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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.
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