What about when you're in a regular car trying to climb those steep grades? I remember taking my dad's old sedan through the Rockies last summer. It had a V6, but above 10,000 feet, it felt like a lawnmower engine. I was barely hitting 40 mph on the inclines, and trucks were blowing past me like I was standing still. It really drives home how much power loss you get when the air gets thin. Makes you wonder how anything makes it over sometimes.
Ever try downshifting earlier than you think you need to? I found that keeping the RPMs up before the grade really steals your power helps a lot. It keeps you from bogging down completely when the air gets thin.
Yeah I always waited too long and would lose all my momentum... tried downshifting way earlier last trip and it was a total game changer. Let the engine work while it's still strong instead of gasping for breath later. It really does keep you from that awful bogging down feeling.