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Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
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Dave Taylor
Attchd is the direct route for a possible trip I'd like to make this summer (naturally I will never go direct with all the airspace/terrain issues) but I was doing some pre, advanced planning and wanted to get an idea of what points of interest are along the way.
I have marked Shiprock (fly-by), Arches(stop for a day), Bonneville Salt Flats(?), Craters of the Moon (is it worthwhile?), Mt Ranier/St Helens.
Might come back via the Dakotas, Ive always wanted to see Rushmore.
I excluded N. Az as I have seen that.
I have about a week to fool around on the way up and prefer beautiful natural sights that are fly-by or at least easily accessible (no days of driving through the desert) and no crowds. Av. museum would not be turned down.

Throw out ideas or things you have seen including expected crowds.
thanks
DT
 

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So, I meet you in MRF, or you pick me up?
 
Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake, Mt Shasta. I did sort of that trip in reverse.
 
After the Arches fly over to the Colorado River then follow the Green River to Green River then the road to the Salt Lake Area. That takes you over a lot of Canyon Lands. That is the most rugged territory I've ever seen. The view coming through the pass at Salt Lake is pretty neat if you fly low-ish through the pass. Spanish Forks U77 had pretty reasonable self serve fuel. Then fly over the salt flats towards Wendover. From there, Jackpot is a pretty good stopping point--cheap fuel, reasonable motel at the casino. Nothing much else there except the casino. I didn't see Craters of the Moon from the ground, I think it would be more impressive from ground level. From the air there is lots and lots of lava and some small old volcano cones. If you want to try a back country strip Smiley Creek U87
is pretty easy to get in and out of. It sits at about 7000ft MSL and had a 4000ft well cared for grass strip in a wide valley. Camping is allowed on the field and there are cabins across the road and a friendly restaurant with good beer and better breakfasts. If the airport "manager" is there you can rent the courtesy car for like $5.00/day + mileage and drive up around the Sawtooth Mts. Fly up the Snake River between Oregon and Idaho (Hells Canyon). South East Washington is kind of pretty from the air. The way the fields are tilled, it looks like Marble Rye Bread.
Then, make sure to fly down the Columbia River Gorge, just keep Mt Adams on the right and Mt Hood on the left.

Barb
 
I thought Craters of the Moon was interesting on the ground as well as from the air. In fact I was inspired to visit it on the ground years after I had seen it from the air. There are lava cones you can climb and also lava caves to explore as long as you bring a flashlight or two or three. We tried to grope our way around in the dark which in retrospect was kinda dumb. :dunno:

Here are some pictures.
 

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SCCutler said:
So, I meet you in MRF, or you pick me up?
Click to expand...

Ah, man, you beat me to it. Looks like he's thinking about Victoria, BC, which Teresa and I LOVE.

Took a trip up there one year for our anniversary (we were living south of Seattle at the time), and decided to get creative with the transportation. We drove to downtown Seattle, took the Amtrak train (our first train ride) to Vancouver, got on a coach bus there that goes to Victoria via the wonderful ferry system in the BC area, spent a few days there at the Empress (at the end of the harbor, harbor view room), then went back via the Victoria Clipper, a high-speed catamaran that runs from Victoria to the Seattle Harbor. Walked back about 4 blocks from the Clipper berth to the train station to get our car.

What a great trip. You got room in the bird, Dave? :)
 
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