I've been fairly successful getting an off-hemisphere altitude. Flying over
WV in December, I was flying west and had to climb through a 1500' broken layer to
beautiful VMC at 0 deg F.. I was cleared for 8000, but was hitting a few tops
(with light ice). I got 9000 so I didn't have to climb to 10 but wasn't in the IMC.
After 1/2 hour or so, the tops had droppend and I went back down to 8.

Depending on how busy they are, they may or may not do it. Another option in
your case would have been VFR on top at 5500? I guess that doesn't quite meet the
cloud clearance, though.

-Cory

Hankal wrote:
:If you know the tops are at 5200', then why not request 6000'?

: Would have to request 7000. Flying 090.
: Since I am only 40 miles from the destination I just do not want to climb
: another 2000 feet.

--
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* The prime directive of Linux: *
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* (Just my 20 USm$) *
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