Flight planning from KBOI back to the Chicago area

Richard Frank

Richard Frank

Filing Flight Plan
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Jan 6, 2022
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Cherokee Six Driver
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I will be closing on a new to me Cherokee Six in the coming weeks and I am starting to plan my flight back to the Chicago area from Boise ID. Other than a couple of trips over the Appalachian mountains, I've not done any mountain flying before. I'm bringing my long time friend and CFI with me to fly the plane back and I am going to do a little bit of training on the new plane and get used to it while I'm there. Any advice on routes to take through the mountains to get to the flatlands? Plane is VFR only and no oxygen (we could bring some portable bottles) so obviously the flight will be weather dependent. Thanks all!
 
Generally follow the highway/freeway through the mountains.
I like Kemmer, Wy for a fuel stop. 7000 ft runway with no obstacles. 7000 ft elevation so short climb back to cruising altitude.
Brian
 
You can avoid the highest terrain if you first aim for OCS (VOR) from Boise, then DDY (VOR) then direct DPA. Read the sectional, be aware of the terrain and don't feel the need to fly in straight lines. Follow lower terrain when able (often rivers and roads) and try to choose fuel stops at somewhat lower elevations for easier takeoffs. Choose your weather days carefully, and don't be tempted to fly in the mountains on days with very strong winds aloft.
 
More or less what Thunderbird83 said. You could even go from Boise to BYI, Burley Idaho, then to OCS/Rock Springs, DDY/Muddy Mountain, then direct. Or, from OCS, following I-80 to Cheyenne and east, but the terrain is slightly higher along that route. Mostly high plains/desert rather than mountain flying, the only real mountain ridge to cross is the Bear Lake to Kemmerer area.
Leave Boise at crack of dawn, I mean 6am local or so (9:30-10am is NOT an early morning departure), you'll have the highest parts behind you by mid-morning.
Know how to lean mixture not only for cruise but for best performance takeoff from high density altitude airports. Sorry to be pedantic, but I can't count the number of times I see flatland pilots taking off with mixture full rich at high density altitudes, exhaust chugging out black smoke like the Queen Mary.
Have fun, sounds like a great trip!
 
Jim Carpenter said:
More or less what Thunderbird83 said. You could even go from Boise to BYI, Burley Idaho, then to OCS/Rock Springs, DDY/Muddy Mountain, then direct. Or, from OCS, following I-80 to Cheyenne and east, but the terrain is slightly higher along that route. Mostly high plains/desert rather than mountain flying, the only real mountain ridge to cross is the Bear Lake to Kemmerer area.
Leave Boise at crack of dawn, I mean 6am local or so (9:30-10am is NOT an early morning departure), you'll have the highest parts behind you by mid-morning.
Know how to lean mixture not only for cruise but for best performance takeoff from high density altitude airports. Sorry to be pedantic, but I can't count the number of times I see flatland pilots taking off with mixture full rich at high density altitudes, exhaust chugging out black smoke like the Queen Mary.
Have fun, sounds like a great trip!
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Great point with the mixture. I flew to CO. Springs earlier this year and had to remember to get best power before takeoff and not full rich. Thank you to T-Bird and Jim for the route suggestions. I think that will work fine.
 
Richard Frank said:
Plane is VFR only and no oxygen (we could bring some portable bottles)
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By all means, bring oxygen for this flight. If gives you more flexibility to avoid bumpy air and clouds, and it makes you feel and perform better even when it's not legally required.

The route @Thunderbird83 suggested looks good to me. As others said, don't be a slave to the magenta line - follow the valleys as needed for proximity to airports or at least survivable landing spots in case of an engine failure.

Should be a fun trip - and congratulations on buying an airplane!

- Martin
 
I flew my 9A out to Michigan from Caldwell - just west of Boise. The easiest route is to Pocatello, Bear Lake, then Rock Springs. From there it is dealers choice. We stayed in Lexington Nebraska for the night and then made it into Lansing MI the next day. It was an enjoyable flight. Lexington airport had a courtesy car we were able to use to get to a hotel. You could make it in a day but much more enjoyable taking an extra day. Maybe fly up north a bit to see Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Have fun!
 
Ditto on brining portable bottles for your 02 system.

Congrats on the new plane!
 
You can basically do this entire route without crossing any significant mountain ranges. A mountain here or there and some high plateaus, but this is a no big deal route terrain-wise. Following the snake river plain east, pop over a few high ridges in SE ID/SW WY, fly over a high plateau in WY and then direct when basically clear of Laramie.
 
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