Heading out West again for 2016

agesilaus wrote:
Thousands of RVs make that drive every year, so it isn't that dangerous. But it has what rock climbers call exposure, you feel like it is dangerous. Mainly because you can see too much for some people. Especially if you are not used to that sort of road. 7% grade is just about standard on mountain roads and Hwy 12 in Utah has a 15% grade section and thousands of RVs make that trip every year.

If you feel nervous about driving a road like that, then don't. You might do something silly out of inexperience.

I was inoculated at an early age. We lived in Tucson and my father used to take us to Nogales and other spots like Tombstone. And that road was a rail-less and very steep road. You could see a number of crushed vehicles littering the slope.

I doubt that road exists anymore.

Comparing Utah Hwy 12 with 550 is like comparing apples and oranges. We've been on both and 550 is to be respected, as they all are actually. I'm not saying you aren't respecting it but it is definitely not for the newby mountain pass driver or one who is afraid of such drives. Being afraid can lead to costly mistakes. For us, it's one of those passes that if there's an alternate, we take it. We live in Idaho and go over passes frequently just for weekend camping, but we also play it safe too. When we go from our home to the Jackson, Wyoming area, we drive up through Alpine Junction, going around Teton Pass. Why? Because there's another viable route that would make our driving must more enjoyable.