmission). Also, the approach to
> Ebert's Pass from Highway 395 over Highway 89 (Monitor Pass) was
> pretty steep too.
> No apparent damage to the engine or transmission and since then I've
> had VolksCafe completely rebuild the cooling system (new radiator,
> stainless pipes, etc, etc.) [btw - great work by Peter at
> VolksCafe!], so I'm not too worried about overheating, but I'd
> rather not stress the engine so much again. Hence I will NOT be
> taking Ebert's Pass West again and need an alternate route.
>
> I've tried to find out the gradients of the other major passes,
> without success.
>
> So to my question - can someone tell me how steep Highway 88 (Carson
> Pass) is going West from the Lake Tahoe area? (I've driven this
> before, but not recently or in my Westy, you don't notice the hills
> quite so much in our other car, a 2.8liter V6 VW Jetta...). Any
> other ideas for the 'least steep pass' over the Sierras?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
> '87 Westy (stock 2.1l)
> '97 Jetta GTX (2.8l VR6)
> '00 Cabrio GLX
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