Five Years In The Making

[opus10583]

Hi,

It took me a while, but I made it - up and back:

[ORFORD2004]

Made it by car. They also give me a sticker said that car climb Mt Washington but I decide to never install it.
And by foot couples times. Long day.

[brackie1]

No, it's "Fine Italian Automotive Transportation ".

[RRoller123]

Feline, Italian, And Topless.

[opus10583]

Made it by car. They also give me a sticker said that car climb Mt Washington but I decide to never install it.
And by foot couples times. Long day.

Upon my first "character building" Spider-wrought experience I declared a goal...

I drove home from NH with the big-ass sticker covering my left bumper, it came off today. They sell a 1"x4" magnet version now, I tacked that on.

I hiked it, Tuckerman Ravine, 35year ago; I was more tired this time.

Thanks,
Mark

[DieselSpider]

The old one that had a strand of wire on each end to wrap around your bumper worked quite well at least on old style cars that had steel bumpers. It was beneficial to car buyers when they saw it on there too. Needs, brakes, transmission work and has recently overheated was the message.

Hiked and camped out there in my youth. Camped once after labor day and saw it get to 36 below at night which made the canvas tent a bear to roll up in the morning. Thought is was going to shatter. Those mountain storms could whip up Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam with a 6 foot chop that would require a stout boat to handle. Had the lake patrol follow my 40 year old 18 foot Ipswitch boat in once because the 25 foot Whaler Skiff they were in was taking it all in over the open bow so that the crew of 3 was bailing with buckets. Beautiful but dangerous country up there.

Castle in the Clouds is a nice ride too and interesting destination. Ran up there in a 35 foot motor home taking the back service road which was under construction at the time. All loose dirt and you had to share the road weaving around the construction equipment driving up through loose fill. Some tour buses were stuck in that mess.

[AriK]

Opus how did the Spider handle the uphill in terms of engine heat? How hot was it that day? Which gears were you in up & down? Is low gear good enough on the way down or are you constantly on the brakes?
Might be a future Spider roadtrip is why. (if i'm brave enough)

[ORFORD2004]

Engine heat is not a problem and you use 2 or 3 to go up. You go down on 1 or 2 and you have place to stop to cool the brake.

[opus10583]

Opus how did the Spider handle the uphill in terms of engine heat? How hot was it that day? Which gears were you in up & down? Is low gear good enough on the way down or are you constantly on the brakes?
Might be a future Spider roadtrip is why. (if i'm brave enough)

The weather was clear and warm, Aug 9th; Hot in the lowlands throughout New England, comfortable at the summit, Changes due to weather had me arriving at the toll house ~2pm, do it earlier if you can - the summit gets crowded with hikers in the afternoon. Traffic was an issue both ways; I was never in the right gear, typically too low each way. I could have done both up and down faster. Despite that, the engine ran fine, no heat issues.

Absent traffic I wouldn't have needed the brakes at all, they were never an issue (EBC Green pads) though they did get warm to the nose toward the base.

The road is plenty wide enough for a Spider, it's the meatpuppets in the trucks and minivans who make it dangerous for everyone.

Thanks,
Mark

[AriK]

Thanks for the info and great advice guys! Sounds like quite the road trip. I've done similar elevations in the Austrian Alps by bicycle, all day to ascend, 20 minutes to descend. I tend to think it would be a tad more stressful with the Spider in regards with the age of the car, but breathtaking nonetheless.

[ORFORD2004]

If you want a quick look of the road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BZh-7hkNe4

[AriK]

It never occurred to me that it could be permitted to become a rally route. These guys can complete the course in a fifth of the time than I'd expect in my Spider. Thanks for sharing.