Best way out of S0-Cal

Tom-D

Tom-D

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Tom-D
Flying a Cessna 172 VFR equipped out of So-Cal north to Wa. this week. which way weather wise is the best?
Stay west of the mountains (IFR I-5) or go up the east side? (US 97/395)
 
Straight up and over I-5 without a doubt. Easy Peasey.

If winds are whippin over GORMAN, I head over even further west and head north via SBA and follow 101. I have gotten worked over those passes with high winds at altitude.

Keep an eye on weather in Nor Cal if you are VFR...we are expecting some rainy and breezy conditions mid week this week up here.
 
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East of Sierra is acceptable only if winds at 9000 and 12000 are light.

Gorman/Newhall passes should be fine this time of year if it's VFR. Watch for high winds. I skipped it last time due to a report of 45 knot wind shear and a visible dust plume coming south from Newhall Pass. Coastal route avoids high terrain and is much less susceptible to high winds.
 
Reading Ca. north will be a problem this week. either way (east or west).
 
+1 on the coastal route. It's easy to go East and up but you'll need that weather to stay better longer since crossing back to the West in OR and WA will have some fairly tall obstructions.
 
Ravioli said:
+1 on the coastal route. It's easy to go East and up but you'll need that weather to stay better longer since crossing back to the West in OR and WA will have some fairly tall obstructions.
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Yeah, but there are some BIG gaps between those obstructions.

Winds can still be "not fun" east of the Cascades.
 
Tom-D said:
Flying a Cessna 172 VFR equipped out of So-Cal north to Wa. this week. which way weather wise is the best?
Stay west of the mountains (IFR I-5) or go up the east side? (US 97/395)
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Weather wise?? Check in here a few hours before you go and I'll help you get a briefing
 
Oregon will be a VFR problem Wednesday through Friday. Rain on the west side of the mountains and snow on the east side. My lengthy N/S trips though Oregon and Washington have found much better weather on the east side of the Cascades - if you can get there. The Columbia River Gorge is the best place to cross if the weather is snotty and you don't have an IFR plane. I've had really good luck with the experimental graphical forecast on AWC and its depiction of ceilings, winds and general conditions. The site comes with a sliding time scale to see predictions about 24 hours into the future. Here's the link if you aren't familiar with it:
http://testbed.aviationweather.gov/areafcst
 
Flyhound said:
Oregon will be a VFR problem Wednesday through Friday. Rain on the west side of the mountains and snow on the east side. My lengthy N/S trips though Oregon and Washington have found much better weather on the east side of the Cascades - if you can get there. The Columbia River Gorge is the best place to cross if the weather is snotty and you don't have an IFR plane. I've had really good luck with the experimental graphical forecast on AWC and its depiction of ceilings, winds and general conditions. The site comes with a sliding time scale to see predictions about 24 hours into the future. Here's the link if you aren't familiar with it:
http://testbed.aviationweather.gov/areafcst
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I've been thru the gorge several time none have been a good experience. The wind howls thru there
 
Ravioli said:
+1 on the coastal route. It's easy to go East and up but you'll need that weather to stay better longer since crossing back to the West in OR and WA will have some fairly tall obstructions.
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Snoqualimie pass can be done safely at 3500' Stevens at about the same. but landing mins at BVS or OKH are a bit more difficult.
 
Tom-D said:
I've been thru the gorge several time none have been a good experience. The wind howls thru there
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Yeah, the winds through there can be a bugger, but when the air is calm and ceilings are your challenge the gorge often is the only way to cross the Cascades without an IFR plane and oxygen. My biggest concern with going over the Cascades this time of year is ice, so I stay out of the weather by dodging it, or staying on the ground. This will be a challenging week for the OP to make the full trip from SoCal to WA.
 
Winds calm in the gorge??? what's that 10 days per year?

You can safely cross the cascades at or below 10k" except for 2 rocks, Glacier peak, and Mt. Baker if they are in the clouds simply don't go.
When you are at 10k" at Lake Chelan and can't see across ,,,, DON"T GO. If you can your only 50 miles from Darington and home free
 
What's the best way out of So Cal? There are several choices:
  • Route: I-10 East or I-40 East
  • Helpers: United van Lines, Allied, Mayflower, etc.
  • Welcome to America!
 
Yeah, and I've been in one for over 3 weeks - Hawaii. :)

Got to go home on Sunday. :-(
 
CA sucks of you are American in your beliefs and honor the constitution, or have a issue with fires and earthquakes, also not a good place if you aren't rich enough for mile high taxes and a annual theft allowance, the thieves are thick and are not really punished, your stuff IS going to get stolen.

