VFR Cross Country through the Rocky Mountains, need advice.

Hi David,

   I've done the Michigan to Az route many times. I've also been through the girth of the rockies a few times. At 90hp the I-40 route would be the safest with wide open spaces from Dalhart, TX. Tucumcari, NM. To Needles, CA. etc. Density altitude will be a concern of course. I guess the key thing is the amount of moutainous terrain being crossed, location of civilization, roads, and how rowdy the air will be. Down here in the Southwest the storm activity tends to get really strong and punchy, but they are isolated with good visability around. I haven't done the I-80 route so I can't comment on that. There are articles written over the years and a lot of them did the I-40 route. Have fun and it will take awhile. - Andy, Mesa, AZ

Thanks Andy,

I was kind of leaning towards the Southern route. Wide open spaces are a good thing, and looking at different airports along the way fuel prices seem to be cheaper along that route also. I'll have to google some of the articles you talked about.

Some good tips on this blog about flying in the Rocky Mountains:

http://pilotbrian.blogspot.com/search/label/thoughts

The May 24 2009 and October 5 2008 articles are particularly good.

That's a well written Blog. I liked the articles you mentioned and the ones on airplane camping. I'll have to explore it more.

Thanks.

My best advice would be to start as early in the morning as possible. You should wake up before sunrise and be prepared to launch at sunrise. SJN "St. Johns Airpark" is a good fuel stop since they generally have the lowest avgas prices in the state.

Have a great trip!

Thanks,

 I noticed they had a lot of good reviews on AirNav

Hi David:

I have made numerous flights across the Continental US in my 1992 Kolb MKIII.

I fly to Monument Valley, Utah, and beyond, each year, in mid-May.  We started the Unplanned/Unorganized Kolb Flyin, Monument Valley, Utah, in 2003.  Have made that flight every year since the inception.

I have crossed the Rockies in my Kolb MKIII, powered with a Rotax 912ULS 100 hp engine, everywhere from the Mexican Border to the Canadian Border.

For the MV flight I fly west through Clovis, NM, to Los Lunas, just south of Albuequerque, Gallup, then NW to MV.  I have flown from California back East on I-70.  BTW, I am in Alabama, 25 miles north of Montgomery.

I-40 is easiest as far as altitude.

I-70 and I-80 is challenging because of altitude.  I usually fly from Burns Junction, OR, to Jack Pot, NV, Brigham City, UT, Rock Springs, WY, Laramie, WY, then across Kansas to Neosho, MO, and direct to Titus, Alabama.  It is always difficult crossing the Rockies out of Brigham City.  Need more than 10,000 feet to do it.  Usually, catch some bad weather somewhere inbetween there and in to Kansas.

If you would like to, please call me at home.  I will be glad to discuss the flight with you.

I have flown my MKIII around the border of CONUS in conjunction with a 3,000 mile dog leg to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in 1994.  That flight was 17,400 miles in 41 days and 232 flight hours.  I was just a kid at 55. 

Flew to Point Barrow, Alaska, in 2001, on my way from Alabama to Oshkosh.  Forget how many miles that one was, but don't think I even got a handshake from any of the EAA elite, although it was probably one of the longest flights to get to Air Venture 2001.

Flew back to Point Barrow, Alaska, in 2004, at the age of 65, in the same MKIII.  Also flew to Kaktovik, AK, and Tuktoyaktuk, North West Territory, Canada, northern most Eskimo village in the North American Continent, in Canada.

Was going back to Alaska this summer to celebrate my 70th year, but things here at home prevented the flight this.  Maybe next year when I am 71.

You can reach me most any time at:

334-567-6280

John Hauck

Titus, Alabama

Kolb MKIII

I have flow all of these routes many times in slower aircraft. Fly early.

My preferred is the route along I-80.  The only real obstacle is Donner Pass between Truckee and Sacremento.  If you prefer a lower option, head north west out of Reno toward Redding.

