First "long" cross country: KRHV to KRDM ADVISE NEEDED

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Well after 150hrs and preparing to start my Insrument, Commerical, &
CFI I figured it is time for my first VFR cross country that requires
an actual fuel stop. Flight will take place the last weekend in August
(assuming weather cooperates)

My dad lives in Redmond, OR, so I thought, what a better flight.

I have a few questions, but before I ask them let me give you my stats.

The flight will be in a 2003 C-172 SP. I do not have a mountain
checkout yet, but am planning to get it in the next couple of weeks.
This will be a day VFR flight solo with only my 30lb flight bag and a
duffel bag of clothes

Furthest North I have gone so far is Auburn (KAUN)

Main navigation will be GPS via the KLN94 and MFD in the 172 with a
Garmin 195 as a back-up.

Planned altitude (so far) is 10,500 there and 9,500 back. The track (so
far) is (KRHV) Reid Hill-View to (KTCY) Tracy to( KSAC) Sacramento to
(KRBL) Redbluff ALSO FUEL STOP.

>From (KRBL) to (KRDD) Redding. After that I am not sure about west or
east of Shasta. Any input about this?

Whether west or east of Shasta, will end up at (KLMT) Klamath Falls to
(KRMD) Redmond via Hwy 97

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, experiences I would greatly
appreciate it.

Ok besides your general comments, a few specific questions.

Should I carry oxygen for 10,500ft?

West or east of Shasta?
If I go to the west (following I-5) I will be flying inbetween Mt.
Eddy and Mt. Shasta with about 10miles on each side but with more
possibe airports. If I go to the east of Shasta then I can fly further
from the mountain itself, but have fewer choices of airstrips to use.

In the summer time, which side of Shasta is the leeward side (bad
downdrafts) and which side is the windward side (updrafts)?

Of course part of my planning will include phone calls to the various
airports and talking to local flight instructors. Also flight following
(as coverage permits). Also will be filing a flight plan.

So there is it is folks, any and all useful information is welcome.

Thanks,
Donovan

[Chris G.]

It's a little bit of a dog leg, but here is an idea for more routing.
Having lived in and traveled around Oregon the majority of my life, I
know the area you want to fly. I would suggest flying RDD-(MFR or
SIY)-LMT-RDM. If that particular route doesn't work, keep coming
northbound on the west side of the Cascades until you reach a point that
will work. Going to Medford, Oregon, will give you some more options in
terms of landing areas and it's not a long trip to Klamath Falls from
MFR. (Just about 50 NM from MFR, I think?) Siskiyou County, SIY, is
more along your intended route of flight, gives you better emergency
landing options, and keeps you out of the TFR's that have popped up in
S. Oregon because of forest fires.

Chris


wrote:
> Well after 150hrs and preparing to start my Insrument, Commerical, &
> CFI I figured it is time for my first VFR cross country that requires
> an actual fuel stop. Flight will take place the last weekend in August
> (assuming weather cooperates)
>
> My dad lives in Redmond, OR, so I thought, what a better flight.
>
> I have a few questions, but before I ask them let me give you my stats.
>
> The flight will be in a 2003 C-172 SP. I do not have a mountain
> checkout yet, but am planning to get it in the next couple of weeks.
> This will be a day VFR flight solo with only my 30lb flight bag and a
> duffel bag of clothes
>
> Furthest North I have gone so far is Auburn (KAUN)
>
> Main navigation will be GPS via the KLN94 and MFD in the 172 with a
> Garmin 195 as a back-up.
>
> Planned altitude (so far) is 10,500 there and 9,500 back. The track (so
> far) is (KRHV) Reid Hill-View to (KTCY) Tracy to( KSAC) Sacramento to
> (KRBL) Redbluff ALSO FUEL STOP.
>
>>From (KRBL) to (KRDD) Redding. After that I am not sure about west or
> east of Shasta. Any input about this?
>
> Whether west or east of Shasta, will end up at (KLMT) Klamath Falls to
> (KRMD) Redmond via Hwy 97
>
> Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, experiences I would greatly
> appreciate it.
>
> Ok besides your general comments, a few specific questions.
>
> Should I carry oxygen for 10,500ft?
>
> West or east of Shasta?
> If I go to the west (following I-5) I will be flying inbetween Mt.
> Eddy and Mt. Shasta with about 10miles on each side but with more
> possibe airports. If I go to the east of Shasta then I can fly further
> from the mountain itself, but have fewer choices of airstrips to use.
>
> In the summer time, which side of Shasta is the leeward side (bad
> downdrafts) and which side is the windward side (updrafts)?
>
> Of course part of my planning will include phone calls to the various
> airports and talking to local flight instructors. Also flight following
> (as coverage permits). Also will be filing a flight plan.
>
> So there is it is folks, any and all useful information is welcome.
>
> Thanks,
> Donovan
>

