The new 6 and 8 speed transmissions made a huge difference, along with VVT. My 5.3 has none of that (I assume much like your Envoy). I could barely make it up the Coquihalla without it overheating. We had to turn the AC off and heat on. Our 4.6L Explorer with the 6 speed and VVT did far better. Although we didn't take it up the Coquihalla, we took it up the Grapevine in CA. Alas, I would never buy the newer gasoline engines from GM. Far too many issues, especially with lifters.
Please share some pics of WA for us. We joined HarvestHosts and stayed overnight at a berry farm in OR, just south of Vancouver WA. That was loads of fun for the kids, and we had SO many berries to eat before crossing back into Canada!
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