To add a bit more detail - Hank is probably dead on when he recites the average grade of the 23A climb as 5.8%. But let me add that this is deceptive. The first approximately 2-2.4 miles meander, going up for a bit, then losing some altitude, then climbing again. However, the last approximately 2 miles are a continuous 7-8%, with the only flat spot occurring during a turn into the mountain, and this only lasts for about 200 ft. This is followed by one of the steepest sections. Essentially, the upper part of the hill is similar to a double of the police hill on River Road. Maggies, our lunch stop, is only a few rolling miles beyond the apogee of the climb.