"This Car DIDN'T Climb Mt. Washington"

HappyPig · 09-09-2007, 09:07 AM

A couple of friends of ours who also have a Prius just came back from the White Mountains in New Hampshire last weekend. While there, they were turned away from driving on the Mt. Washington auto-road by the rangers. There was a discussion about the car on this road this a few years ago on PC (specifically aaf709 saying that they had heard of Priuses going up the road). However, this now has changed because of concerns for CVT on the way down. There's a post on the road's blog:

"This is the first year that we have started to see many problems with the Toyota Hybrid vehicles that have the CVT transmission and until we can evaluate why we felt it was prudent to restrict their use on the Auto Road as a safety precaution. We have added these vehicles to the "Vehicle Limitations" page on the Auto Road site."

http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/mod..._comment-1.html

Anyway, I don't think this is a major loss. Hopefully most people would agree that cars shouldn't be up on the top of a mountain in the first place. But I was wondering what people's thoughts were on the CVT going up and down a "[...] 12 percent average grade, a sustained stretch at 18 percent, and the wall-like 22 percent grade in the final 50 yards."

http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/ind...%20Road%20Theme

Tom6850 · 09-09-2007, 09:38 AM

I don't know enough about the transmission to comment. However, after having been to the summit of Mt Washington there is no use taking any chances on the way down or going up for that matter.

In talking with the rangers they said that quite a few people after reaching the summit refuse to drive back down. In that case the drivers of the tour vans take turns driving their cars back down for a price, with most occupants on the floor of the back seat so that they don't have to look out at the drop offs.

It is a neat place to visit, either by driving up or taking the cog railroad.

donee · 09-09-2007, 09:39 AM

Hi Happy...,

Whelp, they do not let Hummer H1's or H2's on that road either, or any pickup trucks with extended cabs, and/or dualie rear ends. Seems like poetic justice!

Here is a link: http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/Page-23.html

Seems like many Prii have done Mt. Washington. Here is another link:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...92;.+Washington

One driver recommended full AC to get additional braking.

**efusco** · 09-09-2007, 12:43 PM

Never been on the road, but I can't see why there'd be any more concern about the Prius CVT than there would about any other vehicle's transmission. My money would be on the Prius CVT to be a lot less likely to fail than a conventional tranny.

David Beale · 09-09-2007, 12:49 PM

Ridiculous!

I have driven Pearl on the "Duffy Lake" portion of highway 99 in British Columbia with no problems. It has 18% grades and a total of about 3500 ft of elevation change over 10-15 mi. Just use the "B" mode and it's fine going down. Had no problem going up either. Ditto for a few other mountain passes. For example, highway 3 from Princeton to Hope. Not as steep but two passes to go over.

It's the driver who has the problem, not the car!

Godiva · 09-09-2007, 01:19 PM

Let's see if I understand this.

You drive forward up the mountain. Then you have to back up the entire way back down?

No thanks. I'm not disappointed I'm banned.

I'm sure there's some sort of tour when I can pay someone else to take me up and bring me back if I *really* have to see the top of the mountain. Which I don't.

h2photo · 09-09-2007, 01:39 PM

but isnt Mt Washington only like 6000ft? DH & I took our Prius up Sandia Peak in NM (10,000ft) & had no problems what-so-ever. maybe Im missing something

**TonyPSchaefer** · 09-09-2007, 01:41 PM

I've climbed Mt Washington. Drive a Prius up it, no way.

Beautiful view, though.

HappyPig · 09-09-2007, 01:45 PM

It's the grade (22% at the end), the elevation gain and the narrowness of the road. The weather can also be a huge complication, as it has the highest *recorded* wind speed (231 mph) in the world.

There's also a bike race up it (the one day a year it's open to cyclists)

http://www.mtwashingtonbicyclehillclimb.or...About-This-Race

Malarkey · 09-09-2007, 01:55 PM

I've been up it many times - usually via Cog Railway, but have hiked it more than once (both methods are excellent experiences). Great place, a staple of my childhood.

I've gone up in cars a few times and only attempted the drive once. Got about two thirds up and my wife (fiancee at the time) couldn't take it.. she's pretty much fearless but she was actually shaking. Never saw anything like that from her, before or since. You see, there's not much of a buffer between you and the drop, which is huge in some places. There are spots where there's a few feet of road and a sheer drop without anything but some bushes to keep you from falling. Much of it has a side rail of sorts, but not all.

You don't drive down backwards - but you often see cars pulling over to let their brakes cool. Even in low gear it's brutal.

Not sure they should ban cars, but I wouldn't suggest anyone drive up it - the Cog is just so nice.

