Driving a semi up and down mountains is the most dangerous part of my job. Fortunately, you only needs to be aware of the dangers and make the necessary adjustments to avoid them. Then, the beauty of the mountainscapes can be enjoyed. Of course, the best way to enjoy them is while KC is driving and we have daylight.
Heading up a mountain is pretty easy. With a full load, the whole deal can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. The only problem here is that our truck will likely go only 25 miles an hour with that much weight once momentum is lost. It's really not a problem and it's easier to look around. Add snow, however, and this can be a problem. My first time doing this was heading uphill in northern California on I-5 with my trainer. It wasn't snowing at the bottom and chains were not required. Well, it was snowing A LOT towards the top and the wheels started to spin. Having grown up on a hill, I knew what I needed to do...keep going. Unfortunately, about a quarter of a mile from the top, I let the RPMs get too high and the engine automatically shifted to the next gear (by the way our truck has an automatic transmission), causing a hesitation - then no more forward movement. My trainer got behind the wheel, but still no go. About five minutes later this contraption came up behind us. It looked like a tractor with HUGE wheels and two long vertical bars in the front. It simply pushed us up and over.
Now we're headed downhill with my trainer behind the wheel...OK by me! Downhill is the dangerous part, even without snow. Apparently brakes on the new trucks are much better than they used to be, but you still have to find a gear that's low enough where you don't have to brake, or at least not break very often. The brakes can overheat and lose air pressure if used too much and malfunction. The thought of using one of those runaway truck ramps is not appealing. I always wonder if I could keep the truck on the road and not hit someone in front of me and make it to the darn thing. I really don't understand why they are needed because trucks have Spring Breaks, a really clever devise.
You probably know that trucks have air brakes, so air pressure is used to make them work. The air pressure is always holding back the Spring Breaks, so if the air pressure fails, the Spring Breaks - which are mechanical - come on (no air to hold them back). I imagine it would be a rather violent stop, but I figure any stop at that point would be most welcome. I hope we never find out.
Now downhill in the snow just means go v-e-r-y slow, hopefully enough that you seldom need to break. With a steep grade and a full load I find I need to use the breaks often...a bit scary. Another thing to be careful of while heading down (you too) is to keep an eye out behind you for a vehicle who is having brake failure.
This past winter (my third, KC's second) we put chains on the truck for the first time. Sometimes the DOT makes us put on chains before heading up a mountain. Or, we can sit at the bottom until the roads are clear and they're no longer required. This can cost us since we get paid by the mile. It was much easier than I thought it would be and we feel very "sure-footed” with them on. We don't go over 25 MPH or they can damage the tires. Truckers fondly refer to this practice as “slinging iron.”
The mountains out West are so beautiful. I think a lot has to do with their size. Many have towering pines, especially pretty with snow. Some have mountain lakes along the top ridges that look so clean and smooth. The feet of some mountains have canyons with streams running along the expressway, rushing around rocks and curved banks. I was able to enjoy the bright moon peeking in and out of the peaks while I drove the last two times it was full. And, I always try to stop at a rest area and get out to look at the stars with little or no light pollution. It's breathtaking, spiritual.I enjoy all of the mountains, but my favorite "mountains" are still the ones in southwestern Pennsylvania - they will always feel like home.
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