Dexter axel brake up grade

I think the H6 still used a traditional automatic for a while longer than the 4 cyl. It now comes with a CVT however per the Subaru website. Hard to say what the OP has without them saying. That would help. I'm not sure how much worse a CVT is for holding speed downhill, it may have issues like you say Bryan. Regardless, no braking upgrades will hold up down a long mountain grade, you will overheat regardless. I would recommend the OP find the biggest longest hill they can find for testing purposes (might need to leave Ohio) before they go to Alaska or any large mountains again. If they cannot successfully use engine braking to hold their speed down a long steep grade, they really need a different vehicle. Hopefully this is not the case. I never even thought about a CVT possibly causing this issue. Upgraded brakes would still come in handy for emergency stopping needs, so maybe not a waste completely.