I'm trying to fly from the Portland area to Reno next week (Wed, Thu, or Fri) and it looks like it will be overcast and a bit of rain. I've always gone direct over the mountains on clear days. What's a reasonable altitude and ceiling to safely fly up the river from Troutdale to The Dalles?
I've done it with a 2,500' ceiling, and a little lower in a Super Cub, but only after making sure visibility below the clouds is excellent, that the east end (and preferably everything from Hood River eastward) is wide open, and that there are no significant winds. Winds can make life miserable in the Gorge, and make maneuvering more difficult.
Keep airspeed down, and be spring-loaded ready to turn around and go back if you can't see past the next bend in the river. I wouldn't want to try it with anything more than
very light precip. Know where the Cascade Locks (KCZK) airport is, just in case.
Today, for example, winds are light and variable at 4S2 and DLS, but out of the east at 25-30 at TTD. Even though the ceilings are decent, and better to the east, it would not be a day I'd try it. 10-15 knots end-to-end would be about my limit when flying that low. Years ago there used to be a weather reporting station at CZK; too bad it's gone now.
Does traffic doing that route just stay to the right side below 3000'?
It's a good idea, but don't count on everybody else doing it. Turn on every light you got. Below 3,000 TRACON radar can't see you east of Bonneville Dam
According to the article, that one is east of DLS. There are a lot of towers and wires around Bonneville Dam; chart says the highest is 439' MSL (345' AGL).
Some pics:
Eastbound approaching Bonneville Dam, with clear sky ahead:
Another trip, eastbound between Hood River and The Dalles: