That post wasn't about theory, but there is a lesson about how we should fly in the mountains there. I believe Apollo, Vick, Jughead, and Dogpilot would admit that either engine thrust (several thousand pounds) or kinetic energy (300-500 kts) and certainly both would allow them to bail out of a low level emergency by climbing.

Unfortunately the training most pilots get is to climb in an emergency; anywhere. In the mountains, that is a very dangerous orientation. High, heavy, and hot, we simply may not be able to climb. And we certainly can't outclimb terrain without orograraphic or thermal lift. We need to keep our speed up to have any zoom reserve for just enough climb to slow enough for a steep turn and have vertical space to put the wing down into. Getting the nose quickly down into the drainage is often a life saver. That is why the energy management turn is so important.

When we get to ceiling, unable to climb 100 feet per minute, all we have left is a descending turn to lower terrain. If the drainage is just there, that turn must (,and can be) as steep as necessary. Just don't pull back on the stick.

Military jet fighters can leap tall buildings in a single bound. We can't. I don't care what engine you have. Trying will eventually bite you. Fuel and engine capability to do a lot of pre-climbing or energy management are necessary. And when we do get up, there is no guarantee, save ground effect, that we will stay up. Air moves vertically both ways. But it doesn't go underground.