Crossing the Rocky Mountains

"RD" wrote in message ...
I'm planning on doing a trip from central Canada down to Las Vegas in a
C172R. Does anyone have some experience on where a good point to transition
the US rockies is? Somewhere around SLC is my guess. I have no mountain
experience which causes me the greatest concern. Any help appreciated.

I know this route pretty well. I live in BillingsMT; flew my new
(used) C172N home from Las Vegas, when I had only just gotten my PPSEL
about one month earlier (so I flew the reverse of your route). Here's
my experience: North Las Vegas to Provo Utah; then from Provo to
Billings via Rock SpringsWY-RivertonWY-CodyWY-Billings. Piece of
cake.
The flight from LV to Provo is over plains/desert and is easy.
From Provo there is a gap in the Wasatch range just on the NE corner
of Provo that is pretty easy (past the power plant); east of there it
is all high to midlevel plains-also easy. Of course north and east of
BIL is no problem.

As for the other route-by way of Bozeman, etc, let me suggest a route
I have also flown. It is: from BIL to LivingstonMT, which is about
30 miles east of Bozeman. Hang a left onto the LIV 190 radial, past
West Yellowstone, on past Idaho Falls, Pocatello, then by your route
of choice to LV. You will need to go to about 10,500 for about 10 min
just north of West Yellowstone, but then it drops off quickly. It
will probably be a straight on south course from there past SLC and
Provo, or a trip slightly west to Twin Falls, then south by way of
Elko. You will be at 10,000+ for much of the trip, and airfields in
central NV with fuel are few and far between. Also, many MOAs and a
few Restricted areas in central NV. Beware the restricted areas north
of LV...home of "Area 51" a rumored area of military activity the
existence of which the govt denies. Don't test the rumors!!

It's a nice flight, either way.