Where does "mountain flying" begin?

Mxsmanic wrote:

Newps writes:


Flying over a mountain range is not mountain flying. Mountain flying is
flying in the mountains, below the peaks, relatively close to the ground
in the valleys and passes.


So is it relatively safe to fly over mountains if you clear them by
some reasonable altitude (1000 feet? 5000 feet?)?

As long as you clear them it doesn't matter how high. Safety depends on
the weather. I have skimmed over and thru the mountains at 50-100 agl
on nice calm days.



Granted, that might be difficult in the Rockies with a small aircraft.

Not difficult at all, that's where I fly.




What about flying through relatively large valleys between mountains,
in order to avoid the mountains themselves? I mean, you have to get
from California to Colorado somehow.


You have lots of options. Fly right over the tops direct if you have
the performance, fly over the lower passes if you don't or the
wind/weather precludes it or if you simply prefer it.