Towing Thru the Homestake Pass

[teallen]

This is my first big trip with the 5er and first one in the mountains so am concerned about steep grades. I went ahead and purchased the mountain directory - west to help me in my planning. I am headed to West Yellowstone for several days and then on to Polson Montana. Judy and I want to travel thru Missoula and then on to Polson. I see from the directory I have no choice but to go thru homestake pass near Butte to get to Polson. Has anyone travelled this route with a trailer? How are the grades towing the trailer thru this pass? Anything I need to look out for? Thanks Tom

[Mike Clay]

I assume you are heading over to Flathead Lake are you talking about the pass on I 90 by Butte? (sorry going off memory here) If so been over it many times towing going up is not bad take your time going down the other side. People get into trouble when while towing they push it to hard going up and go to fast coming down. Take your time over the Rockies its beautiful country.

[Don Wilson]

Tom

Homestake Pass is 8,300 feet but going West you are already at 4,500 feet before you get to it and 5,500 feet at Butte. I don't remember it being that bad but I was pulling an Alpenlite which only weighed 9,700 pounds loaded. Your Cardinal will be heavier to pull up and more to push you down so like Mike said just go down easy. If the curve signs say 50 mph you want to be pretty close to what they say as you go around them and you shouldn't have problems.

Enjoy the trip you are going to be in some very beautiful country.

Don

[teallen]

Thanks Mike and Don for the advice, will be careful. Tom

[RV4Gene]

We've been over that pass a couple of times. The speed limit heading East is 25 mph...THEY MEAN IT!!. So if you head back East on this pass, do use caution. Stay in low gear, don't try to pass anyone and stay well back from the trucks. This pass is when hubby says about every 5 minutes..."I'm going to get exhaust brakes".
Heading West isn't all that bad...just pay attention.

[Mike Clay]

My wife says more then that.

[RV4Gene]

Yeah, well I didn't tell you what I was saying. Or about the permanent finger slots in the passenger seat.

[teallen]

Fortunately we are only heading west and then up to West Glacier, then into Canada. The mountain directory west shows going west through the pass is better then going east. Thanks Tom

[david_iona]

Here is a Montana highway web cam site that has info on the pass.
http://www.ktvq.com/Global/link.asp?L=2 ... u556_3_1_3
One of the cameras is focused on a fifth wheel going over the pass today.

[teallen]

Here is a Montana highway web cam site that has info on the pass.
http://www.ktvq.com/Global/link.asp?L=2 ... u556_3_1_3
One of the cameras is focused on a fifth wheel going over the pass today.

Dave, thanks for the info, it will be really helpful, already saved this site to my computer so I can refer to it while on our trip. Tom