What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Route Suggestions - East to West to Southern Oregon

f1rocket

Well Known Member
Looking for routing suggestions flying into southern Oregon from Indiana. I will be in a RV-12 so I have limited performance constraints.

What would experienced fliers recommend as a route? Follow I-80? Into Cali and then up? Thanks.
 
The only real challenge is crossing the Rockies. Simple route is aim for Custer, SD to break up the monotony of Nebraska and So Dakota at the Black Hills. They aren't that high. Head up the Wind River out of Riverton WY toward Dubois and cross the divide just east of Jackson Hole. You'll only need 11,000 for plenty of terrain clearance for a few minutes. Pass the Tetons more or less over the highway toward Idaho Falls, beeline for Klammath Lake OR to cross the Cascades. Want further north in OR? The Cascades are low mountains punctuated by pointy volcanos. See and avoid.

John Siebold
 
Last edited:
Mountain Crossing is the problem

I'm not sure what the performance limitations are on a RV-12 but your idea of following highway 80 (in general) is not a bad idea. Besides the Rockies you will have the Sierra Nevada Mountains to deal with and the general route of I-80 is a reasonable way to handle both.

I fly an RV-6A but last year after a race in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho I flew to Independence, Oregon for the "Home Coming" and came back to Arkansas over Boise, Idaho at reasonable altitude
(no supplemental oxygen required) and I think I was able to find my way at 9,500 ft. or below.

With altitude limitations you have to deviate from a straight line some times but not excessively (in terms of a near transcontinental flight).

If you follow I-80 you have to take into consideration Salt Lake City and the nearby restricted airspaces west of there. There is a corridor through the restricted airspace directly over I-80 and in VMC it is easy to follow.

Refuelling points need a lot of attention of course - I refueled at Brigham City when I went to Reno in June - it has a nice long runway with a reasonable elevation and self serve fuel. You want to avoid some of the high altitude airports like Ft. Bridger and others after leaving the Cheyenne area. It is getting cooler now so that consideration is reduced.

The only way to avoid most of the mountain problems is to go all the way down the El Paso then out to the coast above Pt. Mugu and have a beautiful coastline trip up to Oregon.

Bob Axsom
 
Last edited:
My suggestion is to fly from your home airport direct as possible to Helena, MT. Fuel at the base of the KHLN tower, usually the cheapest fuel in the area, at Mustang Mickey's. Self service. Also, within 100 feet of the fuel pumps is free accomodations in Mustang Mickey's. All the sheets and towels are provided. There are free courtesy cars outside the door. If you choose to go to a motel, the courtesy car will take you there, or sleep for free on one of 4 bunk beds. You make yourself at home, just change the sheets when you leave. Clean sheets are available.

Have flown this route many times on my way to a from Oregon to Oshkosh. I highly recommend the accommodation. Restaurants are within 4 or 5 miles from the airport. Crossing the Rockies on this route requires about 9,000 maximum altitude.
 
John knows the area, that's for sure. He was my RV-1 escort pilot from Twin Falls to Winnemucca last year. In Foreflight, I just put in Indy to Medford (guessing your start-stop spots), and the great circle is a pretty good route. It supports going the I-80 route from Cheyenne to Salt Lake City (actually a bit north of each), and then N of I-80 towards Medford. Its N of the CO Rockies, and S of the Tetons...not a bad way to go, weather permitting.

For that RV-1 trip, we flew this route:

Toledo, OH - Elkhart, IN - Peoria, IL - Lees Summit, MO - Colby, KS - Broomfield, CO - Rawlins, WY - Rock Springs, WY - Ogden, UT - Twin Falls, ID - Winnemucca, NV - Reno-Stead, NV.

The most direct route for you would be a bit north of that, but offers a lot of good stopping spots. I'd probably bee line it for the Cheyenne area, picking cheap gas spots along the way (which would not include Cheyenne...but somewhere nearby for better gas $). Then along 80 to Logan or Brigham City UT, or Preston, ID (good gas stops that keep you a bit north of SLC, which helps you avoid the restricted areas W of SLC with little or no deviation). Then head direct S Oregon, picking more good gas stops. Gets a little sparse as you slide N of 80, but the terrain is friendly, and there are stops. If you have time, swing by Reno-Stead and visit...a bit out of your way, but I'll show ya some cool planes, and swap rides with ya! :)

If the weather is good, just before SLC, you can make a foray up to Jackson and see the Tetons and Yellowstone (its just a bit N of the great circle route, and is where John was referring to).

Just saw Bob Ax's post, and we're talking about the same route.

Put the word out where you'll be stopping, and I'll bet ya a lot of folks come out to see ya...lots of RVs along that route! Have fun Randy!

Cheers,
Bob
 
Thanks for the great suggestions. I will be headed to Eugene to get the -12 painted by John Stahr. A long way to go to get it painted I know, but John is second to none and I'm looking forward to the adventure.

