Climbing Highway 168 eastwards on the Tollhouse Grade, starting south of Prather and heading towards Ockenden, is a significant ascent known for its sustained steepness on a potentially busy highway. Prepare for a tough climb of approximately 8-10 miles, gaining around 3,000ft, with an average gradient of a challenging 6-8%. On the way up you'll have to deal with the particularly relentless 'four-lane' section which maintains consistent 7-9% grades with few respites, demanding a strong, steady effort. The main challenge here, besides the gradient, can be managing the potentially heavy and fast-moving traffic (including trucks and RVs), requiring significant awareness and caution despite the road width. You'll enjoy expansive views back over the Central Valley as you climb from the hot foothills into cooler pine forests near the Tollhouse summit area around 4,500-4,800ft.