Stuart,
I've done hurricane ridge and passes in CO. Worst grade I recall was Lizard Head pass outside Telluride.  That was 2nd gear for six or eight miles.  I can do hurricane mostly in 3rd. 

Karl Wolz
85 Westy with 2.1 standard tranny
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Oct 16, 2012, at 10:58 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Yes, but slowly.  Those guys in Colorado don't have anything over us in the
> NW!  I took my worn out '85 up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park
> this summer.  That's a 5200 foot climb from sea level in 17 miles.  There
> were a fair number of passing lanes and viewpoints to turn off into, but I
> was in first gear for most of it.  That's about 30 mph at 4000 rpm, and I
> really could not get above that rpm.  I was sub-consciously hoping it would
> blow up so I'd be forced to replace it with a Subaru, but no such luck (I
> have free towing, and that was the last trip of the summer.)
> 
> I saw a bumper sticker on the back of Vanagon (tin top with some sort of
> engine conversion even) recently that read "Pass with care" and had the VW
> logo on it!  I need one of those.  I have a photo if anyone would like to
> reproduce it, or maybe I will with Café Press. 
> 
> I've learned in 35 years of driving VW vans that it doesn't matter how much
> power you have or how fast you are going, everyone wants to pass you, and no
> one will let you pass them.  Everyone knows we are slugs, just get over it.
> It's just those **$%*## semi drivers 3 feet off your rear that I wish ill
> upon.  Oh, the James Bond Aston Martin fantasies I have!
> 
> Stuart
> '85 Westy, auto
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Spencer Allen
> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 8:35 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Kens trip & can Westys climb mountains?
> 
> After reading Ken Wilfords great trip report of his travels across the U S
> of A I started thinking about the trip to some of the same areas my family
> took in our then new 1985 GL. There were 4 adults and 3 kids with the van
> packed for 2 wekks of travel. We flew across the flat lands but when we hit
> the mountains of Colorado we were almost rolling backwards by the time we
> crested some of the steeper mountain roads. We were in the truck lanes and
> even they were honking at us to get out of the way. This was a manual trans
> so I was constantly stirring the stick to find the right gear. I want to go
> back to Colorado next year in my 85 auto trans Westy but am worried about a
> climbing those mountains in a 1.9 auto trans. Can you guys share your westys
> in the mountain driving experience. Thanks.
> Spencer