After a fun-filled couple of days in Co Springs, I flew SSW to climb above terrain to the west of kcos, then went past Salida & Gunnison and Montrose, descending into Moab.
There was a benign sct layer around 12,000 for part of it and it was spewing some virga. I dodged the worst of it, and the higher peaks. No major turbulence, but it was not smooth.
There be some stunning terrain in that area, but it is a part of the country that deserves all your attention and respect if you are piloting across it. Tue was a benign day - I cannot imagine flying over these mountains in weather. And if weather was not a problem, a forced landing could have been ugly, for much of that leg.
If I was young and knew about this, I would have made my start in Colorado or Utah.
The people there live in the world's largest and most fun playground imaginable!
(Possibly Cali/PNW are similar, but there are things about Co/Ut that call to me).
The outdoors is completely unmatched, and the locals truly embrace it.
I spent many of my getaway hours in the woods/desert, on hills or rocks scanning the vistas this trip. (I went up Pikes Peak, hiked 7 Falls, the cos zoo, drove into the mountains on a scenic loop, rode a cable car, in Moab; Canyonlands and the Arches)