The southern route I-40 spends lots of time over very rough country.  A landing on the lava in New Mexico would be your last with any airplane.

If you really want low, do what the railroads did and go around south of the mountains. The route along the border  Deming to Tucson is real low.  Weather is more stable  in the winter months.

I am based in Colorado, and I choose my crossings where ever the grade is gradual.  The smoother the land under you, the smoother the air above.  Nothing can outclimb the rotors that set up downwind of a ridge.

Look at the old airmail routes.  Somebody already figured it out the hard way.

I'm based at Ogden, UT (KOGD). On our recent trip to OSH, we flew at 9500 to Torrington, WY. That route follows I-80 pretty much the whole way. We spent the night at TOR due to weather in central WY on the way home. Flew at 8500 to Ogden the next morning.

Ogden has 3 restaurants on the field (2 in the same building) and 3 FBOs fixing gas prices at $4.25 (self serve at $4.10)

Rinker Buck, in the book Flight of Passage, has a great description of the your southern route option. He and his brother flew a Cub out to S. California in 1966. Their route through the Rockies went from Wink, TX to Carlsbad, NM to El Paso, TX. I have driven this same route a few times although I have never flown it. The mountains are not all that high in this area but I gather the winds can be "interesting" at times.

Enjoy. It ought to be a great time to fly through this area.

-- Fred Joyal

David:

The I-40 route has much to recommend it -- lower and relatively flat (albeit high) terrain.  I'm based in ABQ, so fly east and west frequently along it.   Weather in the higher Rockies (e.g., along I-80) can sometimes be dodgy in September, whereas it's usually very nice along the I-40 corridor.

Some airports I like include (going east to west):

KRVS -- Richard Jones (aka Riverside) in Tulsa.  Not quite I-40, but close.  Had great service at Roadhouse Aviation

KPVW -- Hale County in Plainview, Tx.  Generally very good fuel prices.

KAEG -- Double Eagle II in Albuquerque.  Fuel prices a bit high, but good service.  (My a/c is based there.)

KGUP -- Gallup, NM.  Fuel prices are a bit high here too, but nice FBO, good courtesy car, McDonalds within walking distance.

KINW -- Winslow, AZ.  Some interesting old buildings and history.  Restaurant on the field.

KSEZ -- Sedona, AZ.  Gorgeous setting, altho some are taken aback by it -- it's on the top of a flat mesa, with drop offs at both ends.  Fly a normal final and you'll be fine.  Good restaurant on the field, too.

KIGM -- Kingman, AZ.  Fine field, but spotty service.

KSJN -- St. John's Arizona.  Everybody's favorite fuel stop because they usually have some of the best prices around, but may be a bit off course; it's well south of I-40.

I'm afraid my CA experience is sparse and all to the south, so no recommendations there.

Have a great trip whichever route you decide to take.

Ray Saunders in Albuquerque

David -I have made this trip by both the southern and northern routes but not going low and slow.  I have also done the 'real' southern route -  Mexico border!!!  The southern route I have done in my Bonanza and the northern in my T28.  The base terrain is higher on the northern route but it has friendlier landing options in an emergency situation.  The route is easily done at 10K feet if you can fly this high and obviously lower if needed.  Summer storms are issues on both routes as they are with all mountains.  Once you get past the rockies the better route to California is south as you can work around most of the mountains at relatively low altitudes.  A flight over the Tahoe area would not be very friendly if emergency in needed.  

 We live in Salt Lake City and have flown the I-80 route. This is agreat way to cross the Rocky Mountains I feel also the safest.