That said, it's probably the prettiest state by miles and miles, go from dunes to alpine to coast line in no time flat, also a great place if you're a car guy, tons of speed shops and meet ups, same for surfing, jumping, etc


Basically the actual physical state is AWSOME, hands down, but the people (minus NorCal) are some of the worst humans I've encountered.
 
Pilawt said:
Best view of SoCal is through a rear-view mirror.
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I like the view out my windscreen. Living here is kinda expensive...so much good VFR weather that the 100LL bill gets steep. :D

Yesterday's flight, up the coast of San Diego.

Second pic...the Emerald Isle? No Chino Hills, after all the rain. Never seen it this green!

IMG_2999 (1).jpg IMG_3005.jpg
 
James331 said:
Basically the actual physical state is AWSOME, hands down, but the people (minus NorCal) are some of the worst humans I've encountered.
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You're going to find nasty people wherever you live. If you want to meet some super nice folks, you should visit my neighborhood sometime.
 
I agree, but CA is a very good place to live if you're a theif or the like, you'll really never do any time, the non law breakers are busy telling everyone else how to live their life.

Also there was just recently a young man posting on here who's life is about to be turned upside down because he mearly had a rifle in his house.

I lived there for a long while, and you're right there are bad folks all over, but CA, especially SoCal is by far the worst, just last time I visited some guy tried came up to me, never seen him before, accused me of talking to his girl, as my girl was sitting right next to me laughing at him, and he wanted to fight me, WTF?? I live in a college town now and even with young dumb drunk kids this crap never happens, but sure as snot every time in CA some crap happens, something stolen, someone try's to fight, just dumb crap, and I'm talking nice areas too (SB, SD, PSP, etc).
 
James331 said:
I agree, but CA is a very good place to live if you're a theif or the like, you'll really never do any time, the non law breakers are busy telling everyone else how to live their life.

Also there was just recently a young man posting on here who's life is about to be turned upside down because he mearly had a rifle in his house.

I lived there for a long while, and you're right there are bad folks all over, but CA, especially SoCal is by far the worst, just last time I visited some guy tried came up to me, never seen him before, accused me of talking to his girl, as my girl was sitting right next to me laughing at him, and he wanted to fight me, WTF?? I live in a college town now and even with young dumb drunk kids this crap never happens, but sure as snot every time in CA some crap happens, something stolen, someone try's to fight, just dumb crap, and I'm talking nice areas too (SB, SD, PSP, etc).
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I've lived here my whole life (well, not yet... :D) and I have to say my experience differs vastly from yours.

There are bad places/neighborhoods all over the U.S. Avoid them and your experience will be better.
 
Cool pics SoCal RV Flyer. I think James just had some bad luck with his encounters. However, I will say there are large swaths of Southern CA that I consider no-go areas, and the nicer areas are getting smaller and smaller. But I'll consider that the cost of having awesome VFR weather and scenery year round. Look at the pics above, mountains, desert, beaches, islands all just a short hop away.

I made a trip to Ohio a few weeks ago and the wind chill was -4 degrees F. I don't know how anyone would live somewhere where you risk death simply by walking out to your backyard.
 
Some of the safest cities in the country are in Socal - James has a bone to pick with the state and makes it known every time someone posts about it. I think he's written some sort of script that alerts him anytime someone posts about Cali or New York. :)
 
The thing I detest about Cal. is the speed limit for those of us that tow. we are limited to 55MPH but the CHP never stop the truckers doing 75. but when they see a WA. State plate you're on the shoulder.
 
kayoh190 said:
Some of the safest cities in the country are in Socal - James has a bone to pick with the state and makes it known every time someone posts about it. I think he's written some sort of script that alerts him anytime someone posts about Cali or New York. :)
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New York ??
I'm from NY, I go back about every 5 years to see family. I know he has a point.

California,, There are spots that are stunningly beautiful, But with the political BS going on there, who cares about living there?
 
Tom-D said:
The thing I detest about Cal. is the speed limit for those of us that tow. we are limited to 55MPH but the CHP never stop the truckers doing 75. but when they see a WA. State plate you're on the shoulder.
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That's funny, I had the same experience in WA and UT.

Gotta love the BS. Post away, guys. Those of us who live here know you're FOS.
 
MAKG1 said:
That's funny, I had the same experience in WA and UT.

Gotta love the BS. Post away, guys. Those of us who live here know you're FOS.
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Wa speed limit for those towing is 60 MPH, and the WSP don't grab every Ca license to pull over.
 
My, such CA bashing recently. Saw girls in bikini's playing beach volleyball on Sunday. After playing in the snow in the mountains with my son on Saturday.
 
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