Bay Area to Greeley CO VFR planning help

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sleeper-319

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sleeper-319
In early June, I'm planning a trip from the SF Bay Area (KLVK) to Greeley (KGXY) to drop the plane off for some upgrades. The objective is to get there (as opposed to sightseeing along the way, though a small diversion or two isn't a deal breaker). It doesn't need to be a single day, and I have some flexibility. It does need to be VFR though.

Aircraft: 87 M20J, ~155ktas cruise, and will have supplemental 02.
Me: low time (300hr, 120 in this plane) PPL, training for IR, but don't have it yet. I do have mountain flying training and some experience (but I'd regard this more as flying around/over mountains than flying in the mountains).

My first attempt at planning a route. It'll be two legs, with a stop for fuel & lunch. KINW seems a logical spot:
  • KLVK BIH BTY ZLLDA LAS PGS KINW (3:45 ete)
  • KINW ABQ FTI CIM PUB BRK KGXY (similar ete)
Some questions:
  1. I've flown as much as 5 hours in a single day, but this will be closer to 8 in total. It feels pretty achievable in one day if weather cooperates. But it's a long day. Am I being too ambitious?
  2. I've never flown east of BTY, so I'm unfamiliar with everything beyond that.
  3. Are there better routes than what I have here?
  4. What local knowledge should I seek out, and where?
  5. I'll be at 13500 over the sierras (and following Tioga pass moreso than direct BIH), does it make sense to stay at that altitude and cross KLAS above the bravo? Prob descent to 11,500 east of KLAS.
  6. I don't see any published VFR transitions for KDEN, is following the published VFR flyways (like W of I25) the best/only way to descend into Greeley?
  7. If I do end up splitting the trip into 2 days, are there any "must see" sights along the way? I haven't read the GC SFRA chart yet, but that seems like an obvious one.
Thanks for reading this far, and many thanks for any wisdom you can pass along.
 
I’d go direct, cross the continental divide early in the day if possible. Not sure how it would be 8 hrs flying, specially at 155kts. worst case I go around the high terrain to the north and drop into Greeley. I’ve gone that route when it’s windy.
I’ve crossed the divide at all times of the day, even when blowing 40 plus, but only eastbound with high winds.
 
In June consider a more northern route for cooler temps and softer weather (convection, etc.). Southern to come up the east side of the Rockies works, but winds coming down off the Rockies cause almost normal turbulence all along there.

1. In June plane on stopping flying at noon, so one day way too ambitious. Could be done in 2 but plan for 3 to not stress.
2. If you can, fly on the up wind side of any mountains your going by.
3. Take a look at KVLK KEVW KRWL KLAR KGXY.
4. Look at the mountain cams in the Rockies, don't fly if winds on tops over 20kts. https://weathercams.faa.gov/
5. 11,500, if smooth, works. O2 keeps you feeling fresher.
6. There is a Denver Fly map, should be in your EFB, or find it on skyvextor.com, a layer option once you have the map over Denver area.
7. If you're going to make a stop, then fly the Grand Canyon (but now its a 4 day trip). Get the GC SFRA, again on skyvector.com to view.
 
@sleeper-319 I fly from the Bay Area to mid-west annually. I'd STRONGLY recommend keeping major freeways underneath for emergency landings like hwy 80. Go down over the jagged pointy parts in the wilderness and you my never be found. Direct is fast, but following roads is safe over the Sierras & Rockies.

Just my $.02 worth
 
@NordicDave are you saying that in general, or recommending I change my route (it’s def not direct).

@MDunlevie yeah, I already looked at the Denver fly chart. I’m used to seeing published transitions at bravos and didn’t see any on the TAC but there are published VFR flyways. Seemed like flying west of the I-25 under the bravo was the reasonable thing indicated on the fly chart. The route you suggest has some continuous restricted areas, but if I go a bit north and kinda follow 80, it is shorter and maybe over more traveled roads. Thanks.
 
I-80…don’t worry about the Class B Denver, you won’t have any problems dropping into Greeley because it’s outside the ring. What are having done in Greeley and are you staying until finished or what?
 
Flying to AZ as the southern route around the mountains, worth considering a southern route past Edwards AFB. Oftentimes Edwards is closed especially weekends and pretty easy to get permission to over fly if so. Just depends on your risk tolerance.

I've flown both past and through Edwards.

If you can fly high enough, then following highway 80 works great too.
 
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Following I80 across Wyoming as far as Laramie is a pretty good route. Be aware of high winds around Laramie. Hang right at Laramie and head southeast to the state line, pick up the power lines and follow them east out over the plains. Greeley will be pretty much in front of you.

Wouldn’t bother with the southern route in the summer unless you just had to see the canyon or the crater.
Evanston Wyoming has/had a crew car so can be a lunch stop. Can’t help with the barrens of Utah and Nevada. Do be aware of high winds and avoid ridges and the lee side of things like Elk mountain that can ruin your whole day. If you stay up high flight following is a real good idea. Talk to flight wat…errr, ummm flight service if the weather isn’t behaving. Understand that flight service has no clue about small planes and mountain flying so don’t necessarily believe their route advice. Don’t fly over big rocks unless there is darn good reason…and just getting to the other side usually isn’t good reason…going around is often much more better.
 
