Crossing the Rocky Mountains

[RD]

I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to transition
the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.

--
Thank You,
Ryan

[Michael 182]

Southern Wyoming - there is a break in the mountains - pretty much just high
plains and a few ridges.

Michael

"RD" > wrote in message
...
> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to
transition
> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.
>
> --
> Thank You,
> Ryan
>
>

[Blanche]

Ryan:

Go back to google and search for threads on this topic. There are
lots.

[C J Campbell]

Central Canada is a little vague, but if I understand your question
correctly then I usually cross from Crazy Woman, down to Casper, then Rock
Springs, then Ogden. I would prefer to cross from Billings, then to Bozeman,
Whitehall, Dillon, down to Dubois, but I have had extremely bad luck with
that route being blocked by thunderstorms.

[Jeff]

this may help you
http://www.coloradopilots.org/page_mtnfly_passes.htm

its the passes in the colorado area with the elevations and such.
I have always been told not to attempt to cross the rockies when the wind at
the top of the mountains are 30 kts or more.

RD wrote:

> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to transition
> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.
>
> --
> Thank You,
> Ryan

[Jim Weir]

SLC isn't in the Rockies, it is in the Wasatch. Tell us where you plan on
crossing into the States and we can probably make a better guess than "central
Canada".

Jim




Jeff >
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:


->> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
->> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to transition
->> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
->> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

[Ron Lee]

Learn how to lean the engine during runup for maxiumum performance.

Also be aware that your groudspeed on landing and takeoff will be
higher than at sea level so pay attention to airspeed on landing and
take-off instead of letting normal visual cues guide your pitch
control.

Ron Lee

[RD]

I'm in Saskatchewan, CYXE, just above the Montana/North Dakota border.

--
Thank You,
Ryan


"RD" > wrote in message
...
> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to
transition
> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.
>
> --
> Thank You,
> Ryan
>
>

[mikem]

RD wrote:

> I'm in Saskatchewan, CYXE, just above the Montana/North Dakota border.

We just flew the family 182 from SLC to Calgary and back at Christmas
time. I usually follow I15 (IDA-DLN-HLN-CTB), but because of wx, on the
way back we went to GTF(customs) to BIL to LND to RKS to FBR to SLC.

SLC to LAS: just follow I15.

MikeM
SLC
Skylane '1MM
Pacer '00Z

[Newps]

An easy route is to cross at LVM/BZN(pass is at 6200), fly down the big
wide valley just west of Yellowstone Park. This gets you into the high
desert of southern Idaho. No mountains to cross until Lake Tahoe, as I
recall that pass was about 9500.

RD wrote:

> I'm in Saskatchewan, CYXE, just above the Montana/North Dakota border.
>

[smackey]

"RD" > wrote in message >...
> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to transition
> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.

I know this route pretty well. I live in BillingsMT; flew my new
(used) C172N home from Las Vegas, when I had only just gotten my PPSEL
about one month earlier (so I flew the reverse of your route). Here's
my experience: North Las Vegas to Provo Utah; then from Provo to
Billings via Rock SpringsWY-RivertonWY-CodyWY-Billings. Piece of
cake.
The flight from LV to Provo is over plains/desert and is easy.
From Provo there is a gap in the Wasatch range just on the NE corner
of Provo that is pretty easy (past the power plant); east of there it
is all high to midlevel plains-also easy. Of course north and east of
BIL is no problem.

As for the other route-by way of Bozeman, etc, let me suggest a route
I have also flown. It is: from BIL to LivingstonMT, which is about
30 miles east of Bozeman. Hang a left onto the LIV 190 radial, past
West Yellowstone, on past Idaho Falls, Pocatello, then by your route
of choice to LV. You will need to go to about 10,500 for about 10 min
just north of West Yellowstone, but then it drops off quickly. It
will probably be a straight on south course from there past SLC and
Provo, or a trip slightly west to Twin Falls, then south by way of
Elko. You will be at 10,000+ for much of the trip, and airfields in
central NV with fuel are few and far between. Also, many MOAs and a
few Restricted areas in central NV. Beware the restricted areas north
of LV...home of "Area 51" a rumored area of military activity the
existence of which the govt denies. ;) Don't test the rumors!!

