Mountain flying knowledge required?

In late May I am planning to fly across the US, from NY to southern
California, with a return stop in Denver, CO. This will be done in a
single-engine, turbo-normalized Bonanza with on-board O2, and this is
the first time I have done this. My plan is to fly the majority of it
under IFR flight rules and at altitudes in the mid-to-upper teens (westerly
wind-depending).

When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have decided to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.

Disregarding the concept of density altitude as I am already familiar with
its affect on aircraft performance, would it still be advisable for me to
seek out some mountain flying instruction? My intention for this flight
is not to get too near the higher peaks of the Rockies, with the exception
of overflying the southern range in New Mexico.

--
Peter


















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"Peter R." wrote in message
...
In late May I am planning to fly across the US, from NY to southern
California, with a return stop in Denver, CO. This will be done in a
single-engine, turbo-normalized Bonanza with on-board O2, and this is
the first time I have done this. My plan is to fly the majority of it
under IFR flight rules and at altitudes in the mid-to-upper teens
(westerly
wind-depending).

When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have decided
to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.

Disregarding the concept of density altitude as I am already familiar with
its affect on aircraft performance, would it still be advisable for me to
seek out some mountain flying instruction? My intention for this flight
is not to get too near the higher peaks of the Rockies, with the exception
of overflying the southern range in New Mexico.

--
Peter


There's really no substitute for actually flying in a rotor or mountain
wave.
But, I'm sure you could do some reading online to brush up on the various
phenomena associated with mountain flying.
The two I've listed are the ones I deal with most regularly.
You can expect LARGE updrafts and downdrafts.
It is important to know where they may occur in relation to the mountain
ridge.
Like I said, if you actually fly in it a couple times, it becomes a little
more obvious.
But if you are well informed, you should be able to recognize the conditions
around you...

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:57:32 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:



When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have decided to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.



I am assuming that you are going to go to LVS VOR then head north, or
to ALS VOR and then through LaVeta Pass to Gosip. Both ways are
easily passable with your Bonanza. The thing that you need to really
watch out for is the afternoon thunderstorms that tend to pop up that
time of year. They can get pretty sever real fast but they are
usually gone just as fast. I have been flying in that area for over 3
years now and I find that the turbulence isn't too bad. If you do get
bumped around, just fly a little further east and it will die down.
The Wet Mountains tend to have the worst turbulence consistently so I
try to stay away from them, but time to time, I will get up around
16000 and get over them with little problems.

Just curious, but what airport are you planning on going to in Denver?


Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher

Having a well trained CFI introduce the mountains to you can be a pleasure,
you never will forget. So do not miss it if you are in a mountain aerea for
the first time!
Have much fun
Walter

Scott D. wrote:

I am assuming that you are going to go to LVS VOR then head north,
or to ALS VOR and then through LaVeta Pass to Gosip.

My first plan was to fly to the Albuquerque VOR (ABQ), north to Las Vegas
(LVS) VOR, then along the airway into Denver.

You all certainly have a lot of military airspace in Arizona, New Mexico,
and Colorado to consider!


Both ways are
easily passable with your Bonanza. The thing that you need to really
watch out for is the afternoon thunderstorms that tend to pop up that
time of year. They can get pretty sever real fast but they are
usually gone just as fast.

That confirms what I have read. My plan was to leave early in the AM for
the four hour flight so that I could arrive before noon.

I have been flying in that area for over 3
years now and I find that the turbulence isn't too bad. If you do get
bumped around, just fly a little further east and it will die down.

Good to know.

The Wet Mountains tend to have the worst turbulence consistently so I
try to stay away from them, but time to time, I will get up around
16000 and get over them with little problems.

What VOR are those mountains near?

Just curious, but what airport are you planning on going to in Denver?

My brother lives in Firestone, CO, which is directly north of Denver by
about 25 miles. The closest airports appear to be Platte Valley (18V) and
Erie Muni (48V), both of whom have pretty good fuel prices. I prefer a
hangar option for the few nights I will be there. Have any opinion on
either airport?

