Date:         Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:45:27 -0700
Reply-To:     David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.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=iso-8859-1

It really depends on where you are going. HWy 80 is the easiest both east
and west bound. You will not need to shift above the 3rd gear. There are
always passing lanes when you are slowed down by climbing a hill. You will
pass almost every RV and big rig along the hwy.  But if your destination
is far south from HWY 80 then HWY 108 and HWY 120 will be the only two to
choose from.

If you decide to go through Yosemite I suggest you consider taking HWY
140 to enter Yosemite then connect to 120 (Tioga Pass) within Yosemite.
Taking this route is so much easier. The only steep section of the route
is in the eastern slope of the Tioga Pass. It is about a mile long or two
on the way back. I think you will need first gear to climb that slope.
But it did not take too long and you won't need to floor the pedal.

If you take 120 to enter Yosemite you have a summit to climb before
entering Yosemite. Then you have another on the Tioga Pass. I won't go
that way.

David



--- Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM> 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
>