Climbing the New Lewiston Hill

June 26, 2007.

We are staying at: Hells Canyon Resort in Clarkston, Washington. Hells Canyon Resort is a top notch RV-Resort at $30 per-night with cable and wifi FHU totally paved interior roads and pads. This is the RV-Park we would recommend when staying in the Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston, Washington area. Cell phones work, TV recepiton works, it is clean and safe and very convenient to shopping and sightseeing.

After spending a few days exploring the area around Clarkston, Washington the Clearwater River and even western Washington we headed north on US-95. Since we were "camped" in Clarkston, Washington we were at what is essentially the lowest elevation in Idaho. We are going to have to climb out of this hole/valley. Immediately upon crossing the Clearwater River we start the long grind up Lewiston Hill on our way to Coeur d'Alene.

While still in Lewiston you start up up Lewiston Hill a steep grade that goes on for around 6-miles. Possibly it is just 5 but who is counting!

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

We have a gasoline engine, so the first order of business was to choose a gear where the engine was generating around 4,000 rpm and hang in there.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

For us the 4,000 rpm results in around 40 mph on this hill with this grade. Automobiles and other unloaded vehicles put the "petal to the metal" and continue doing between 60 and 70 mph up the hill while larger vehicles gear down and find a comfortable speed for their engine to handle then just chug away until reaching the top.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

Forty miles-per-hour is almost sitting still compared to automobiles that come whizzing by at 65 to 70 mph.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

The grade on Lewiston Hill grinds on and on.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

At 40 mph we aren't the slowest vehicle. As you can see we are passing this heavily loaded tractor trailer rig. Notice that I didn't call it an 18-wheeler ------------ because it has MANY more wheels than 18. I think the first part (the normal 18 wheel part) rig has 22 wheels while the two axles on the attached trailer of this rig apear to have two more axles making what appears to add 8 more wheels. Bottom line, --- this "tractor" is pulling a heavy load up this grade at probably 10-mph.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

When does this thing end? It just goes on and on.

I can guarantee our engine is going to appreciate getting to the top of this grade. It has been churning 4,000 RPM for a long time now.

Going up Lewiston Hill in our 35' motorhome

I will end it with this last memory of the Lewiston Hill on US 95, the "hill" that goes on and on and on, before finally emerging on the Palouse Prairie.

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