--
Peter


















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Scott D. wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:57:32 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:



When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have decided
to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.



I am assuming that you are going to go to LVS VOR then head north, or
to ALS VOR and then through LaVeta Pass to Gosip. Both ways are
easily passable with your Bonanza.

Why go from LVS back westward to ALS?

How about ALB to LVS to Trinidad and straight north just east of the
foothils? Not to many more miles that way. If the winds are nor due
westerly, you should have a smooth ride and better options as well.

Just curious, but what airport are you planning on going to in Denver?

Yes!


Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

would it still be advisable for me to
seek out some mountain flying instruction?

To answer your question directly, I think based on what you have described
that if you take time to flight plan rigorously, try to stay day VFR, and
read a good mountain flying book like Sparky Imerson's you'll be good to go
without specific mountain flying instruction. That said, getting some extra
instructional time in new conditions is always a good thing, but I think in
your case not strictly required if you study up.

Somebody here posted recently what I think is great advice. Night,
Mountains, Single Engine: pick any two.

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 17:28:19 -0700, "Matt Barrow"
wrote:


Scott D. wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:57:32 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:



When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have decided
to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.



I am assuming that you are going to go to LVS VOR then head north, or
to ALS VOR and then through LaVeta Pass to Gosip. Both ways are
easily passable with your Bonanza.

Why go from LVS back westward to ALS?

Reread the comment, there was an "or" between the two possible routes.
He has two options from ABQ. Either go up the valley over Santa Fe to
Alamosa and then over to PUB via the LaVeta pass and Gosip
intersection, OR he can cross over the mountains there and go to LVS
and then up V611 through PUB (which is actually the preferred route,
and there is more scenery on the east side). There is also a third
route but it sounded like he want to stay away from the mountains as
much as possible, which is a good thing for someone who isn't familiar
with mountain travel.

How about ALB to LVS to Trinidad and straight north just east of the
foothils? Not to many more miles that way. If the winds are nor due
westerly, you should have a smooth ride and better options as well.

Just curious, but what airport are you planning on going to in Denver?

Yes!


Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO


Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 20:15:41 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:

The Wet Mountains tend to have the worst turbulence consistently so I
try to stay away from them, but time to time, I will get up around
16000 and get over them with little problems.

What VOR are those mountains near?

Easiest way to define them is to find the La Veta MOA. You can also
draw a line from Alamosa Co, to Pueblo, to 1V6 (Fremont County) back
to Alamosa and they are the mountains in that triangle.

Just curious, but what airport are you planning on going to in Denver?

My brother lives in Firestone, CO, which is directly north of Denver by
about 25 miles. The closest airports appear to be Platte Valley (18V) and
Erie Muni (48V), both of whom have pretty good fuel prices. I prefer a
hangar option for the few nights I will be there. Have any opinion on
either airport?

Well, Jefco (BJC) is probably the nicest towered airport with more
services. I never pay for the fuel there so I don't know what their
prices are, but they will have plenty of hanger space. I have never
been to 18V and I have only been to 48V twice to pickup props from
Rocky Mountain Propellers located on the field.


Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher

Scott D. wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 17:28:19 -0700, "Matt Barrow"
wrote:


Scott D. wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:57:32 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:



When planning my flight from Palm Springs, CA, to Denver, I have
decided
to
avoid the high peaks in which a direct flight would result and instead
planned a flight east to Albuquerque, NM, then northeast/north to
Denver
across the flat lands of Colorado, east of the mountains.



I am assuming that you are going to go to LVS VOR then head north, or
to ALS VOR and then through LaVeta Pass to Gosip. Both ways are
easily passable with your Bonanza.

Why go from LVS back westward to ALS?

Reread the comment, there was an "or" between the two possible routes.

Yup, missed the "or" at the end of the line.

Well, excuuuuuseeee me!! :~)


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO