A little ski trip report:

The wife and I took our two year-old up to Loveland Ski Area from Denver
yesterday; it was her first time skiing (she did GREAT!) and my wife wanted
to get some snowboard runs in, so we decided to take the Vanagon.

There was no wind and very little traffic on the approach to the mountains
from Highway 6/I-70, so I made it up Floyd Hill, which is the first major
grade into the mountains, at 55 MPH!  This is with an original 1.9 w/170k.
I don't know if it was the lack of weight with just my wife and I, our
daughter, and ski gear or what, but I've never gotten over that hump that
fast.

I did lose momentum a bit, but was able to get over more inclines at 45 MPH,
3rd gear, at around 4100 RPM.  For some reason, my Vanagon really wanted to
run yesterday.

I was feeling good about my new shocks and springs until we hit the valley
at Georgetown, where a wind gust exposed my 14" steel wheels and old BFG
Duelers as being useless.  I was wallowing all over the place, and was blown
onto the shoulder twice.  And, the power went away...I could only do 55
going downhill.  Weird.

I was actually happy when we hit the bumper-to-bumper traffic that nullifies
the climbing advantages of gigantic, powerful SUV's and little fleet
Subarus.

In the lot at Loveland, as other skiers cramped into their SUV's with all of
their gear in order to eat their sandwiches, or huddled against the wind in
lawn chairs under their hatchbacks, we popped the top, had a couple of
guests, and had a great lunch at the Weekender table.  As usual, I got
several compliments on the practicality of having a Vanagon up there.

I hate my loud tires, but was happy to be able to get through the slushly
parking lot at the end of the day.  I saw an old Bay Window loaded down with
snowboarders and gear get stuck in one of the lots.  I helped them push.  :)

My left head is leaking, which needs to be addressed, but every time I
consider upgrading my engine, the darn thing surprises me.

Joe T.
'85 Wolfsburg Westy
Denver, CO

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