If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Denver to Taos NM
I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day,
non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Paul kgyy" wrote in message oups.com... I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. I once flew from ABQ to COS in a non-turbo Skylane and went through La Veta pass on the northbound trip and through the mountains west of Cimarron on the way back. West of Cimarron you'll have a nice route that will take you west, then south over Eagle Nest lake and then west again just before you overfly Angel Fire. (Follow the road that runs through the valley.) One consideration may be the winds. Flying south along the windward side of the mountains all the way to Cimarron may give you a rougher ride if it's windy. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On 23 Mar 2005 12:04:34 -0800, "Paul kgyy"
wrote: I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. I made the trip from Taos to Salida and back in a glider once, right down the top of the rocks. Had two Air Force fighters pass under me down one valley. Probably wouldn't do that same route in a power plane, but if I remember right, the terrain falls away pretty fast on both sides. Got stuck for a while trying to climb Blanca Peak and I can tell you what every rock looks like on top of it. There is the Great Sand Dunes National park, a lot of miliitary training traffic, indian reservations and sage brush. If you land in a reservation, they ask you why you are sitting in their airplane. The sage brush is huge and apart from a few ranch strips, any emergency landing is on roads that are lined with reflectors. Those make big dings in glider wings. What a beautiful part of the country - I am envious. Be careful and have a fun trip. Don |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On 23 Mar 2005 12:04:34 -0800, "Paul kgyy"
wrote: I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. I fly those routes almost weekly and either one will work. I suggest you go one way out there and come back the other. One thing that I do notice going through La Veta is that in the afternoons, it can get messy with storms so I would go through there in the mornings if possible. You will notice that there is a lot more scenery if you stay on the east side of the mountain and go down to Las Vegas NM, then you will if you go through the valley. In the Valley, its just brown, where on the east side its more green and there are a lot more features, IMHO. Scott D To email remove spamcatcher |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Paul kgyy wrote:
I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. Please consider taking the mountain flying course (ground school) from Colorado Pilots Association: http://coloradopilotsassociation.org/ This course will be presented at: - the Greeley - Weld County Airport (GXY), at the AIMS Hangar on Saturday, April 23, 2005, - and again in June and August at Denver's Centennial Airport (APA), in the APA Tower, in the conference room. If you are interested in more information, please contact me directly. From Denver, please consider flying southwest to near Salida. Choose either Ponca Pass (directly south of Salida), or Hayden Pass, ~10 miles southeast of Salida. This puts you in the San Luis Valley... and it is downhill to Taos! Alternate... if the weather is bad in the mountains, please consider flying south along I-25, to Santa Fe and then going north. Best regards, Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard -- Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer'at'frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/ C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 226 Young Eagles! |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Paul, Memorial Day week-end in Taos is a blast. There's a major motorcycle rally in Red River and you can sit on the patio at the Taos Inn being entertained by the parade of cycles passing on the Paseo del Pueblo Norte. I fly this this regularly from Boulder (1V5) in my '60 Skylane. My usual route is straight south down the front range, over La Veta Pass and then south to Taos. Early morning is always the best bet for a number of reasons. First, La Veta tends to get obscured beginning as early as about 11am. Second, you'll start getting turbulance from afternoon thermals on the west side of the pass in the San Luis Valley. La Veta Pass does have an AWOS but I've found it to be pretty quirky and I don't trust the info it transmits most of the time. I usually file a PIREP with Denver Fligh****ch when I'm approaching Walsenburg to update them on what I found coming south and to see if they have any PIREPS from the pass. Rental cars are available at the FBO from Enterprise but you should book in advance. There's no taxi or shuttle service into town. I have a few pictures on my web site, if you're interested. Have fun! Alan Bloom N8565T '60 C182 Dogs can fly. http://www.flyingmutts.com On 23 Mar 2005 12:04:34 -0800, "Paul kgyy" wrote: I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
La Veta pass is not all that bad. I have flown this route a few times.
If the winds are light at 9000', then you don't have much to worry about. The pass is around 9400'. If you can climb to 12500' then it should not be a factor. I would avoid flying to Las Vegas. The east side of these mountains are notorious for mountain waves.I've been beat up quite a few times flying around LVS. "Paul kgyy" wrote in news:1111608273.977036.211860 @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: I'm planning a flight from Denver Co to Taos NM around Memorial Day, non-turbo Arrow. Available options to negotiate the Sangre De Cristo mountain range appear to be either La Veta pass, west from Cimarron, or way down south around Las Vegas. I'd appreciate some comment from people experienced with the route. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Homebuilding Killed John Denver | never_moore352 | Home Built | 36 | September 4th 04 03:38 AM |
Taos in June | Paul Bloxham | Soaring | 0 | March 18th 04 01:37 AM |
USA: SSF CFIG Renewal Clinic Denver April 17-18, 2004 / Wander | SoarBooks | Soaring | 0 | March 10th 04 05:44 PM |
Denver Terminal Area Chart Question - BVR vor/dme | Robert Easton | Piloting | 35 | February 8th 04 03:07 AM |
Business Aircraft & Jet Preview - Denver, CO - August 6, 2003 | Mergatroide | Owning | 0 | July 21st 03 05:36 PM |