It's a nice flight, either way.

[RD]

Thanks everyone. Great responses. I'll print them out and pull out the maps
to plot what you have all told me. Take care and happy new year!

--
Thank You,
Ryan



"RD" > wrote in message
...
> I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
> C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to
transition
> the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
> experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.
>
> --
> Thank You,
> Ryan
>
>

[mikem]

RD wrote:

> Thanks everyone. Great responses. I'll print them out and pull out the maps
> to plot what you have all told me. Take care and happy new year!
>

btw:

Relatively cheap fuel and great Pilot lounge at Beck's at HLN

Fuel cheaper at U42(self-serve) than at SLC.

see: http://www.airnav.com/airport/KHLN/BECK#c
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KHLN
http://www.airnav.com/airport/U42

MikeM
based SLC
Skylane '1MM

[Newps]

Then you got screwed with the $2.80 gas here at Edwards. Should've went
to 6S8 11 miles SW where it's $2.11.

mikem wrote:

> RD wrote:
>
>> I'm in Saskatchewan, CYXE, just above the Montana/North Dakota border.
>
>
> We just flew the family 182 from SLC to Calgary and back at Christmas
> time. I usually follow I15 (IDA-DLN-HLN-CTB), but because of wx, on the
> way back we went to GTF(customs) to BIL to LND to RKS to FBR to SLC.
>
> SLC to LAS: just follow I15.
>
> MikeM
> SLC
> Skylane '1MM
> Pacer '00Z
>

[Newps]

Are you the one in the 60x60 with the newer 182 and the 60's Bonanza?
If so look out your hangar door to the west. I'm under the satellite
dish, hangar number 4.

smackey wrote:

>
> I know this route pretty well. I live in BillingsMT; flew my new
> (used) C172N home from Las Vegas, when I had only just gotten my PPSEL
> about one month earlier (so I flew the reverse of your route). Here's
> my experience: North Las Vegas to Provo Utah; then from Provo to
> Billings via Rock SpringsWY-RivertonWY-CodyWY-Billings. Piece of
> cake.
> The flight from LV to Provo is over plains/desert and is easy.
> From Provo there is a gap in the Wasatch range just on the NE corner
> of Provo that is pretty easy (past the power plant); east of there it
> is all high to midlevel plains-also easy. Of course north and east of
> BIL is no problem.
>
> As for the other route-by way of Bozeman, etc, let me suggest a route
> I have also flown. It is: from BIL to LivingstonMT, which is about
> 30 miles east of Bozeman. Hang a left onto the LIV 190 radial, past
> West Yellowstone, on past Idaho Falls, Pocatello, then by your route
> of choice to LV. You will need to go to about 10,500 for about 10 min
> just north of West Yellowstone, but then it drops off quickly. It
> will probably be a straight on south course from there past SLC and
> Provo, or a trip slightly west to Twin Falls, then south by way of
> Elko. You will be at 10,000+ for much of the trip, and airfields in
> central NV with fuel are few and far between. Also, many MOAs and a
> few Restricted areas in central NV. Beware the restricted areas north
> of LV...home of "Area 51" a rumored area of military activity the
> existence of which the govt denies. ;) Don't test the rumors!!
>
> It's a nice flight, either way.

[Jim Weir]

Are you folks in Canada charged by the character? Then why not simply tell us
where CYXE is so we can find it on a chart? A town or city nearby?

Jim


"RD" >
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

->I'm in Saskatchewan, CYXE, just above the Montana/North Dakota border.

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

[Ron Natalie]

"Jim Weir" > wrote in message ...
> Are you folks in Canada charged by the character? Then why not simply tell us
> where CYXE is so we can find it on a chart? A town or city nearby?
>
YXE is Saskatoon. Montana is the nearest real place :-)