Highest recorded winds on Earth (around 230MPH), 6200+ feet, the place is amazing and dangerous. Here's a concise list of deaths since 1849 in the area, just to brighten up the thread:

Surviving on Mt Washington

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09-09-2007, 09:07 AM	#1
HappyPig Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lyme, New Hampshire Posts: 24 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	A couple of friends of ours who also have a Prius just came back from the White Mountains in New Hampshire last weekend. While there, they were turned away from driving on the Mt. Washington auto-road by the rangers. There was a discussion about the car on this road this a few years ago on PC (specifically aaf709 saying that they had heard of Priuses going up the road). However, this now has changed because of concerns for CVT on the way down. There's a post on the road's blog: "This is the first year that we have started to see many problems with the Toyota Hybrid vehicles that have the CVT transmission and until we can evaluate why we felt it was prudent to restrict their use on the Auto Road as a safety precaution. We have added these vehicles to the "Vehicle Limitations" page on the Auto Road site." http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/mod..._comment-1.html Anyway, I don't think this is a major loss. Hopefully most people would agree that cars shouldn't be up on the top of a mountain in the first place. But I was wondering what people's thoughts were on the CVT going up and down a "[...] 12 percent average grade, a sustained stretch at 18 percent, and the wall-like 22 percent grade in the final 50 yards." http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/ind...%20Road%20Theme

09-09-2007, 09:38 AM	#2
Tom6850 Retired Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Macungie, Pa Posts: 891 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I don't know enough about the transmission to comment. However, after having been to the summit of Mt Washington there is no use taking any chances on the way down or going up for that matter. In talking with the rangers they said that quite a few people after reaching the summit refuse to drive back down. In that case the drivers of the tour vans take turns driving their cars back down for a price, with most occupants on the floor of the back seat so that they don't have to look out at the drop offs. It is a neat place to visit, either by driving up or taking the cog railroad.

09-09-2007, 09:39 AM	#3
donee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,401 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi Happy..., Whelp, they do not let Hummer H1's or H2's on that road either, or any pickup trucks with extended cabs, and/or dualie rear ends. Seems like poetic justice! Here is a link: http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/Page-23.html Seems like many Prii have done Mt. Washington. Here is another link: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...92;.+Washington One driver recommended full AC to get additional braking.

09-09-2007, 12:43 PM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 12,933 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	Never been on the road, but I can't see why there'd be any more concern about the Prius CVT than there would about any other vehicle's transmission. My money would be on the Prius CVT to be a lot less likely to fail than a conventional tranny.

09-09-2007, 12:49 PM	#5
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,343 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ridiculous! I have driven Pearl on the "Duffy Lake" portion of highway 99 in British Columbia with no problems. It has 18% grades and a total of about 3500 ft of elevation change over 10-15 mi. Just use the "B" mode and it's fine going down. Had no problem going up either. Ditto for a few other mountain passes. For example, highway 3 from Princeton to Hope. Not as steep but two passes to go over. It's the driver who has the problem, not the car!

09-09-2007, 01:19 PM	#6
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,024 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Let's see if I understand this. You drive forward up the mountain. Then you have to back up the entire way back down? No thanks. I'm not disappointed I'm banned. I'm sure there's some sort of tour when I can pay someone else to take me up and bring me back if I really have to see the top of the mountain. Which I don't.

09-09-2007, 01:39 PM	#7
h2photo Turning greener day byday Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 408 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	but isnt Mt Washington only like 6000ft? DH & I took our Prius up Sandia Peak in NM (10,000ft) & had no problems what-so-ever. maybe Im missing something

09-09-2007, 01:41 PM	#8
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 7,688 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 14	I've climbed Mt Washington. Drive a Prius up it, no way. Beautiful view, though.

09-09-2007, 01:45 PM	#9
HappyPig Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lyme, New Hampshire Posts: 24 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It's the grade (22% at the end), the elevation gain and the narrowness of the road. The weather can also be a huge complication, as it has the highest recorded wind speed (231 mph) in the world. There's also a bike race up it (the one day a year it's open to cyclists) http://www.mtwashingtonbicyclehillclimb.or...About-This-Race

09-09-2007, 01:55 PM	#10
Malarkey Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 117 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've been up it many times - usually via Cog Railway, but have hiked it more than once (both methods are excellent experiences). Great place, a staple of my childhood. I've gone up in cars a few times and only attempted the drive once. Got about two thirds up and my wife (fiancee at the time) couldn't take it.. she's pretty much fearless but she was actually shaking. Never saw anything like that from her, before or since. You see, there's not much of a buffer between you and the drop, which is huge in some places. There are spots where there's a few feet of road and a sheer drop without anything but some bushes to keep you from falling. Much of it has a side rail of sorts, but not all. You don't drive down backwards - but you often see cars pulling over to let their brakes cool. Even in low gear it's brutal. Not sure they should ban cars, but I wouldn't suggest anyone drive up it - the Cog is just so nice. Highest recorded winds on Earth (around 230MPH), 6200+ feet, the place is amazing and dangerous. Here's a concise list of deaths since 1849 in the area, just to brighten up the thread: Surviving on Mt Washington