You got it.Pew Al Up ?
One of these years I'm gonna take the class. I go right through La Veta driving for the elk hunt. I'd like to fly into KSKX from the Midwest. I wouldn't dare pull it off without taking a course being a flatlander. I always thought La Veta was one of the "easier" passes from my Google searchesKinda. Which pass you want to use?
La Veta has a habit of eating airplanes but mostly because it’s incredibly long even though it’s not as high as say, Rollins.
I’ve never figured it out completely. You are kinda committed once you’re way up in there but it’s still very wide. I think folks fly up the middle where you’re not supposed to be… and yeah the downdrafts in there can be impressive.
The wind absolutely screams through that pass out on to the plains with any pressure difference.
I do like the southerly routes better than the northerly ones for terrain you might survive a landing in.
One of these years I'm gonna take the class. I go right through La Veta driving for the elk hunt. I'd like to fly into KSKX from the Midwest. I wouldn't dare pull it off without taking a course being a flatlander. I always thought La Veta was one of the "easier" passes from my Google searches
Was thinking follow US 24 through Wilkerson Pass, then turn north at Buena Vista and follow the railroad. Seems pretty benign when I've driven that route. Tennessee Pass to Minturn would be hairy if you had a problem, but it's down valley.
On a nice day….instead of LaVeta, go a bit further north, straight line west from Spanish Peaks 4v1 take Mosca Pass (wider than LaVeta Pass )and you pop out over the Great Sands Dunes!One of these years I'm gonna take the class. I go right through La Veta driving for the elk hunt. I'd like to fly into KSKX from the Midwest. I wouldn't dare pull it off without taking a course being a flatlander. I always thought La Veta was one of the "easier" passes from my Google searches
I'm an idiot, MOSCA is great for the Alamosa valley... Wilkerson is the high pass straight west of Leadville right? Whichever one that is, two of my mountain instructors both say that's the pass (between ASE and Leadville) where they've come the closest to hitting rocks... on days that didn't look that bad. It's very high and if the wind switches to southerly, you'll get horrendous downdrafts right at the narrowest and highest spot.Wilkerson is great. It’s short and sweet and then you’re in the Alamosa Valley.
That's Aspen/Leadville = Independence Pass. Not fun in a car (1 lane in some places) definitely not in an airplane because the pass is so narrow there's no way to turn and get out of trouble. HIghly recommended by Colorado Pilots Assoc, Colorado Civil Air Patrol, and everyone else around here to NOT fly Independence Pass.I'm an idiot, MOSCA is great for the Alamosa valley... Wilkerson is the high pass straight west of Leadville right? Whichever one that is, two of my mountain instructors both say that's the pass (between ASE and Leadville) where they've come the closest to hitting rocks... on days that didn't look that bad. It's very high and if the wind switches to southerly, you'll get horrendous downdrafts right at the narrowest and highest spot.
I've been through it on a nice day and it takes freaking fooooooorrrrreeeeeevvvveeeerrr to climb out of ASE, then double back along the ridge to the north and get to tjhe altitude to get over it.
Anyway, definitely mixing up pass names....
This is why I wouldn't attempt it without taking a course. One of those things I don't know what I don't know.I wouldn’t go so far as to say don’t do it — it’s kinda like VFR flying cross country. There’s days when you can and days when you should stay on the ground.
That said, nothing wrong with personal minimums.
On a calm day, flying over mountain passes in the cool of the day where you have at least some performance margin and a healthy ability to turn around and go back if it gets turbulent… is wonderful stuff.
What does CPA say about Tennessee Pass going from Leadville?That's Aspen/Leadville = Independence Pass. Not fun in a car (1 lane in some places) definitely not in an airplane because the pass is so narrow there's no way to turn and get out of trouble. HIghly recommended by Colorado Pilots Assoc, Colorado Civil Air Patrol, and everyone else around here to NOT fly Independence Pass.
Wilkerson is east of the mountain line that's the east "wall" of Leadville/Buena Vista/Salida valley. It's almost a no-brainer, if you don't know where it is, you might not even notice it other than being on the map. I just stay at 12.5 going west and look for the 2 little lakes. Don't forget to look down and see South Park. Yes, that's a real little town.
For those interested, you can download the Colorado DOT Div of Aeronautics map of the state with details on all the passes and the digital book of all 72/74 airports in the state at
https://www.codot.gov/programs/aeronautics
Might provide answers to many questions here. Plus both are fun to read. I hand last year's paper versions out at the Young Eagle ground school we teach. Kids love having something in their hands, and it keeps the out of date material out of the trash bin. Well, at least out of our trash bins.
I dunno....grab/download the map and check. I'm at work and don't have the detailed notes from the course.What does CPA say about Tennessee Pass going from Leadville?
The mountains are really not that scary! If you are flying anything with ANY performance, you can readily fly all over Colorado.What does CPA say about Tennessee Pass going from Leadville?