Trip won't happen until Spring but I'm bored at work so I'm playing with iFlightPlanner. I will put it out on the list when I get closer. I'd enjoy visiting with fellow RVers on my way out.
 
How did that Shelby Cobra work out?

I see in your signature data that you completed it. I remember when you said once that you were planning on building it. How did it work out for you?

Bob Axsom
 
Bob,

That car is one of the most fun things I've ever owned. I try and drive it nearly every day. There's only about another month of driving left before she undergoes her "annual condition inspection" to see what's fallen off or unbolted itself. I heartily recommend one of these to anyone. Here's a recent picture. The construction documentation can be found at www.cobra.pflanzer-aviation.com


Index002.jpg
 
I'm trying to figure out the best way through the mountains on day 2. Day 1 has me overnighting on the eastside of the range around Scottsbluff/Torrington Nebraska.

As I head West, it's hard to really tell from the maps what is best and practical. Should I head up the North Platte river to Casper, or can I realistically go West to Rock Springs/Rawlings? It looks like the peaks are in the 7K-8K range but not sure if I should just follow the river valley to get over them.

Also further West, Once in the valley, should I head towards Riverton and follow the river to north of Jackson Hole, or keep further South and cross North of the Salt lake area? Once I get around Jackson Hole, the big rocks are pretty tall and I don't see a good path out of there.

Thanks again for your help.
 
I have done this route numerous times in our piper archer, prior to the rv10. Cheyenne, Laramie, Rock Springs, Kemmerer, Twin Falls, Boise over to the Columbia river then fly down the river to Portland.
 
I have done this route numerous times in our piper archer, prior to the rv10. Cheyenne, Laramie, Rock Springs, Kemmerer, Twin Falls, Boise over to the Columbia river then fly down the river to Portland.

+1 on this route. The first part is I-80, similar to what I was saying in my earlier post, but since you are going to EUG and not MFR (where I guessed), the second half of the route Bill points out is very good, and keeps you near more civilization, for stops along the way as needed. You could short-cut it a bit by turning more west at Mountain Home, stay north of their restricted area, and head over Burns, thus more directly to EUG. You could also detour a little south on that last leg and fly over Crater Lake. You're in for a gorgeous flight! :)

And oh yeah...cool Cobra!! :D

Cheers,
Bob
 
See some history by following the Oregon Trail! Link

Thanks for the link. I've got to read that when I get a little time. I'm pretty close to the trail up to Boise, then I head more Westerly.

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I will head West from Burns to Bend and then over the Cascades. I'm getting excited planning this trip. It's a great motivational tool to make my final push to completion. More to come later this Winter.
 
WOW!!

See some history by following the Oregon Trail! Link

Good Grief Bill, I clicked on your link and spent an hour reading all your stuff! Gee, that was fun, inspiring and very educational. :D

All, I'm interested in this thread as I want to use this route to go to Bend, OR. I've been using the southern El Paso, Tucson, etc. route. I have a weather question. "Is there a time period of the year that provides the best 'weather window' for crossing the mountains??" I've found living most all my life in deep HOT south Texas; the Autumn time of the year provides the most enjoyable trouble free flying "weather window" for me. It's not too hot, not so windy, storms and fronts are at a minimum or don't last as long, etc.

So, I'm thinking you area natives or regular mountain flyers have a preferred time period for crossing. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers and thanks, :)
 
Randy,
When in the planning stages I like to use skyvector.com to get an idea as to the most direct and zoom in on the terrain features to see if I want to "hop" over a ridgeline or follow the roads. There is no question that crossing the Rockies are a big leap but don't think the Cascades are a piece of cake this time of year. Consider different crossing points there as well.
Cheers,
Chris
 
Randy,
There is no question that crossing the Rockies are a big leap but don't think the Cascades are a piece of cake this time of year. Consider different crossing points there as well.
Cheers,
Chris

This is exactly what I'm wondering about. Although flying weather is super in my area now, I know that Pikes Peak is closed to visitors right after labor day. So, for a flatlander, I'm assuming the summer months are the best time to cross the big rocks???
Thank you,
 
I am wrong.

Well right you are Ron. I based my statement on a motorcycle trip I took in 2003 (Gee, doesn't seem like 10 years ago) just after the Labor Day weekend. We wanted to ride to the peak; but were blocked off and not allowed to continue to the top. We were told the road was closed after Labor Day. So, that was my erroneous assumption. I was just a visitor and believed what I was told.

Edit: Called my buddy and he said it Mt. Evans, NOT Pikes Peak. Gee, I'm so embarrassed. But we understood the closure was due to changing weather.

But to my other point, if someone were to say to me, "...I know you live a short distance north of the Mexican border, what is the best time of year to fly in that **** hole???..." I would say, the fall of the year is the most pleasant. There are fronts that blow through; but they are wonderful to fly behind, etc. Lots of good flying time here year round; but IMO the fall has the most pleasant with good visibility.

Cheers,
 
Last edited:
Back
Top