Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

[jCandlish]

Hi Folks

I'm here in the USA, checking out the refitted plane and I'd like to ask for recommedations for a westward route to the CA/OR coast from the Cincinatti area.

I'm the greenest of greenhorns so your recommendations are muchly appreciated.

Thanx
jCandlish
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[lktiller]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Let me know when you plan on going. If late spring, early summer I just might tag along. My grandkids are still in Sacramento
I planned on this trip last year, got good advice.
search this forum for MTN CROSSING PLANNING to view.
Early summer would be a great time for the northern route.

[DanBrown]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

What model ship and engine do you have? Are you flying under LSA rules (limited to 10,000 feet)? Will you be flying at gross weight or light? What is your climb rate at 10000 with the load you plan to carry? Do you plan to have oxygen? There is a lot of good advise out there on flying through the mountain passes. The scenery in the western US is spectacular and worth the learning effort.

I have often crossed on the southern route through New Mexico at less than 10000. Crossing through Colorado usually requires higher levels. In my younger years, I've crossed thru Denver at 18,000 IFR in a Cessna 180, but now that I'm older (wiser?) single engine IFR in the mountains seems very dangerous. Also now I fly under LSA rules in a 65hp T-craft, so that is definitely out. I have not done the northern route yet, but that will be my choice next time.

[jCandlish]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

'39 bc-65, new a-75, 1150lbs, as ppl. I have a certain amount of experience flying in the Swiss Alps above 10K without OX. Available when neccessary.

I will be checking 10K ROC latter this week and advise.

I have time to wait out bad WX, and am especially interested in airfields where camping is an easy option.

Thanks
jCandlish
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[3Dreaming]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Sorry, but I'm not much help on the mountain flying. If you want to make one of your first stops at KOLY I will treat you right. We're about 200 mile west of Cincinnati. Tom

[VictorBravo]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

'39 bc-65, new a-75, 1150lbs, as ppl. I have a certain amount of experience flying in the Swiss Alps above 10K without OX. Available when neccessary.
.

Take the southern route through El Paso, TX. I did the north route (Interstate highway 80 to Salt Lake City, then Interstate 15 to Los Angeles) once in a 150 horsepower Grumman Yankee. Due to the heat on that trip, even the high power Yankee was at it's limits for much of the way.

In PERFECT weather the northern route is do-able with a 75 HP T-craft, but in the summer heat or the winter weather it can go from fun to not fun very fast.

Look at the Taylorcraft owners map on frappr.com and you also might find that the amount of help or friendly faces on the way will be higher on the south route.

Bill

[jCandlish]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Take the southern route through El Paso

I was planning to cross the divide from El Paso. But where to cross the Sierras/Cascades? Is the weather generally better east or west of that range? I seem to remember that it is pretty windy along the coast this time of year.

Also, does anyone here have experience with the Grand Canyon VFR corridors?

Rgds
jCandlish
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[lfries]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

My recommendation for crossing the Sierras is Mojave to Bakersfield.
Biggest problem flying into the San Joaquin Valley this time of year is FOG.
Normally not a problem to fly above and from Mojave you can easily get to
our coastal area which sends there summer fog to us for the winter.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Here's a discussion from last summer which you might find helpful regarding this topic.

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?t=2939

Obviously this had a lot to do with crossing the high country during the heat of summer. BUT, many of the same things apply to winter crossings too.
Good luck and with regards;
ED OBRIEN

[N74DV]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Jason Gerard flew our Tcraft from South Bend, IN to Phoenix, AZ back in October. He's also flown Tcrafts in the northwest. Maybe give him a private message and ask his advice.

He went down south when he brought us ours... through El Paso and into AZ. 25 flight hours if I recall correctly.

[DanBrown]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Just a couple of favorite places in the west. Halls Crossing, Utah, U96, is within walking distance of Lake Powell and has camping on the field. Better is to rent a boat and camp on the red rocks by the lake. The lake is a ecological disaster but a spectacularly beautiful recreactional area. From there, the flight along the lake, down Marble Canyon over Grand Canyon and down to Sedona is beautiful. Sedona airport is on top of a red rock butte -- seems like you ar approaching an aircraft carrier -- but it is much bigger and no problem at all for the t-craft. Sedona is very touristy, but a meal at the lodge sitting by Oak Creek is worth the hassle.

