Yes. If you enter Colorado, make sure to negotiate Wolf Creek pass if you
need to get over the Rockies...It's the kindest of them and the views are
great. I-70 West is brutal since it is a major route for truckers who are
not sympathetic to VW vans in the slow lane (my brother-in-law is a roadie
for the Eagles, and says the truckers call VW vans "moving gaurd-rails").
Funny, but not that funny.

If I were taking that drive, I'd take I-40 through New Mexico and Arizona if
going to the southern states. Up north, I-80 is a good bet if heading to
Northerly states. SW USA is a sublime region. If you can make it a
destination you would be well rewarded by spectacular skies and great
feeling of open space.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Earl" <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 8:46 AM
Subject: ny to ca

> Shaggy wrote: << I'm going to be driving my 82' Diesel
> westy out with her, any suggestions for which route is
> good for a diesel to drive cross country? >>
>
> The primary physical obstacle on such a trip -- for
> any Westy, but more so for a diesel -- is the Rocky
> Mountain range. And the mountain passes on some of the
> northern routes are significantly lower than those on
> the southern highways. At Butte, MT, for example, I-90
> crests the Continental Divide at only 5549 feet ASL.
> Compare to I-70 which crosses the Divide west of
> Denver at somewhere closer to 11 or 12,000 feet.
>
> Of course, on a recent trip to the American Southwest,
> our 20-year-old diesel Westy negotiated Wolf Creek
> Pass in Colorado -- elev. 10,850 -- in second and
> third gears. We crested a couple other lower but
> steeper mountain passes which other Westy-owners were
> later surprised to learn we had accomplished, so it
> certainly can be done.
>
> Interstate highways usually offer more gradual
> inclines -- both up and down -- and often have passing
> lanes to help keep you out of the way of other
> motorists. Smaller, state highways are probably
> steeper, but are often more interesting and scenic.
>
> Either way, you've got a long and boring drive across
> the Great Plains states. Might wanna do it at night to
> avoid heavy traffic and stiff headwinds. Just keep a
> sixer of JOLT! Cola next to your seat and keep yer
> eyes on the road ...
>
>
> "OK, I'll leave it at that since I've already gone on
> for far too long about something I don't know a whole
> lot about ..."
>
> Jeffrey Earl
> 1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
>
>
>
>
>
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