Southwest trip advice

If I could find a mountain course in the Northeast I would definitely
do it before I go, but I don't think I'll have enough time while on the
trip to stop in Denver. Is it the opinion of you folks with more
experience than I that I should make the time to get checked out even
considering the route I proposed?

I don't have my head in the sand on this, I've researched and read
everything I can, but as we know experience is the real teacher. I
might have a false sense of security after flying the plane home across
the country from Oklahoma City with no surprises at all. But I know
that once I get to New Mexico it's all new to me, and that's why I'm
here asking these questions.

If I determine I'm too ambitous with this, I have no problem putting it
off to next year.


H.P. wrote:
The statement: "...I won't have time to stop and get checked out "
bothers me a bit because it reveals that you may need a
personal-minimums
attitude adjustment before taking on this trek, if you ask me.