mtn crossing planning

[lktiller]

N95901 & I are planning on a trip from Alabama to Sacramento, CA and back this summer. Is anyone familiar with a route between Albuquerque and Sacramento? And who would be willing to critique my planning?
Contact me via Private Messages, please, to swap email addresses.

Larry Tillery
Near Gadsden, AL
Check the attached pic for my reasons for going!

[Yellow Duck]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Larry, looks like he has the right idea. Looks good to me. lol

Would be a heck of a trip. Going in your T-Craft ? Wish I had the *#@** to do that kind of a trip. Must be getting old. Think Kevin Mays has made that before.

[crispy critter]

Re: mtn crossing planning

I've been across there before but it's been a while. I always liked crossing the north side but they are both beautiful....and dangerous if you don't respect the times, weather, winds .
Feel free to email me anytime Larry and we'll see if we can help ya plan a safe and fun trip...or better yet, call me, either one you like.

[mhorowit]

Re: mtn crossing planning

email address

Hey Kevin - have you changed your e-mail or is this just a different one? - Mike

[Vasey fan]

Re: mtn crossing planning

I've never been to Sacramento, but I have been through Albuquerque a couple times during the summer in my C-140.

For a fuel stop in the ABQ area I'd recommend the Alexander-Belen airport south of ABQ. It's at lower elevation than Albuquerque, little patio cafe over the fuel office, nice folks, huge NM state fuel surcharge(!). Only one runway, crosswind both times I've been there.

[lktiller]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Kevin, (or our moderators), you might want to edit out your email address & phone number. This type of forum is wide open to spammers looking for new victims.

Thanks for the reply. I'll be asking a bunch of questions about the route. We have a few months to plan so I'm wide open to all suggestions.

N95901 made the east-west coast flight a few years ago. (before it adopted me) They crossed the big mtns somewhere near Las Vegas at ****** ft. Having flown to 11,999.9 ft MSL (and still climbing at 200 fpm) and with 800 hrs in type & model, I feel confident the plane is capable.
Can't fly on confidence alone so I'm grateful for everyone's advice.

Besides, the Grandboy needs instructions in sharing that chocolate bottle!

Larry Tillery

[crispy critter]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Hey Kevin - have you changed your e-mail or is this just a different one? - Mike

Mike,
I use this one for all my airplane stuff now. The other one is shared with my wife and is cluttered with all that wife stuff and it still gives me forum updates. I check them both daily so use which ever you prefer.

[Pearson]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Flowers Aviation in Pueblo, CO is a great fuel/food stop!
Also, Abilene Aero in Abilene, TX is another good one.

[dedrekon]

Re: mtn crossing planning

When you get to Sacramento (a very nice town), you should fly out to the Nut Tree just down the road. There's an older fellow there with a bunch of cool planes....Stearmans, a DC3 and various assorted other neat old stuff. I can't remember his name, but he's well known in the are and was very kind to me last time I was there. Stormin' Norman will definitely know who is.
The Nut Tree was a standard stop when my family used to fly to Southern Cal from our home in Oregon when I was kid (MANY years ago). Now the restaurant and rides are gone, but the airport is still going strong.

[lktiller]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Thanks for the info, all. Actually, Nut tree is my destination. Closest to the airbase unless they'll let me land on their private strip.

I will be following up on these remarks soon. Right now my home internet provider has problems. They did an upgrade in the Central Office and my DSL hasn't worked since. Making this reply from work but can't keep that up.

Larry Tillery

[Pinyon-nut]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Hey Larry,
the Sweet Yellow Bird and I have made the trip from Boulder CO to Phoenix Az a couple times now . My recomendation for the trip would be to plan on stopping in St Johns or Winslow AZ. Multiple runways (minimum xwind landings) and good prices on fuel . Avoid (if possible) Gallup NM. only 1 runway and always (my experience ) a very brisk xwind. Make sure you take water and fly the desert early in the day. a Very fun trip. Make sure you fly over the meteor crater west of winslow.


Ron

[Rick_Utley]

Re: mtn crossing planning

The name of the guy at Nut Tree is Duncan Miller. When your here, give me a shout, I'll buy you lunch. Would love to see your plans as they develop.

[flyguy]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Larry,
Coming across the mountains at near Lake Tahoe is only about 9000 or so and will dump you out about where you want to be in the valley. Unless you want to come around the corner to the south which would be quite a bit longer, but a much lower altitude. I would suggest you stay away from the middle of the range, like barstow and there abouts, it is really rugged and high. (like 13, and 14 kft. Actually if you are coming across the desert anyway the southern route might be easier, then you could come by Los Banos and I'll buy you lunch or dinner as the case may be.
Darryl
Maybe Rick and I could give you a welcome escort.

[VictorBravo]

Re: mtn crossing planning

[QUOTE=flyguy]I would suggest you stay away from the middle of the range, like barstow and there abouts, it is really rugged and high. (like 13, and 14 kft. Actually if you are coming across the desert anyway the southern route might be easier, QUOTE]

For whatever it's worth, he's coming through ABQ, so I suggested Interstate 40 to Needles, then Barstow, then Palmdale, then Gorman, then Bakersfield and up the valley. This puts him closest to civilization and more attended airports, keeps him out of the military complexes at Edwards and China Lake, and keeps him out of any wave rotors or downwash on the lee side of the Sierra if they're acting up. It is a bit further, but worth the detour IMHO.

Also, if he crosses the Sierras and finds poor visibility in the Valley, he's facing a trip back into the Sierra Nevada to find a safe place to land. I once landed a fixed wing (sailplane) on the helipad at that US Marine Corps "mountain warfare training center" by Bridgeport and I can assure everyone it's not a pleasant experience People wonder where I learned to BS so well...

[flyguy]

Re: mtn crossing planning

Just what I was thinking. Don't see how one could improve on that route.
Darryl