@murphey, avionics. Not staying. Flying commercial DEN>OAK. Doing the reverse trip the work is done. I might go visit fam in Co Springs for a day or so after dropping the plane off.
 
Nothing wrong with your route other than it's the long cut, but it sounds like it's almost all new so why not? If it was me, I would make my way to KELY and head ENE up to I-80 like others have said. That will knock off at least two hours of your trip. Flying over mountains in the morning (the earlier the better) is the key to a pleasant flight... Have fun!
 
Wagondriver said:
Not sure how it would be 8 hrs flying, specially at 155kts.
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It was over 7 the southern way, but I was rounding up. The northern route looks better.

idahoflier said:
Flying over mountains in the morning (the earlier the better) is the key to a pleasant flight... Have fun!
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Yep. I think I forgot to mention it in my original post, but my plan is to be wheels up at around 05:30 (if weather allows).
 
I think your routing is way more complicated that it needs to be and in your extra care you’re actually flying a much worse part of the Sierra in order to go the southern route around the Rockies. Just punch it direct, and if the winds are much more than calm, go (more or less) KLVK>LAR>KGYX and divert north around the Denver area fourteeners towards the Laramie area and then hook south. I just flew that part of this route twice, no big deal. Regarding the Sierra crossing, if you go direct or a bit north of the direct route, that section of the Sierra is way more tame than going KLVK>BIH, which’s puts you in the vicinity of some really ugly terrain and high peaks in the Sierra and the Inyos, and the Owens valley can be a real wind funnel. Totally doable under the right conditions, but also the site of two of my gnarliest encounters with turbulence and mountain wave.

Kick it up as high as you are comfortable over the Sierra, punch it across Nevada - there’s more or less nothing to worry about there, including landing spots (pick a dry lakebed or dirt road), try not to hit the Uintas, go north around the big peaks in Colorado, and hook south. Easy peasy and don’t forget a pee bag.
 
sleeper-319 said:
@murphey, avionics. Not staying. Flying commercial DEN>OAK. Doing the reverse trip the work is done. I might go visit fam in Co Springs for a day or so after dropping the plane off.
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AATG? they did my 175/G5 last summer. Excellent work and a fair price. One of these days I need to get back there for them to install either a plain CDI or another G5(HSI).
 
I'd agree with those suggesting the "follow I-80" route. Basically Reno-BAM-TCH-OCS-LAR.
If you need an overnight stop, Wendover would be pretty easy, stay at one of the casinos, they have a free shuttle to the airport, or even walk with light bags.
 
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EdFred said:
I'd do a route of something like:
LVK TVL LLC BVL
Stop for food somewhere around SLC
FBR MBW CYS GXY

Heh, just looked at the street view. Yep, looks like the I80 route .
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Adding in the Medicine Bow VOR (MBW) is a good idea, as the winds can get really angry around Elk Mountain, so stay north of it.
 
@murphey thanks. Very generous. I'll reach out as it gets closer. Actual date is really at the mercy of weather.
 
One more vote for I-80 the whole way. For all the (many) reasons stated above.
 
Are you headed to AATG for the avionics? They did my most recent panel installation. Did nice work at a good price. I flew back from Greeley to the Bay Area via Laramie, Rock Springs, Evanston, Salt Lake City, Elko, Battle Mountain, Reno/Truckee. (Follow I-80 as others mentioned above.) If you fly over Salt Lake, be familiar with the transition routes on the FLY chart. Salt Lake City Approach will likely assign one. There's a well known Mooney shop in Evanston on you way if you need any maintenance help during the trip.
 
Thanks all for the recommendations. I recently did this flight. My route was:
KLVK-HNW-KTVL-LLC-BQU-BVL-SLC-KRKS.
After a short fuel stop at Rock Springs, direct GXY.

I chose to mostly follow highways, US-50 over the sierras, then I-80. I planned to follow 80 all the way to Medicine Bow, but the direct route to GXY avoided weather. Flew at 13,500 pretty much the whole way, had a bit of a tailwind for the first third of the flight. Total flight time was about 5.6. The fuel stop was planned, but not really necessary. We could have made it to GXY with 90 minutes of fuel reserve.

I’ve had a bunch of flights in the 3 hour range, but this combined was the longest, and all in all, it was great. A fun flight, great scenery, and everything went really well.

Again, much thanks for the assistance and advice.
 
Agree with I-80, plenty of airports and emergency stops along the way. Enjoy the tailwinds, throttle back if any turbulence and you will still be making a good ground speed. Coming back will be a bigger concern, fighting the headwinds. Crossing the western mountains VFR, I often will use the GOOGLE maps to find the best road trip if driving, and modify to get around SUA, restricted areas. My thinking is having a place to set it down, and multiple airports along the way. Cut corners as you feel save and practical.
 
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