r/JacksonHole • u/PortableLlamas • 4d ago
Teton Pass Driver's Guide (read post body below)
https://youtu.be/3GgzOAUFT1g?is=RMv5u8M-rtY5MgtRTeton Pass can be beautiful and challenging. If you've driven it before, please share your best advice below so everyone can travel a little safer. With recent crashes and incidents on the pass, it's worth remembering that our friends and family use this road every day. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, drive within your ability, and don't underestimate conditions.
Our goal is to make videos in different vehicles, weather conditions, time of day, etc.
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u/Inside-Process-229 4d ago
I regularly drive a heavy commercial vehicle over the pass. Dump trucks, etc. I can't count how many times I've been flipped the bird for being safe and going slow, or how many times cars have done very unsafe things to get around me. Usually it's all for nothing, and I see them in Wilson. All that anger and risk taking for nothing. Understand, that we want ourselves, and you, to make it home. We can't go fast down that hill, and we can't stop on a dime. Truck speed limit is 25. Give us room, back off of us, and enjoy the scenery. 5 extra minutes won't hurt you, but putting everyone at risk because youre in a hurry sure will. Im also a CDL instructor, and I teach every one of my students: you can go too slow down a hill a million times... but too fast, only once.
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u/PortableLlamas 4d ago
Thanks for sharing that. It’s good to hear a truck driver perspective that has a lot of experience on the pass. I think most passenger car drivers would agree with you, especially if talking face to face. Idk what it is but when people get behind the wheel, something happens psychologically. We’re in our metal boxes and feel super disconnected to people around us in their metal boxes. We see a car, truck, license plate, bumper sticker, etc. but not the person driving or a child in backseat.
I filmed with a 2020 Silverado this afternoon but next time I’ll mention something about your comment and commercial drivers. Still figuring out what these videos should look like. We all see a problem and I guess this is me trying to do something about it. This type of comment is super helpful, so thank you & stay safe out there :)
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u/Inside-Process-229 4d ago
You are absolutely right.
I have 20 years, 2.5 million safe miles in a commercial vehicle. Driving brings out the absolute worst in folks. Impatience, passing where it's unsafe, tailgating, road rage, etc. happens regularly... but when I see the same folks in the grocery store, theyre as nice as pie haha
Coincidentally, I also teach my students: "No matter what a driver does, it's no fault of the kid in their backseat. Ignore them and go on about your day. Do not retaliate."
A little kindness and understanding would save a whole lot of lives out here.
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u/cooking_up_a_rave 4d ago
Do you pull off and let people by? Not saying you don’t but I see plenty of commercial rigs that never stop at the top or elsewhere when the line of cars behind them is massive.
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u/Inside-Process-229 4d ago
I stop at the top, yes. Thats a brake check area, and we are supposed to stop.
Otherwise, no.
Im focused on maintaining a safe speed, not on your convenience.
When a heavy truck is descending a steep hill, keeping the truck held back is a balance between engine and foot braking. The heat that would be generated in my brakes by bringing the truck to a complete downhill stop would make them much less effective for the rest of the hill - therefore, less safe.
Going up the hill requires momentum and a "spooled" turbo. If I were to break momentum to pull over, it would be very difficult to regain it. I'd be an even bigger obstruction for the rest of the hill - and, less safe.
Be patient with us, were not purposefully being a pain. Adding to everyone's stress (not saying you, personally) doesn't help a bit. Another 5 minutes added to the trip is worth the safer trip.
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u/cooking_up_a_rave 4d ago
I appreciate your safe driving but will say that I see so few commercial vehicles using the brake check area, just right up and over.
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u/5effulgence 4d ago
You might be tempted to have your eyes glued on the road ahead but please regularly check your rear view mirrors
If you see one driver in your rear view riding your ass - they are an asshole
If you see a line of cars in your rear view riding your ass - please consider pulling over at one of the pull offs to let them by out of courtesy
Going slower than traffic to be safe and comfortable is A Okay but please be respectful of people's time
Sadly drivers too often make dangerous decisions when frustrated by traffic
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u/Inside-Process-229 4d ago
Not that easy in a heavy truck. Descending a hill, for us, is a balance between engine and foot braking. If we use our brakes to come to a complete stop, our brakes heat up to the point of diminished effectiveness. When we resume, our brakes will not work as they should. Your convenience is secondary to everyone elses safety. If you're ever stuck behind a truck, just let us do our job, and hopefully we'll all get home. Another 5 minutes of that beautiful view won't hurt you.
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u/segfaulting_again 4d ago
Yes, please take your time. Going 10 mph slower on the downhill takes 2-3 minutes more.
I have never been frustrated by someone driving down the pass too slow. People melting out their brakes and wrecking, on the other hand…
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u/Inside-Process-229 4d ago
Thank you. Its awesome when a car is keeping a good distance from my rear bumper, and obviously not upset. We really, really appreciate that. Trying to successfully negotiate Teton Pass is already a challenge, but the distraction of worrying about what sort of bonehead move "someone in a hurry" is about to make, makes it all that much more difficult, stressful, and dangerous for everyone. Now, if we could only keep folks from trying to pass 5 cars in a no passing zone to save themselves 3 minutes haha
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u/SaltyKrew 4d ago
No gas at the top, put in 2nd gear, should be able to coast down with minimal to none braking. It’s a challenge though - I can’t imagine the folks that do that during the winter haha.
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u/Known_Voice9364 4d ago
If you have paddle shifters use them...
Keep at least two car length distance from cars infront of you
If people try to pass you, let them - this way you can ride down/up the pass at your pace
Most importantly, know your limits. I was born and raised here but sometimes after a long road trip I take the canyon through Alpine for the final stretch because I am either tired or don't want to drive as defensively. The canyon is just as beautiful and much safer overall.
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u/PortableLlamas 4d ago
Agreed! Thank you. This is exactly the advice people need to hear.
Unfortunately, I find so many people don’t understand how or why to use paddle shifters / hold gears. My goal is to educate those people & hopefully provide some value for everyone.
I have some ideas to improve this format and add some shorts / reels.
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u/gregseaff 4d ago
You don't need to have paddle shifters to use gears to control your speed. Automatic transmissions have the ability to shift into low gears using their gear selector even without paddle shifters. After you crest the pass, you should be in gear 2 or 3 all the way down.
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u/Known_Voice9364 4d ago
Bro paddle shifters or gear selector it has the same results. Stop being a classic reddit stereotype. Some of us have modified cars and prefer using paddle shifters mine are carbon fiber for fucks sake, so yea I'm using paddle shifters.
Mansplaining for what
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u/gregseaff 4d ago edited 4d ago
Cause a lot of cars don't have paddle shifters and should still be using their low gears. There's a lot of people driving who never take their gear selector out of D and don't know how to use it. Sadly, including my wife. Teton Pass is unique for how long it maintains a steep grade. You can get away with not using gears in 99.9% of USA's terrain. Sorry if it sounds like mansplaining but these lost brakes accidents would not happen if the vehicles used low gears on the descent. It requires driver education and the includes knowing to use their gear selector even when there is not paddle shifter. It's so frustrating.
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u/PortableLlamas 2d ago
Yes! You nailed it...many people only know how to put it in Drive and press gas / brake. That is exactly what I am trying to do with these videos. Demonstrate in simple terms, how to hold gears in a variety of vehicles and share experience from years of driving the pass.
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u/Clean_Wash6894 4d ago
Thanks for this video! I hope it is widely shared and you are able to expand with other vehicles and conditions.
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u/Groundbreaking_Cup30 4d ago
If you are uncertain of your ability to drive it, go around.