I just went up (east) on cabbage yesterday. 78k kw t660. Heck of a pull. Hit snow at top. Ever been on us30 from new Berlin ny? Steep. 6th barely held me empty. Was told like 13-14% grades.
I would have never ran the Engine up so high on the RPM's if my Trainer had not shown me, and said that the Engine Braking works best with the Higher RPMs. We will allow the engine to get to a max of 2000 RPM's before Stab Braking to get us back below.
Love travelling across the 3 Sisters in Wyoming, and Parley's Summit above Salt Lake. I was shown once how to handle them, and have never been afraid of them.