right kinda long but not too steep.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
>Sent: Jul 23, 2008 7:03 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Least Steep Passes over the Sierra Nevadas? (for a stock              Vanagon Westy)?
>
>Donner is probably least steep [in the northern end of the state, has the
>most help available.
>
>Mike
>
>
>On 7/23/08 5:29 PM, "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

Have a nice Day :)