Crossing The Rockies Near Denver

Geico266

Geico266

Touchdown! Greaser!
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I am ferrying an LSA from Lincoln, NE (KLNK) to Santa Rosa, CA ( KSTS)

What routes have you flown to cross the big rocks? Crossing near the WY border looks doable, but I defer to experience.

I have crossed the mountains many times, but performance will be an issue with an LSA.
 
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When are you going?

IFR over the Sierra often means ice starting right about now, and the MEAs are ridiculous for an LSA....though the weather is likely to remain clear for a few weeks still. The mountains are lower further north.

Lake Tahoe has been done in an LSA. Donner Pass (I-80) requires around 9000 feet, but it gets turbulent. Expect some moderate unless the winds are dead calm. It's better above 11000 if you can get there, as that clears the highest peaks in that area.
 
MAKG1 said:
When are you going?

IFR over the Sierra often means ice starting right about now, and the MEAs are ridiculous for an LSA....though the weather is likely to remain clear for a few weeks still. The mountains are lower further north.

Lake Tahoe has been done in an LSA. Donner Pass (I-80) requires around 9000 feet, but it gets turbulent. Expect some moderate unless the winds are dead calm. It's better above 11000 if you can get there, as that clears the highest peaks in that area.
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Within a week, weather permitting.

How about KTOR - KRWL - KRKS. Just north of Denver along the WY border. Scottsbluff to Rock Springs basically, to clear the rocks. That looks comfortable. Pretty sure it can do 11500 MSL, will test today.
 
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I go south this time of year because of the weather and winds aloft, you also have the Sierras to deal with, but take whatever route. South is safer, north is shorter.
 
Geico266 said:
Within a week, weather permitting.

How about KTOR - KRWL - KRKS. Just north of Denver along the WY border. Scottsbluff to Rock Springs basically, to clear the rocks. That looks comfortable. Pretty sure it can do 11500 MSL, will test today.
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I fly west along the WY/CO border frequently and it's easily done at 11,500'. I know you'll use good judgement to pick the smoooothest route between the taller rocks. Identify Elk Mountain and avoid the east side - the rotors go down to ground level on bad days.

Winds can be a "challenge" and are typically 5 to 10 kts higher than forecast along the Front Range. Winds can also be a problem when heading for the I-40 route - watch out around Las Vegas, NM since a pretty good wave develops just west of there when the wind is out of the southwest.
 
Clark1961 said:
I fly west along the WY/CO border frequently and it's easily done at 11,500'. I know you'll use good judgement to pick the smoooothest route between the taller rocks. Identify Elk Mountain and avoid the east side - the rotors go down to ground level on bad days.

Winds can be a "challenge" and are typically 5 to 10 kts higher than forecast along the Front Range. Winds can also be a problem when heading for the I-40 route - watch out around Las Vegas, NM since a pretty good wave develops just west of there when the wind is out of the southwest.
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I think that looks like a good route, and it is a little more direct. I'll be careful. :yes:
 
Henning said:
Next question, where are you going to cross the Sierras... That's as ugly as the Rockies if not more so in some places.
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Not sure yet, I'll cross those mountains when I get to them. ;)

:lol:

I won't aim for the peaks. ;)
 
Geico266 said:
Not sure yet, I'll cross those mountains when I get to them. ;)

:lol:

I won't aim for the peaks. ;)
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Actually, you can overfly the peaks at Lake Tahoe at the 11500 altitude you were talking about. And treat yourself to a spectacular view if you fly direct Squaw Valley VOR from Reno (despite the name, it's on Squaw Peak).

The mountains are higher further south. And if you cross Yosemite, the regs require 2000 AGL on top of that (that's 12000 MSL in the passes).
 
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I would go whichever way the prevailing winds favor at the time. Make a few different routes that the airplane can accommodate and pick one based on your intel the day of. I-80 works but the wind loves to blow in Wyoming. Getting into California you can always hang a right and find some lower terrain to cross over.

However if you somehow luck out on weather cool and calm enough and the airplane can make some altitude, my favorite way would be the most scenic way: the crux would be getting your butt across the divide at Monarch Pass near Salida (NW of Alamosa, SW of Denver), enjoy the grand canyon of the Gunnison, the Telluride peaks, Montrose, and run down the Colorado river for a while to get you to Vegas. Tons and tons of scenery, one high pass to deal with.
 
Henning said:
Next question, where are you going to cross the Sierras... That's as ugly as the Rockies if not more so in some places.
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If he takes the I-40 route, just head from Barstow, to Palmdale to Tehachipe Pass. Talk to Joshua Appch and may even get cleared through the Edwards Restricted areas above 7000.

