We finally did get out on our cross country trip and are about half way through it. In sonoma, Ca for the past couple of days at Sonoma Skypark. Amazing place for old airplanes along with Sonoma Valley. Get there if you can. Between the two there are an original Jenny, P-51, P-40 and biplanes galore.

I plan to get to the Boise area this Wednesday and drop as much cargo weight to temp storage and then head to Johnson Creek for a couple of days of camping. Here's the question:

When we leave the Bois area I plan to head north to I-90 and fly it across the divide. I'm flying a straight tail O-300 C172. Is there a way to get to I-90 north or northeast of the Boise area flying lower level (8,500 feet or so) without backtracking to the northwest? Right now I-95 looks like the best bet.

Once we get some of time I'll post a trip report. Here's a link to the blog I'm working on. I'm a few fays behind:

http://frankandlynnsflyingadventure.wordpress.com

I'm kinda not understanding this question, because to fly the section of I-90 between, say, Coeur d'Alene and Missoula from Boise, you'll *have* to go west a little bit first (Coeur d'Alene is almost directly north of Boise, but also a touch west). If you're looking to cut that section out and fly roughly Boise > JC > Missoula, I *think* the lowest elevation route is over Hwy 12 (Lolo Pass) at about 5500. Next best option, I believe is roughly Stanley > Challis > Salmon > Missoula over Lost Trail Pass at 7000'.

PS - if you choose route #2, you'll want to get to Stanley from Garden Valley NOT Hailey - Hailey puts you over Galena at 9000ish.

Dillon or Ennis is easy on the eyes, and wide open.

Flown over the divide and back and forth along the Missoula-Boise route in a C-172 plenty of times, it should be no problem. You're right, the best way north from Boise is US-95 (not I-95, you had me confused for a minute) to Grangeville area, then US-12 over Lolo pass and into the Missoula area, then follow I-90 east and cross the divide east of Butte at Homestake pass. If you're near gross weight, getting off the ground at Butte and climbing over the divide right away may be difficult in hot weather, but fueling up at Missoula will give you plenty of time to get to altitude without worrying about engine temps. Keep your camera ready, there is plenty to see along that route.

Sorry for the confusion on the US-95/I-95 thing. I'm looking for the hypotenuse of the right triangle, if there is one, at a reasonable altitude for my plane.

Frank

Depending on your definition of a reasonable altitude, there may not be a straight line route for most of that area. I actually fly out of Caldwell (cheaper fuel, cheaper tie-downs, less paranoid moron rent-a-cops, etc.). for me going to Missoula is usually north to white bird hill near Grangeville, (fly up Indian valley, intercept US-95 south of Council, and follow US-95 over White Bird Hill) then slightly to the right to intercept the lochsa river at about Kooskia, then follow US-12 over the pass to Lolo, then north to Missoula. I started flying Missoula to Butte in a C-150 by following I-90, and still follow that route 40+ years later, it's easy. Boise to Missoula nonstop is pretty easy in a C-172 (slightly over 1/2 fuel most trips), and Missoula is a convenient fuel stop with long runways and a large valley to climb out of. Now that the paper mill shut down it doesn't smell bad anymore.