[Bob Fry]

>>>>> "d" == djvanantwerp > writes:

d> The flight will be in a 2003 C-172 SP. I do not have a
d> mountain checkout yet, but am planning to get it in the next
d> couple of weeks.

Hmmm. A mickey-mouse mountain "checkout" will simply take you and an
instructor in a high-performing airplane to cruise to Tahoe or Reno at
12,000 to 13,000 feet, do a couple of takeoffs (which are no problem
because of the airplane, weight, and performance) and head back home.

A good checkout would be a somewhat doggy plane loaded to gross with
an instructor who knows what they're doing, and you fly below peaks,
down canyons, and basically get over your natural fear of granite. In
this scenario when you takeoff you want to pull the plane up yourself.
This will teach you to respect the mountains but not be afraid of
them.

d> This will be a day VFR flight solo with only
d> my 30lb flight bag and a duffel bag of clothes

d> Main navigation will be GPS via the KLN94 and MFD in the 172
d> with a Garmin 195 as a back-up.

I live in Davis, have an Ercoupe, and have flown from here to
Washington (I5) and Oshkosh (I80), so with your equipment and weight
you'll have no problem. But you don't know that yet...and you know
the only way to know it is to do it. Good thinking.

>> From (KRBL) to (KRDD) Redding. After that I am not sure about
>> west or
d> east of Shasta. Any input about this?

I fly west, and don't know what's east (don't have my sectional
handy). Here's something important: launch from Reid-Hillview as soon
as you can, daybreak if possible (which might be a problem if there's
an overcast). Avoid the area between Redding and Medford in the
afternoon or at least be careful then of convective stuff.

d> Should I carry oxygen for 10,500ft?

No.

Basically it's an easy trip and you'll realize this after you do it.
Keep doing the long ones and you'll build confidence fast. After you
get back from Oregon, consider a trip to Los Angeles or Phoenix (in
the fall--go to the Copperstate fly-in for an excuse).

[Jose]

> d> Should I carry oxygen for 10,500ft?

It is not required by regs. I do not use oxygen at that altitude.
However, some people have reported, especially at night, diminished
performance at that altitude (in fact, even above five thousand). I
haven't done it (mainly because I don't have one) but I'd like to take
one of those pulse oximeters up to altitude and see what -=my=-
physiology is. Everyone's is different (and it may vary from day to day)

Has anyone done this who's willing to post results and circumstances?

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Sylvain]

Jose wrote:
>> d> Should I carry oxygen for 10,500ft?
> It is not required by regs. I do not use oxygen at that altitude.
> However, some people have reported, especially at night, diminished
> performance at that altitude (in fact, even above five thousand). I


one thing I have noticed though (bought a portable oxygen system
and was experimenting a bit) is that even when flying lower than
at altitude at which supplemental oxygen is required, using it
reduces fatigue drastically especially on a long cross country;
i.e., if you have an oxygen system and are going on your
first really long x-country, why not take it along? won't
hurt.


--Sylvain