Donner Pass - Help?

I only went thru there once when there was snow, Kept it slow and in a low gear. Not as steep as some roads in even the state of ME. I can't remember what Goat trail I was on in ME, but I'll take the Donner over that anytime.

 

i grew up on that mountain
during a good storm you can get a foot of snow in an hour and this can go on all night
to get 3 - 4 feet of snow in an evening isnt uncommon
when i was a kid i was a diesel jockey at sierra sids ( i believe that is now the TA in sparks - correct me if i am wrong)
alot of guys will wait the storm out rather then try getting over the hill when it is bad
you can be behind the plow one minute and buried again the next
the picture that was posted is a regular event up there...that picwas not a once in a life time storm
sierra sids used to have a wall with pictures of accidents that occured up there...rather intimidating but if you take it easy and do as the signs say youll get over it just fine
youll also see some guys blowing by you at high rates of speed...i wouldnt take part in that even once you get to know the road

 

Colorado has REAL Mnts. The ones in Cal are a joke any rooky can do in his sleep. Biggest problem with Donner is the other idiot on it. 4-wheelers and scared little bunnies who think it's some big bad mnt.

 

The problem with Donner is it's a roller-coaster where Vail is grade, break, grade, break.

When it's clear and dry and I'm 80K gross, I'm not about to keep up those other drivers who must have better brakes, thicker tires, more gears ect.....
All I know is that I get down the grade without smoking the brakes or shifting the loads like I seen the super-truckers do time and time again.

The same drivers who get on the CB and call the other drivers who go down easy "wusses", are also the same ones singing the blues down by the scales.

 

There are not goat trails in Maine... Goats won't live there. LMAO... but as with every thing there will always be some place else that is worse for one reason or another. I think alot has to do with what a driver is used to driving... any road that is subject to icy conditions is dangerous no mater where you at.

 

I went thru there 1 time, in the summer. I thought my ears were going to explode. Guess I should have chewed gum.

 

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m160/goatworks/ATT6751650.jpg That has to be the worse!

 

I rate it as less stupid but still stupid. We're talking heavy stormage and layers of ice not the light stuff you don't need to sweat the small stuff (when mostly fully loaded). If the Anchor is saying feet not inches don't do it. If you know it's gonna dump get through it before or after never during the main course especially if the scrapers haven't attacked it and there is ice. Always check your weather sources so you know what came before and what might come after if you decide to wait a minute. The 511 and the Chain Up signs can sometimes be delayed by as much as 12hrs as to what is actually going on right now.

I learned the hard way and got a ticket for my troubles (inability to stop for the weigh station or something equally stupid while rolling with a full set on). My New Years Rez is I ain't driving if I have to put on chains 'cause any mishaps will come back to get you simply because by putting the chains on you acknowledged that conditions are seriously bad and know they are only to get you temporarily to safety not make your delivery on-time.

 

That's in Maine??? That loos like a shot of a road in Peru I think I saw on the Discovery Chanel. Holly Cow Batman! Do you remember where you were, when you took that pic?