what are some of the steepest grades in N. America??

[DZink24]

i am a truck driver in upstate NY, so i was wondering what are some of the steepest grades you have all come across in your travels? reason i ask, is that there is a "big hill" on a state route in central NY, near the Watkins Glen speedway that is 7% over about a 2 mile span. trucks are allowed down it, but over 9 tons, are req'd to use a DOT pullover and do a brake check. there is another hill about an hour west of Buffalo that trucks are NOT allowed on under any circumstances, due to the sharp curve at the bottom, and a '70's era gasoline tanker rollover/explosion. to me, these are big hills, but i am sure to some of you westerners, these are ant hills. neither of these hills have sand traps along the way. last week i followed a crane down the 7% grade, and his brakes were smoking like a champ at the bottom! using my engine brake, i can travel the entire hill without hitting my brakes at all, and still keep around the 40 mph limit. Share!

 

[jgillott]

I've spent most of my time in the eastern half of the country, so I can't comment on the west specifically. I had an interesting experience on Rt. 50 out of Tahoe heading toward Sacramento once, but that is a story for a different day.

This is nothing to compare to what is out in the west, but here in the east, the one that I drive all the time that always makes me a little uncomfortable is Rt. 77 heading south out of Virginia in to NC. In the course of those few miles (I'm not positive of the specific grade), you drop from 3000+' down to something like 750' by the time you round that last sharp curve and get down to the NC welcome center rest area. More than once I've had drivers blow by me at the top where it doesn't look too bad, only to find them it the bottom with really hot brakes. I've unfortunately wittnessed at least two truck fires at the bottom of the hill due to it. It's just one of those hills that will get you if you don't respect it for what it is, even though it looks innocent.

 

[ScottLewis]

Can't remember what state or highway, but I towed my RV down one somewhere back east that had a 10MPH speed limit downhill, with LEO's patrolling everywhere. Because my exhaust brake doesn't work below about 20, I had to use service brakes all the way. I stopped about half way to let 'em cool. Many grades in the west at 7% or better. I usually turn off overdrive on about a 6%. 11K fifth wheel.

 

[SHobbs]

Leaving Lake City Colorado headed south on 149 you encounter a 9% grade headed up Slumgullion Pass.

 

[Simplysmn]

I was going to say i think Colorado has the biggest out west the 1 off I70 is 10,000 ft I think ? correct me if I'm wrong but I know it's close

 

[Bill Stockard]

Leaving Lake City Colorado headed south on 149 you encounter a 9% grade headed up Slumgullion Pass.

Try it the other way... driving CO149 north from Creede to Lake City with the downgrades and sharp switchbacks coming down the north side of Slumgulliomn Pass while looking at the canyon floor several thousand feet below. Been there, done that without an exhaust brake.

Bill

 

[Bill Stockard]

The steepest grades I've seen are on CA state highways crossing the Sierras. Sonora Pass comes to mind...



Bill

 

[EMAC2]

Asheville on I-40 around Black Mountain has three truck run off spots, and they have been used quite a bit. Pretty steep, I can't remember the grade. Next time I go I'll get the percentage... .

 

[EMAC2]

Asheville on I-40 around Black Mountain has three truck run off spots, and they have been used quite a bit. Pretty steep, I can't remember the grade. Next time I go I'll get the percentage... .

 

[JR]

West virginia certainly has its fair share of nasty hills, esp once you get off the main roads and on to the secondary roads. We go down there once a year to go fourwheeling i haul my 22 foot tilt trailer and some of those roads are so narrow i swear if im not running the passenger side trailer tires on the yellow line my drivers side is over the center line. Bieng the trailer is wider than the truck this gets real hairy! Absolutely no shoulders, guardrails if your lucky, and sharp switchback roads. Grades may only be 5 to 8 percent, but coupled with everything else makes it hairy. Esp with the locals that know the roads they drive way faster than me and theyre either tryin to pass you on a 200 yard straightaway or you meet em comin around the corner theyre in your lane and you have nowhere to go. The place we camp at the road going in is so steep you cant even use your cup holders, the first time we headed up i had a cofee sitting in and it fell out! 1st gear 4 lo for about a mile and a half of washed out dirt road. 2 wheel drive trucks really struggle ive seen em get stuck going up and have to get pulled up by the landowners tractor. The ride downs the same way 1st gear 4lo and still gotta use the brakes.

 

[Wertles]

i am a truck driver in upstate NY, so i was wondering what are some of the steepest grades you have all come across in your travels? reason i ask, is that there is a "big hill" on a state route in central NY, near the Watkins Glen speedway that is 7% over about a 2 mile span. trucks are allowed down it, but over 9 tons, are req'd to use a DOT pullover and do a brake check. there is another hill about an hour west of Buffalo that trucks are NOT allowed on under any circumstances, due to the sharp curve at the bottom, and a '70's era gasoline tanker rollover/explosion. to me, these are big hills, but i am sure to some of you westerners, these are ant hills. neither of these hills have sand traps along the way. last week i followed a crane down the 7% grade, and his brakes were smoking like a champ at the bottom! using my engine brake, i can travel the entire hill without hitting my brakes at all, and still keep around the 40 mph limit. Share!

I love that hill in Watkins glen. When towing the 5er, I put the transmission in 2nd and let it lock up for the whole hill. Coming down is much slower. I'd hate to lose brakes and try to make that intersection.

 

[BrandonF]

Old priest grade out of moccasin into big oak flat, it is so steep that they made new priest grade on the other side of the canyon and closed old priest to all truck traffic. I have talked to old loggers that had to use it, they said it was pretty western... .

 

[mwilson]

Old priest grade out of moccasin into big oak flat, it is so steep that they made new priest grade on the other side of the canyon and closed old priest to all truck traffic. I have talked to old loggers that had to use it, they said it was pretty western... .

A couple of videos showing Old Priest.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94EKYyavD90



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8h2BQMn8qE



Mike.

 

[Mark31]

DFL, your switchbacks remind me of the back road I got on one night in the Tenn/NC border area: It was so bad I could look in the rear view mirror and see my headlights coming up behind me. Mark

 

[JMetzger]

I think that one of the steepest grades is Eisenhower Pass west of Denver, CO on I-70. Gone over it many times.

 

[BarryG]

There are many 7% grades in CO. Eisenhower (just a tad over 11k), Wolf Creek etc the thing out here is that some of them last for 10 miles or more. There are some steeper I have run across several out here that are 14% on paved roads. You hit the dirt/gravel and well there is no telling what you might hit as they just dont sign them and I have found some as stated above the best course of action is to hit 4 low but then again you wont find any big trucks on them either with the possible exception of a whiteknuckled logger.

 

[DZink24]

i'm not too good at math- how do they measure grade? would the picture of the 26% grade mean it drops 26 feet in elevation for every 100 linear feet?

 

[JR]

I believe it is the change in altitude divided by the distance. So yes, i think you got it.

 

[kcv67]

Yes it does mean that you drop 26 feet for 100 feet or 260 feet for every 1000 feet.



Casey

 

[SHobbs]

Try it the other way... driving CO149 north from Creede to Lake City with the downgrades and sharp switchbacks coming down the north side of Slumgulliomn Pass while looking at the canyon floor several thousand feet below. Been there, done that without an exhaust brake.



Bill

Yes sir, it is a fun ride both ways.