Semi stopped near bottom of the hill. Much smoke.

Very true. But don't forget the supertruckers and cowboys! I've been shut down in Rawlins a few times over the years. Whenever they open the roadsback up, I'll sit for a couple of hours. Let those idiots that think they can do 90 mph on ice go first and see if they close the road again due to accidents.

 

I was told this sage piece of advise you can go down a hill a houndered times to slow but only once to fast. I live by that and make it down everytime.

 

Happens all the time on the Grapevine too...I come off the 35mph zone at about 30 due to 79800 in the tank..Just laugh as I see them either in the "sandbox" or when the CHP nails them coming around the curves. Just because there is a posted speed limit doesn't mean that is a safe speed for the weight you have on.

 

It all depends on CSP, Vail, and Summit SO as to how hard the work it. Learned recently that CSP statewide is 40% understaffed. 5 yrs ago they had 24 troopers to work I-70 Denver to Kansas, they now have 12 and are in a hiring freeze. Eagle loves to work the lower portion of 70 around the town of Eagle. There is one that sits in the median watching WB, he motorcarrier certified, he'll allow 5 over, at 6 over he'll pull you over, at 9 over he'll cite you and do an inspection. He works midnight to 8am.

 

Most newbies are scared to death of the grapevine and Vail to get too brave. I know I was and I ain't afraid to admit it! when I got to Denver I got out kissed the truck and the ground. and went and told the mechs the trailer needed new brakes and I needed new underwear. they all got a laugh out of that. first time down any of those is scary. especially when they tell you " just go down 1 gear lower than you went up !" except you go up different than you go DOWN. so slow and careful I go!

 

Another Okie from Muskogee!

I grew up there myself. Graduated from MHS in 1972 - it was still CENTRAL High School when I was a Sophomore and Junior. I was in the first MHS graduating class.

My brother still lives there.....works in the Maintenance Dept. at the hospital.

Yes, you learned about hills when you came out to Colorado. They are a little bit bigger than Horn Hill.

Sounds like you learned the most important lesson about going down the hill - one gear don't necessarily do the job. Better to go down slower than necessary than to go down faster than safety allows!

I went to CDL school here in Denver myself. And they even taught you that you just drop one gear lower than what you climbed up in. BAD instructor. BAD BAD!!!

I smoked mine once on I70 over in Utah west of Green River. Heading east.....nice lllloooooonnnnggggggg hill. I think I STILL have portions of the seat cover stuck in my ###! Once is all it takes to learn that lesson - the question is if you are lucky enough to survive the class.

 

The first time down Esienhower I was nervous. Since then I have been down that hill more times than I can count. I do remember that I went up and down it 8 times in one day so it is safe I got my practice going down that hill. Go slow and you can do it again, go fast and you end up like this guy,

 

Grapevine.....35 is too slow, but it's California and they do everything the ###### up way!