Request tips on flying from Arkansas to Oakland, CA in December

[Bert G.]

I hope to fly from Arkansas to Oakland, CA later this month in my
Cessna 172RG. I have never flown in CA or the west before. Can
anyone offer advice on the appropriate route and stops? I understand
there is a good southern route into CA.

Thanks,
Bert G.

[Bill J]

In winter I would take the southern route, via El Paso, Phoenix, Las
Vegas, Bakersfield, etc.
But I had a nice trip there last summer via Salt Lake City and Reno. No
problem in a 172, but the weather would have to be good VFR to do it now.

Bert G. wrote:
> I hope to fly from Arkansas to Oakland, CA later this month in my
> Cessna 172RG. I have never flown in CA or the west before. Can
> anyone offer advice on the appropriate route and stops? I understand
> there is a good southern route into CA.
>
> Thanks,
> Bert G.

[Ross Oliver]

On 5 Dec 2004 16:26:22 -0800, Bert G. > wrote:
>I hope to fly from Arkansas to Oakland, CA later this month in my
>Cessna 172RG. I have never flown in CA or the west before. Can
>anyone offer advice on the appropriate route and stops? I understand
>there is a good southern route into CA.


That portion of my route when I flew back from North Carolina was:

Little Rock, AR
Oaklahoma City, OK
Amarillo, TX
Albuquerque, NM
Winslow, AZ
Lake Havasu, AZ
Chino, CA
San Jose, CA

The Lake Havasu to Chino leg avoids all of the restricted areas
in southern Nevada and California.

Happy landings,
Ross

[[email protected]]

Be careful about your weight limits. The mountains out here are much
higher than you would be accustomed.

[Casey Wilson]

"Ross Oliver" > wrote in message
...
> On 5 Dec 2004 16:26:22 -0800, Bert G. > wrote:
>>I hope to fly from Arkansas to Oakland, CA later this month in my
>>Cessna 172RG. I have never flown in CA or the west before. Can
>>anyone offer advice on the appropriate route and stops? I understand
>>there is a good southern route into CA.
>
>
> That portion of my route when I flew back from North Carolina was:
>
> Little Rock, AR
> Oaklahoma City, OK
> Amarillo, TX
> Albuquerque, NM
> Winslow, AZ
> Lake Havasu, AZ
> Chino, CA
> San Jose, CA
>
> The Lake Havasu to Chino leg avoids all of the restricted areas
> in southern Nevada and California.
>
I think I'd save some time and gas and go from Winslow to:

Needles(KEED)
HEC(tor) VOR (waypoint)
Fox Field(KWJF) (waypoint)
Bakersfield(KBFL) (waypoint or fuel)

....and then up the San Joaquin Valley. That route takes me through a big
wide corridor between the restricted areas. And by the way, it avoids some
really heavy traffic around Ontario, Burbank, and John Wayne class Cs, Los
Angeles class B and another 15 or 18 busy, busy airports.

[thj]

I once flew from Duluth, MI back to Palo Alto, CA (really close to OAK)
and we crossed the Sierra from Reno (KRNO) via Truckee (KTRK) and you
can then follow I-80 and V-392. It was during the summer, though, with
high density altitude. We circled forever to get out of Reno and up to
around 10000ft. The cold weather in the winter will help big time.
Beware of the winds across the mountains, though, they could ruin your
day :-). Also, wouldn't advise IFR in a 172RG there.

To the south I can only suggest the following route: find V12 to get to
General Fox (KWJF), fly over Gorman VOR (GMN) and follow V137 north.
Avoid Tehachepe pass (not sure if spelled right). It's a low section
between roughly KWJF and Bakersfield (KBFL). It's tempting, but a
friend of mine had to turn around because of high winds and severe
turbulence there a while back and he will never try it again. On a
windy day Gorman VOR might not even be a good choice. My friend ended
up taking a route over Fillmore VOR (FIL) and up the coast. The coast
is beautiful if you have the time for the small detour by the way.

[thj]

I once flew from Duluth, MI back to Palo Alto, CA (really close to OAK)
and we crossed the Sierra from Reno (KRNO) via Truckee (KTRK) and you
can then follow I-80 and V-392. It was during the summer, though, with
high density altitude. We circled forever to get out of Reno and up to
around 10000ft. The cold weather in the winter will help big time.
Beware of the winds across the mountains, though, they could ruin your
day :-). Also, wouldn't advise IFR in a 172RG there.

To the south I can only suggest the following route: find V12 to get to
General Fox (KWJF), fly over Gorman VOR (GMN) and follow V137 north.
Avoid Tehachepe pass (not sure if spelled right). It's a low section
between roughly KWJF and Bakersfield (KBFL). It's tempting, but a
friend of mine had to turn around because of high winds and severe
turbulence there a while back and he will never try it again. On a
windy day Gorman VOR might not even be a good choice. My friend ended
up taking a route over Fillmore VOR (FIL) and up the coast. The coast
is beautiful if you have the time for the small detour by the way.

[thj]

I once flew from Duluth, MI back to Palo Alto, CA (really close to OAK)
and we crossed the Sierra from Reno (KRNO) via Truckee (KTRK) and you
can then follow I-80 and V-392. It was during the summer, though, with
high density altitude. We circled forever to get out of Reno and up to
around 10000ft. The cold weather in the winter will help big time.
Beware of the winds across the mountains, though, they could ruin your
day :-). Also, wouldn't advise IFR in a 172RG there.

To the south I can only suggest the following route: desert, desert and
more desert and V12 to get to General Fox (KWJF), fly over Gorman VOR
(GMN) and follow V137 north. Avoid Tehachepe pass (not sure if spelled
right). It's a low section between roughly KWJF and Bakersfield (KBFL).
It's tempting, but a friend of mine had to turn around because of high
winds and severe turbulence there a while back and he will never try it
again. On a windy day Gorman VOR might not even be a good choice. My
friend ended up taking a route over Fillmore VOR (FIL) and up the
coast. The coast is beautiful if you have the time for the small detour
by the way.