Phil Rocco

falling_roc@hotmail.com

If you have no high elevation experience, best to visit with an instructor who has high elevation experience.  But here are some tips which may be helpful:

• Fly as early in the day as possible--smoothest time, least amount of wind, especially if you are "downwind" of ridges--they can create some horrendous rotors later in the day.
• Remember to lean on the ground, and then lean as necessary as you climb.  Here are 2 leaning procedures.  Both work, but I favor the second one--tends to be easier on props:
  • With brakes applied solidly, go to full power. Lean until highest rpm shows on the tach.
  • With brakes applied solidly, add power to normal run-up rpm.  Lean until highest rpm shows on tach and then falls a little (like a needle's width), then enrichen about a quarter inch.
• If flying in a canyon (such as if you take the I-80 route, from Evanston, WY to Salt Lake), best to do it early, and then if there is any wind, stay on the downwind side (i.e, where the wind tends to blow upwards again).  That canyon, however, is often used both directions, so stay to the right if possible--and turn on your landing lights!
• Go as light as possible--climbing is a lot easier!

For what it's worth, most of my 36 years of aviation experience is in higher elevations.  I was based at Laramie, WY, and instructed and flew SE charters in Wyoming and northern Colorado, primarily in 182s but also in 172s and PA28s.  I'm now in Fort Collins, CO, and regularly fly my 63 Cessna P172D with 180 hp, CS prop, other mods, mostly for pleasure.  I do fly at gross now and then, but when I go into the high country, it's typically a couple hundred under gross--much safer that way.

Have fun!

Cary

Hi David,

I just wanted to thank you for this great post!

I am also planning a trip this late September from my home town of Fort Collins, CO out to the San Juan Islands and the information in all of the replies generated from your question has been invaluable.

I am planning on flying my C180 up to the Mountain Home, ID area for the first leg.  Then up to Orkas Island for the second leg.  The third leg down to a place on the Oregon coast called Wakonda Beach (R33).  Then down to the Napa Valley for a few days of wine tasting then Cedar City, UT and finally back home to Fort Collins along the I-70 corridor.  We're going to fly for a few hours early in the morning and then spend a few days at each location.

Although I have spent most of my flying life flying mountains, I have never made a long cross country flight like this.  Maybe we'll cross paths.

Have great trip and if you end up in Fort Collins give me call.  I have a beautiful 3000' grass strip (Yankee Field, CO53) and hangar for you!

Joe Nance

970-213-0331

As you head west start with a fuel stop at Dalhart, TX., good prices, cafe on the field.  Follow the airway for straighter flight from Dalhart to Las Vegas, NM.  At Las Vegas make an end around to the south of the mountains, make a crossing just south  of the Albuquerque International airpsace and stop at E80 (Belen Alexander) for fuel.  From there St Johns AZ is close enough.  Head toward Kingman AZ, it makes a good stop.  From Kingman head west to Lancaster, navigation by highway is easy and you will be glad you are flying high enough for cool air.  Once at Lancaster you can get wherever you want in California.  Have fun and be vigilant. 

David =

Try the I-20 route sometime.  Further south, but lots of history here.   Western Texas oil fields, air and the aircraft boneyards.  Also, great view of some copper mining further north.  Done this route three times in a Cessna 182 and see something different every time.

Terry Anthony

Wow! What a bunch of great posts, and information for my flight. They really make me want to fly to several places and routes that were mentioned.

John, your flights, and particularly the one to Alaska sounded like a blast.

Again thank you for everyone's input it has been very much appreciated.  

David

Hi David,

I have flown the I40 route several times.  TCC and SJN both have camping on the field.  If you really want to treat yourself, plan a stop at  L05 Kern Valley in California.  They have the best airport campground I have ever found.  You can taxi right up to the campsite.  There is also a good restaurant on the field.  In flying my LSA around the lower 48 I have crossed the Rockies several times.  AOPA has a good online Mountain Flying seminar.  The I40 route also has the advantage of continuous radar service.  On the Northern routes there are many areas that don't have radar service below 12,500' or even 14,000'.  Flying the Northern routes do improve your hearing.  Around Lolo Pass as I was looking Up at the mountains, I noticed I could actually hear the spark plugs firing.  Good luck and  enjoy your flight.  

Jim Hazen - N44469