From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Fly-in details
To: lml
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:22:23 -0400
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In-Reply-To: <00b501c489f9$a4d6a950$dc2f6bc6@COLORADO>
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Posted for "David Lowry" <dave@edt.com>:

  Micah,
  I have been from Oregon to Denver a few times in a 182 (daughter in
  college).
  A few words about routes through the mountains.
  When flying east to west you may want to stay low to avoid the prevailing
  head winds.
  If you are in the afternoon there is a good chance of bad weather in the
  mountains.
  The lowest route up north is through Laramie WY, Rock Springs etc. We have
  always got through there when T storms were in the mountains.
  Not really very scenic unless oil fields, mines and alkali are a novelty
  but
  no shortage of emergency landing sites.
  If the weather is pushing you through the middle of CO the Monarch Pass
  route up the Arkansas valley past Florence, CO to Gunnison then Provo, UT
  does not put you over rough terrain for very long and is scenic. You get
  some headwinds
  as you clear the Pass but you don't have to stay up there very long.
  This route may take you over Range Creek (labeled on your sectional) north
  east
  of Carbon, UT. This is the location of the recently revealed puebleans(sp?)
  archeological
  sites. You can't see anything from the air except the canyon which is
  pretty
  dramatic.
  The best scenery is West of Denver. If you stay clear of Denver class B to
  the South
  and then head to Twin Falls, ID  you will pass over Rocky Mtn. Natl Park
  area.
  That is really rugged and may be best saved for the return. Last trip I was
  at FL190 and doing 180kts (not an ES remember) with a 60 knot tail wind.
  Don't expect a big welcome if you plan to transit the Denver Class B, my
  experience is they will push you down low until you get right up to the
  mtns.
  They also seem to have lots of large crowd TFRs in the summer and
  were kind of testy till I claimed ignorance of local landmarks (Coors
  Stadium?)
  then they gave me vectors.
  If you end up by Salt Lake they will let you stay high next to the mtns
  east of the city
  but you will have to fly south to north until you clear the class B. It is
  ok anyway
  cause west of the city is all restricted area and nearly always closed on
  weekdays.
  Once you get to Idaho fly over the Snake River valley to the Boise area and
  then
  direct to Redmond. This avoids all the restricted areas and the terrain
  does not get very high.
  It is a little rugged from Boise to Redmond but there are valleys and roads
  so
  I do not feel uncomfortable staying low. I usually avoid flying over the
  large
  lava fields (marked on sectionals). They look flat but don't even think of
  an emergency
  landing there.
  
  You will not get flight following unless you stay up where the winds are
  usually strong. Salt lake Center typically will not provide FF in the
  afternoons
  anyway. Seattle Center will try really hard to fit you in and maintain
  contact.
  
  Going home with good weather, fly high, go fast, get the big picture.
  If you get way up north, Jackson Hole is an interesting place. From the air
  it truly
  is in a hole with dramatic peaks all around.
  We landed there once due to T storms and they parked the 182 in a line
  of  GVs, GIVs, Falcons etc that diminished toward the horizon. I wish I had
  a picture.
  Stopping places:
  
  Check www.airnav.com for fuel stops. I have used many and most were
  helpful,
  had cars or places to eat nearby.
  Specific observations:
  Florence, CO had oxygen.
  Provo, UT had oxygen.
  Ft Bridger (WY or UT?) airport was like a ghost town. Open doors creaking
  on hinges
  in the wind and all. When we called the fuel number the women said her
  parents had
  gone to Hawaii and did not tell here where the keys were to the fuel truck.
  Lucky
  we had the gas to get to Evanston. This was 4 years ago or  so, it has got
  to be
  better but I won't try it unless someone tells me it is better.
  
  Watch your density altitude. It can be easily greater than 10k feet and put
  you
  usual site picture and "feel" for landing speed way out of wack. Your
  takeoff roll will be an eye opener as well though they usually have
  really long runways.
  
  Sorry for the long post but maybe others are flying in for the first time.