"Jeff" wrote in message ...
over Denver...have you seen the MEA's over Denver...they are around 17,000
ft.
Also, I was told by a CFI who used to fly out of Denver, he said to not
attempt
to fly over the rockies when the winds are 30 kts or higher.

Anyone here flown over Denver, west to east or vise versa -- Any problems?
(in a small plane, not B2's or 747's)



MEA's around Denver are in the 11K range going north, FL230 going SW or
west, and 17K going N-NW. Look at APA's Pikes Two and Rockies Three
departures.

I flew out of APA from 1976 until 1989 and made regular trips west bound and
return. Those were in a T182RG and a 340. Many who tried those in NA
172/182's (and even a few turbo's) were not seen again.

The bunch I worked for were doing a lot of business in the San Juan's and
northern New Mexico. I'm working for them again, 14 years later, but that
part of the business is no longer in operation. Now our trips are still out
over the Rockies, to/from Montana, Idaho, Santa Fe, Phoenix (my base) and
Minden, but we're using turbines now and our only piston-popper is a T210
(soon to be retired).

To an extent, I agree with the instructor about flying out of Denver and
heading west in something that is not turbo'd unless the pilot has VERY
EXTENSIVE mountain training and experience and a bird that is in tip-top
condition. It's shocking how often the forecasts are dead (key word there)
wrong and how fast weather can completely go-to-hell-in-a-handbasket.