Back and Forth Over MacDonald Pass on a Single Charge

Today I crossed back and forth over Macdonald Pass on a single 100% charge. Climbing mountain passes is not the forte of the limited-capacity Leaf battery, so I took it at 35mph on the uphill legs.  Local drivers are accustomed to semi tractor trailers creeping over the pass at 15mph, so my 35mph with hazard lights was perhaps less dangerous in this context.  At least that's my justification.

On the downhill legs I did around 60mph and got plenty of regen.  In other areas I just followed the speed limit.

The round trip is 52 miles, and I returned home with three bars and a range guesstimate of 16 miles remaining. The Leaf very much likes that 35mph speed, but if I had traveled at the posted speed limit I bet I still would have arrived home (with a VLBW).  

My Leaf is a 2011 and has lost two capacity bars.  A 52-mile trip back and forth over a mountain pass is at or just beyond its range.

Oh no a mountain pass!