How high?

In a previous article, "John Harlow" said:
I'd like to get input on opinions on the "best" VFR altitude for a route.

It seems to me it's largely based on distance, winds aloft and comfort
level. Do you have a "rule of thumb" trading off altitude (and therefore
safety margin) to avoid headwinds? Or, if winds aloft are to your
advantage, how high would someone go in a 172 class aircraft before returns
diminish?

I want to be at least 4,000 feet, because it's quieter up there - there's
very little VFR traffic, and the airliners are only passing through. If
there is a few-to-scattered layer, I want to be above it because the air
is smoother. Before I was instrument rated, I'd have to be careful it
didn't turn into a broken layer when I wasn't paying attention. I don't
like to fly above 10,000 because of the lack of oxygen, although I got up
to 12,500 looking for a way though the storms coming back from Oshkosh.
So generally I end up at 6,000 (or 6,500 if VFR) going west and 9,000 (or
9,500 if VFR) going east.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
I'm just waiting for the day that someone decides that "ignorant moron" is
an ethnic group, and thus cannot be discriminated against.
-- Christian Wagner