Thinking about a tour

[babychadwick]

So I've been thinking a little bit, well maybe more than a little bit about a tour that would be an animal of a different nature. The basic thought is full immersion, clothing stays etc. While dressing the part is nothing new I was thinking something that would also be a test of man and machine. Something other than the scenic paved roads so often found that are quite beautiful, something where you would walk away with a sense of satisfaction knowing you accomplished it. For the challenge I have thought about it being a 10,000 ft tour due to at some point during the tour you will exceed 10,000 feet elevation! Due to the few roads that actually exceed 10,000 feet it is not something to be held every year but more once every 5 years with the first in say 2025. Im thinking the first one to be Yosemite and the second Pikes Peak.

Thoughts I had for 2025 are as follows, meet for the start around Sonora, CA where trailers/RV's could be parked for the duration. Drive up Sonora Pass (9400 feet or so) then cruise at elevation to Mono Lake area/Tioga pass (9900 feet) where we camp for the night in full canvas tents in excess of 10,000 feet. By camping I am thinking more "glamping" where there are beds stoves in the tents etc. in period (set up before hand).

After the night the next day we drop down Tioga pass into Yosemite where we stay at the historic Wawona hotel. After a night at the Wawona the next day is a drive out of the park back to Sonora where people can pick up trailers etc and go back home. Overall not that many miles per day but hard miles.

Opinions?

[Sarikatime]

That sounds like a nice tour. You should contact Steven Chase for ideas in the area since he organizes tours with the similar itinerary every year. Just a thought.

[TWrenn]

Does sound nice however at 10,000 feet the air gets thin, oxygen is less, so you'll need extra time to "acclimate"!

[babychadwick]

That sounds like a nice tour. You should contact Steven Chase for ideas in the area since he organizes tours with the similar itinerary every year. Just a thought.

I grew up there, old familiar ground

[Steve Jelf]

Isn't that route all paved?

[Sarikatime]

I live at 5500 feet elevation and we tour monthly at 7000 feet plus. Last month our fall tour went up to 9000 feet to see the changing of the leaves. My model T sure felt the thin air at the highest, especially when we were still climbing on dirt roads. Fun, fun, fun. Frank

[T4Tom]

I personally would not attempt this in a stock T. The drive up and over Sonora pass is one of my favorite routes but has many long, steep grades both up and down. I would be a nervous wreck driving a T with stock brakes and stock oiling system. Be prepared to stand on the low pedal for a looong time. I suggest making sure all participants are fully aware of the grades and twisting nature of the roads. Going over Sonora or Tioga pass is not like driving over Mt. Hamilton (a SCVMTC Endurance favorite)! The steepest sections of grade on Tioga road are 10.4% for a 1/4 mile and 8.6% for a mile and that would be driving uphill from highway 395. Highway 108 has grades up to 26% and that would be going downhill on your route! Remember, the west side of the Sierras is a relatively gentle climb. The east side drops like a rock. All the roads you show on your route are paved and are generally in great condition.

There is a significant amount of traffic along your route and not all that many places to pull over in the twisty bits to let cars pass so take that into consideration. I am not sure if any of these roads go through 10,000' elevation so if want to get that high. I drove 108 over Sonora Pass in June.

I drive 108 many times over the summer. It is a great road with even greater scenery and I love the Eastern Sierras. I was in the East Sierras two weeks ago. I haven't driven over Tioga pass in years since you have to pay $20 just to drive through Yosemite. $20 is not a lot of money but Yosemite and the roads though it are too crowded for my liking.

I have thought about a speedster endurance run going over Ebbetts, Sonora and Tioga passes. It would be a fantastic drive. I am actually starting to build engines and speedsters to do this. I am talking Rajo BB/BBR and Fronty SR. I think I would be able to relax and enjoy the ride in a very light car with big engines and even bigger brakes!

Chad, this would be great tour but please make sure people understand how steep and winding these roads are. These are serious mountain roads. Colorado has the highest passes in the continental US and I believe several Forum members have driven over some them. You might want to solicit their feedback on driving a T at on extreme roads. As a point of reference, the steepest section of grade on the Mt Evans Scenic Byway, the highest in the US, is 8.4% for a 1/4 mile. Yes, it's at higher altitudes than Sonora or Tioga but the grades are more gentle.

