Originally Posted by
volosong
I know! I know. I'm a wimp. The ski lifts at Baldy. Not too long of a climb, just four miles or so. Took the car up last year, just to scope it out, and some of those ramps were pretty steep. Glad I had the "powerful" car because I don't think my 74-hp diesel would have made it up. I've also been wanting to do Tioga from Lee Vining to the park entrance, but expect that a 34-30 or 34-28 would be plenty for that one. It's not really all that steep.
Wimp? That climb kicks my arse every time! There is only one section that eases up a bit, and the top section (in the parking lot) is so steep, skiers call it the "bowling alley" because even with chains, cars find themselves sliding down the hill, brakes locked.
That hill ripped apart the ToC competitors last year. No shame in wanting the right gears for that climb!
Hard to say which one is worse ... that or Deer Creek. Deer is a little more unrelenting, but the Ski Lifts has the Bowling Alley.
They both kick my butt!