LONG VIDEO, BUT NOT EVERYTHING MADE THE CUT! THIS IS THE VIDEO YOU WANT TO WATCH BEFORE ATTEMPTING IMOGENE PASS, even if you drive a 4WD.

This is not a very technical trail for a 4WD. Actually @Trailsoffroad rates it moderate difficulty (level 3). BUT this is a DEADLY TRAIL, and it's because you'll be driving on narrow shelf roads with abysmal drops. Most fatalities occur when two vehicles come head to head and while either backing up or attempting to pass, someone falls off a cliff. In this video, I tell you how to mitigate risk.

On July 8, 2021, right after Imogene Pass opened (the trail is accessible seasonally from 7-1 to 11-1) we set out to drive up Imogene Pass. I was a bit worried about our two first gen Honda Pilots, but we had two very capable Jeeps to assist them, if they ran into issues. I'll tell you right now, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS TRAIL IN AN AWD. Spoiler alert: the 1st gen Pilots needed assistance.

So why are iVTM4 equipped Hondas with the German made ZF9 transmission capable of summiting Imogene Pass while keeping the transmission fluid temps around 200F? Well, upper trim 2016+ Honda Pilots, 2020+ Honda Ridgelines and 2019+ Honda Passports have the ZF9 automatic transmission with a 20.4:1 crawl ratio. This is the same transmission that you'll find in a Jeep Compass/Renegade trail hawk, and the Land Rover evoque/defender sport.

Lower trim 2016 Honda Pilots and 2017-2019 Honda Ridgelines have the Honda 6spd AT with a 14.3:1 crawl ratio and will be prone to overheating.

I did a deep search on YouTube and was surprised that I didn't find ONE SINGLE video about an AWD conquering Imogene Pass. So, while there may have been other AWDs that might have driven to the top before us. I have our record breaking moment well documented in this video. We use Scangauge 2s to monitor our transmission fluid temps, and we can confirm, our vehicles weren't stressed out! Enjoy the video!

BIG THANKS TO: @BorderlineExplorer @AMERICANINTAKELLC @no-lodesigns for providing video footage so that I could better tell my story!

Watch the trip from the perspectives of my friends:
@GotterAdventure
   • Honda Pilot Driving Too Fast? Imogene...  
@BorderlineExplorer
   • Getting Money Shots on Poser Rock - I...  
@no-lodesigns
   • Taking on 13,114ft in a 2021 Honda Ri...  

NAVIGATION:
00:00 INTRO & Disclaimers
01:56 No where to camp
03:45 Wake up
04:54 Our first obstacle
09:56 ZF9 vs. Honda 6 spd AT (there's a difference)
14:13 Off-Camber
15:43 Beautiful water crossings and wet slick rock
23:14 Go Go Go Go!
26:09 Climbing to Poser Rock
33:39 Take it all in
35:29 PROBLEMATIC OBSTACLE (for a Landcruiser and our Pilots)
42:04 Gotta get through... (to the peak of Imogene Pass)
47:15 It's official 1st AWDs to Summit Imogene Pass on YouTube!
50:04 Tips on how to NOT DIE
53:00 OUTTRO

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