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Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

mcgrathm

mcgrathm

New member
Savannah, TN
Aircraft Type
112/A
Planning a trip from Savannah Tn to Salem Or by way of Red Lodge Mt. I have made the trip before in my Cherokee 180C a couple years ago, but did not go as far north as Red Lodge. Any Mtn flyers out there now of a good route from Red Lodge to Salem? Maybe some way to get from Red lodge to Idaho Falls? Just looking for options and playing it safe. I will be VFR. Attached is my original route.
 

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Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Hi Mike,

I've spent lots of time flying around there. There's three routes depending on weather. When are you thinking of doing the trip?

I'll post more later about the routes. Short on time right now. When you make it to SLE maybe we can meet up. A couple other PNW commander owners in the area. Great restraint there at SLE too.

Tim
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

TKutchera said:
Hi Mike,

I've spent lots of time flying around there. There's three routes depending on weather. When are you thinking of doing the trip?

I'll post more later about the routes. Short on time right now. When you make it to SLE maybe we can meet up. A couple other PNW commander owners in the area. Great restraint there at SLE too.

Tim
Click to expand...
Yes, I eat at the airport in SLE all the time when I am there. Great view of aircraft on the ramp and on the runways.

I don't have a set time, but usually go between June and the middle of August. That is usually the best weather in Oregon.

Flying over in that time frame I like traveling in the early morning (just at or little before sunrise) when it's the coolest. Lower DA and smoother air. Plus weather tends to kick up in the MTNs in the afternoon.

I actually work in Oregon, but live in TN. I am about the only contractor allowed to work offsite, so I decided to make a trip out there every year to work on site for 2 weeks to a month (at my own expense) to meet the people I work with. Besides, I like Oregon. Plenty of things to see and do.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Probably too far out of your way, but Columbus, NM (just south of Deming, NM and west of El Paso, TX along I-10) is the actual lowest point on the Continental Divide. Flying along I-10 is probably the lowest (and least mountainous) terrain between E and W coasts, but it is a pretty big detour from a "direct" route. I've flown the route several times, both eastbound and westbound...

Kind of a tough choice between the desolate mountainous regions up north, or the desolate desert regions down south.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Yeah, you can fly the V66 on the southern route at 9 or 10 the whole way.

I've done it twice, once in the Commander and once in a Piper Dakota.

Winds this time of year can get nasty, pay attention to winds aloft around the peaks. > 25 knots and you're gonna have some fairly nasty chop, complete with up/down drafts possibly north of 2000 fpm, so plan your peak clearance accordingly.

I would say in general, plan on adding 2000 to MEAs for winds aloft at the peaks greater than that 25 knot number.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Thanks, but I am going to KRED Red Lodge MT. first. The map I attached is the route I took 2 years ago with no problems. I am looking for any ideas to go from KRED to Salem Or. One person suggested to pretty much follow I90 into WA then go down to Oregon.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Well, setup my trip from KSNH to KRED to drop family off and then from KRED to KSLE Salem, Or. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1433894734.227667.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1433894748.695742.jpg


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Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Michael,

I cant tell what fix you have in there after MLP, but if youre looking for a fuel/potty stop Kellogg (S83) is a great easy in easy out airport and from there if you head SW towards the south end of Coeur D Alene Lake, its a nice wide (relatively) pass and very scenic and spits you out a little further south for a straight shot towards The Dalles. Kellogg to 1W1 is about 2:30 flight time.

Cheapest fuel over on this side (west) of the Cascades is usually Camas (1W1) ($5.62 today) which is right after you get through the gorge or Scappoose (SPB) (5.68 today) which is a little further to the west of Vancouver.

If you drop into Camas let me know and if Im around Ill come say hi as Im based there.

Tim
 
Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Thanks Tim, I change the route to use S83 as a fuel stop. I may not stop at Camas on the way down as I need to get situated with rental car and a place to stay. I will be there for a couple of weeks, but if you (and better half) come down to Salem I will treat for dinner at the Airport restaurant.


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Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Sounds good. Let me know when youll be there and we will try to make it work out.
Tim
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

I've also flown that a number of times. In good WX I fly the canyon from Cody WY to Yellowstone. Then you are clear to SLE
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Chip said:
I've also flown that a number of times. In good WX I fly the canyon from Cody WY to Yellowstone. Then you are clear to SLE
Click to expand...

Do you go through Sulvan Pass? What altitude?
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

I don't see the pass name on my chart, but it goes from Cody to Wapiti, then Yellowstone. I must have been 7K-8K since I was way below peak altitudes. Midway up it looks like a box canyon, but it opens up to the left as you get close. Just follow the highway. Once out, you fly over the park and can see geysers and the beautiful lake.

I'm off to Anchorage today flying through BC and Yukon via Smithers, Watson Lk, Whitehorse, Northway, then Anchorage.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Chip said:
I don't see the pass name on my chart, but it goes from Cody to Wapiti, then Yellowstone. I must have been 7K-8K since I was way below peak altitudes. Midway up it looks like a box canyon, but it opens up to the left as you get close. Just follow the highway. Once out, you fly over the park and can see geysers and the beautiful lake.

I'm off to Anchorage today flying through BC and Yukon via Smithers, Watson Lk, Whitehorse, Northway, then Anchorage.
Click to expand...

I see it and what looks like a box canyon. The Highway goes through Sylvan Pass into Yellowstone Park. Looks like 10500 would be minimum to stay 2000 ft. above the park and through the pass.

I actually thought about that route earlier. I called a pilot in Cody about it and he suggested the I90 corridor. Although people do fly the canyon they have had a few accidents around the pass.

I don't have that much experience (couple of trips) in the Rockies so I will probable stay the I90 route this trip. Plus no turbo.... :)
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Im with you Michael. IFR - I follow Roads :)

Tim
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Well took off today for my trip to Red Lodge. Found a problem with my radio. There was a little static to start, but when I got higher in altitude it got worse to the point I could not understand what was being said. My transitions were fine. Turned around and came back for repairs. Anyone run into that before?


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Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Ran into similar but opposite problem while training. As I got closer to the ground the static in the 430 became unbearable. Once I got back up to altitude it was fine. Turns out the squelch was turned down on the Nav side but I wasn't close enough to the VOR for the morse ident.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

Just dealt with that problem and the "P" leads from the magneto were the culprit. If I tuned into a very weak signal, the static became very bad. I tested it on the ground and it seemed to coincide with engine RPM.
 
Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

I will check it out, but curious why it seems altitude seems to effect it? My first thought was antenna.


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Re: Trip planning from TN (KSNH), MT (KRED), OR (KSLE)

It may be that at altitude signals will be weaker. I noticed in my case that when I listened to guys in the tower the static was not bad. When flying and talking to center or TRACON the static was a lot worse.
 
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