[stormman]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Fries and Victor Bravo have the ticket . Do it before the temps are too high and the winds should stay down. Visit Death Valley Stove pipe Wells or Furnace Creek. Fuel is available at both places but bring a fuel can in case you have to get it from the auto gas station. and sleep on the ground. Showers are available in the campground and if your into one way strips Panamint Springs is nice but be on your toes as like i said its ONE way for most people. When you Leave Death Valley go for Harris Ranch along I 5 Fuel is available there. Recap Going west Stay At Baker , Go to Death valley. Then to Harris Rach at Colinga, about 2 hours from Sacramento.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

if your into one way strips Panamint Springs is nice but be on your toes as like i said its ONE way for most people. When you Leave Death Valley go for Harris Ranch along I 5 Fuel is available there.

I think the Panamint Springs thing is gone. Where exactly is the strip you mention Norm?

About 20 years ago a glider tow pilot and I went "air-camping" in the Scout towplane and tried to find an airstrip there. We couldn't find one (it was getting dark) and we landed on the highway heading westbound (uphill). In the distance we saw the lights of a vehicle coming downhill the other way. The crazy French tow pilot (code name Mad Max) was taxiing the Scout tail-up at about 40 mph, screaming at me to measure on the chart how far away the old Panamint Springs Hotel was before we got clobbered. We turned into the parking lot about 30 seconds before the truck passed going the other way. The hotel was completely abandoned and in a shambles. This would have been about 1984-85. I heard a rumor that someone rebuilt the hotel but that it is abandoned again.

FWIW, I don't recommend the direct route between Death Valley and Harris Ranch with a 75 HP Taylorcraft. You will be beating the s*%t out of the airplane to climb out of Panamint Valley, then doing it again to get over the High Sierra. There is an awful lot of mountainous, desolate terrain on that route. You'd need to carry both desert and mountain survival gear. There would be a LOT of places where you could not radio or cel-phone someone if you were down. There are also a couple of VERY active military restricted areas in that vicinity. Live firing, flight test, etc. Serious stuff.

Follow Interstate 10 from El Paso into Tucson AZ. Then Interstate 10 to Buckeye, AZ, Blythe, CA, Desert Center, and Chiriaco Summit. Follow I-10 until you are approaching Indio, CA then turn north toward Yucca Valley and 29 Palms (to stay 20 miles north of the Banning Pass or you will have 50 mph localized headwinds), then turn west towards Apple Valley, Lancaster, Bakersfield, and Harris Ranch. That is my vote for safety. In the desert, stay within gliding range of major roads and towns. When crossing into the San Joaquin Valley make sure you have enough fuel to get back out to the desert if there is fog in the valley. If the valley is foggy STOP, turn around, go back over the hills, land at Lancaster fox Field WJF, call me and I will come out to rescue you and drive you to a hotel if I can. You DO NOT want to try and fly over/past the fog... when it gets foggy it gets foggy for 100+ miles. See all the previous threads from last year on this subject.

[stormman]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

So right you are on the fog and most things Bill but the winds are more like 100 at the wrong time of year! I figure it was a one person flight in the 70's but i have been there 2 up in the 90,s
I LOVE Death Valley so the suggestion was more of siteseeing trip than direct. You can call About the MOA's and find out when there open and flying on the deck won't help much as thats where they are flying.
Lots of back country strips around there but i can't help you if you miss as the jeep and i are in Arkansas now

http://www.deathvalley.com/

Here's a link and at the bottom of the page on the above link there is a link to panamint springs resort with a map http://www.deathvalley.com/reserve/reserve.shtml
You almost had the strip but you would have to climb the bank on the left side of the road. The first several hundred feet are flat with the last going steeply uphill. BUT its ONE WAY into the hill . You can land downhill if you feel ok with that sort of thing. but the road was a good choise but im not sure were the traffic came from. The guy that ownes the resort had a 182 and he says he's owned a plane and owned a airport but never at the same time. He has it X offed for libility reasons but he doesnt care if you use it if you don't crash. Foods good , Red Hook beer is better. Seems to me you have spent a time or two there. Ever go to China Camp and see the goldfish in the spring? Unbelievable , Goldfish in the desert! Take the jeep . motorcycle or a heli though

[MNJoe]

Re: Recommendations for a Westward route to the CA coast

Why would anybody want to fly from Ohio to California unless they want to see whats between each State? Go to Alaska with it!