Winslow had a great mex resturant, research where the self serve fuel is.
Lake Havasu has great BBQ.
Fox Field just NW of Palmdale has a great airport resturant.
 
BillTIZ said:
If he takes the I-40 route, just head from Barstow, to Palmdale to Tehachipe Pass. Talk to Joshua Appch and may even get cleared through the Edwards Restricted areas above 7000.

Winslow had a great mex resturant, research where the self serve fuel is.
Lake Havasu has great BBQ.
Fox Field just NW of Palmdale has a great airport resturant.
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That's the southern route I suggested and the northern most good pass I can think of.
 
Geico266 said:
I am ferrying an LSA from Lincoln, NE (KLNK) to Santa Rosa, CA ( KSTS)

What routes have you flown to cross the big rocks? Crossing near the WY border looks doable, but I defer to experience.

I have crossed the mountains many times, but performance will be an issue with an LSA.
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I've crossed south of Pueblo, La Veta Pass, there is an AWOS in the pass, contour lines are about 9500msl. IIRC, the AWOS is at 10,000 so if is reporting ceilings at 2500, that puts the clouds at 12,500.

That will get you to Alamosa, then farther south towards Taos VOR and turn right towards Sante Fe. There is a whole lot of nothing out there, might be more prudent to keep going south to ABQ and then west on I-40.

But I was in a T-41B with plenty of power for the high altitude.

Keep us posted on your trip!
 
Immelman said:
I would go whichever way the prevailing winds favor at the time. Make a few different routes that the airplane can accommodate and pick one based on your intel the day of. I-80 works but the wind loves to blow in Wyoming. Getting into California you can always hang a right and find some lower terrain to cross over.

However if you somehow luck out on weather cool and calm enough and the airplane can make some altitude, my favorite way would be the most scenic way: the crux would be getting your butt across the divide at Monarch Pass near Salida (NW of Alamosa, SW of Denver), enjoy the grand canyon of the Gunnison, the Telluride peaks, Montrose, and run down the Colorado river for a while to get you to Vegas. Tons and tons of scenery, one high pass to deal with.
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Oh here we ago again with Monarch Pass.

Don't.

It's becoming winter in the Rockies and the winds over Monarch can be devastating. Marshall is just a short distance south and much easier in an LSA. Personally, this time of year I wouldn't fly LSA in that area, but gomsouth instead.
 
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flyingron said:
Or I-70. Hard to fit through the Eisenhower tunnel.
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Or the always-forgotten Johnson tunnel.

You can only go Westbound though the Eisenhower. ;)

Guess what the Eastbound tunnel is named? :)

Eisenhower opened six years before Johnson.

A little tunnel trivia for y'all.
 
murphey said:
Oh here we ago again with Monarch Pass.

Don't.

It's becoming winter in the Rockies and the winds over Monarch can be devastating. Marshall is just a short distance south and much easier in an LSA. Personally, this time of year I wouldn't fly LSA in that area, but gomsouth instead.
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Search on this site for Monarch to find the reasons why it's really not a great pass in anything but perfect weather with an aircraft that has at least some performance left over.

An LSA through Monarch is rarely a good idea.
 
Don't forget the Wasatch range too. East side is often windy in fall.
 
Which LSA? Let's have a pirep... plane and trip.
 
Immelman said:
I would go whichever way the prevailing winds favor at the time. Make a few different routes that the airplane can accommodate and pick one based on your intel the day of. I-80 works but the wind loves to blow in Wyoming. Getting into California you can always hang a right and find some lower terrain to cross over.

However if you somehow luck out on weather cool and calm enough and the airplane can make some altitude, my favorite way would be the most scenic way: the crux would be getting your butt across the divide at Monarch Pass near Salida (NW of Alamosa, SW of Denver), enjoy the grand canyon of the Gunnison, the Telluride peaks, Montrose, and run down the Colorado river for a while to get you to Vegas. Tons and tons of scenery, one high pass to deal with.
Click to expand...

murphey said:
Oh here we ago again with Monarch Pass.

Don't.

It's becoming winter in the Rockies and the winds over Monarch can be devastating. Marshall is just a short distance south and much easier in an LSA. Personally, this time of year I wouldn't fly LSA in that area, but gomsouth instead.
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Marshall is much much nicer than Monarch, and practically in the same location.

I haven't flown much past Gunnison, but I've driven it plenty of times, and I can't imagine there'd be any real show stoppers once you made it through Marshall.
 
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