Have fun and be safe!
Tom

[babychadwick]

Very good input. This is not a tour for stockers and yes while it is paved there are some serious grades involved. I have driven a T over Sonora Pass so I know. Going in and out of Yosemite via old priest is another wild drive. Im assuming with what is involved the number of people gung ho enough to take on this challenge as it is a test of your T in many aspects will be less than a dozen. Nobody finds it fun to spend hours in low gear trying to climb a hill much less drive down. I know going down old priest it was a matter of bringing the car to a stop with the engine off and then letting it coast (engine off) in gear till the speed picked up at which time it was brought back to a stop and then go again.
The actual route I would like is Sonora area starting out, up over the pass and camping at 10000 feet, driving down the next day into Yosemite crashing at the wawona, Coming out with a detour into hetch hetchy and down old priest returning to Sonora area

[babychadwick]

Isn't that route all paved?

It's an elevation bit not a dirt track. Yes, dirt would be nice and I would try to find some but not guaranteed.

[T4Tom]

Chad, you could make the drive down Old Priest Grade a double-dog dare you bonus challenge for those who wish to test their bravery and brakes after making the drives over Sonora Pass and Tioga Pass.

I'd like to get more info on your drive over Sonora Pass. How was your T set up? I have been wanting to drive my speedster all through the High Sierras for a long time. I have friends who live along highways 4 and 108 and 120 is near by so I have several base camp choices That also gives me access to all of the beautiful roads in the Mother Load region and the Sierra foothills.

I am interested in this tour.

Tom

[Norman Kling]

It might work for younger people and good auxiliary brakes as well as Ruckstell or Warford transmissions. Would also need the lower geared rear ring and pinion gears and light weight cars such as roadsters. Also having camped there many years with a tent and a 49 Cadillac sedan, we had the food locked in the trunk of the car, but one of the power windows was broken and it was down all the time. When we got up in the morning, the back of the back seat was pulled forward and some hair and claw prints on a carton in the trunk, but the bear could not get to the food. However it left some scratches on the side where it slid down upon exiting. So you would need to be sure to have a secure place for your food if you sleep in a tent, and don't have any food at all inside the tent where you will be sleeping. Beside the car having an altitude problem, some of the older members might also need extra oxygen for the high altitudes.
Yosemite has some good roads for driving a T such as through the tunnel to Inspiration point and the road to glacier point. Last time I was there they only used a shuttle through mariposa grove of trees and in the valley floor. Mariposa or Oakhurst are good places to get a room. There are also housekeeping tent cabins in the valley. From them you will need to walk to the restroom at night, so if you get up a lot during the night, be prepared.
Norm

[babychadwick]

There are food lockers for food so not an issue. I can remember driving my T into Yosemite for Christmas. It isn't a tour for the weak but more the hard core that want a challenge.

[hull 433]

The 394 north of Mono is steep, then narrow, with few turnouts, especially along the Walker River. A great drive, but too busy to enjoy.

[walber]

I could be very tempted. Some primitive roads would be nice if they could be worked in. I've toured Colorado and Northern California several times. Speedster with Fronty, Chicago and 4 wheel brakes.

[DHarrison]

I like the idea and route, but it would be tough. In the 1930's the my Uncle Arnie, the former owner of my Model T. Would cut fire wood and bring it down old Priest Grade in a Model TT. He told me you had to use all the pedals to get it to stop.

[babychadwick]

I like the idea and route, but it would be tough.

Thats the idea . . .

Some primitive roads would be nice if they could be worked in. I've toured Colorado and Northern California several times. Speedster with Fronty, Chicago and 4 wheel brakes.

I would love to run over the passes on primitive roads but then you eliminate the passes and wind up with drive up a road and back down a road. I think tours for the local clubs have all those options. Maybe "Endurance test" is a better word than tour. In regard to camping there is a big difference between camping on the road and arriving at a staged camp for a night. As far as the headache of modern cars on the roads if your car isn't able to climb in high gear (ruxtel/warford, gearing etc) then this would not be a tour for you. Speed is down naturally to the hairpin grades but trying to do it with low gear just is crazy. Coming down yes the cars may build up a little but with turnouts it works, besides you can catch up to the modern cars at the bottom when their brakes are on fire.

[Norman Kling]

Another thing to consider is the location of the gas tank. All but the last two years had the tank under the front or back seat. If the gas is less than one half tank, maybe even higher on a very steep grade, the engine will kill and you will be rolling backwards. Some of the auxiliary brakes work well going forward, but not very well backward. That is the reason people used to back up hills in the old days. Very hard to back up a long grade especially with arthritis or other problems turning backward. Also holding the reverse pedal while going up the hill. On a long grade the front of the engine would not get much oil unless you go backward.
So maybe for the younger more daring drivers, this would be a challenge, but not for us old timers.
Norm