Hi all; been a lurker for awhile, now have opportunity to actually fly in the mountains. Have a trip planned to Great Falls around Labor Day. Hoping to catch good weather and go to Spokane, Nez Perz area. Haven’t had mountain training, but looking for local advice on best route. Thinking down to Missoula, then follow I-90. Think I’ve got good equip C-180H. Recent install of Trio Autopilot.

Keep an eye on the smoke. It’s just getting started unless we get a lot of rain.

From Great Falls to Missoula via Rogers Pass is easy, and not too high. Lincoln Airport just west of the pass. There’s a fire up there now, but they’re working it, I believe.

You’ll need some way to track TFRs, cause there are a lot of them and more every day.

From Missoula west to Spokane is easy along the interstate, with the same caveats about smoke and TFRs.

MTV

You had better check on the smoke in your areas of travel. The west is on fire.

Brent

Visibility reported at the airports in the Spokane area for the last several days has bounced around the 3 - 5 mile range. I haven't checked Mullan Pass or Missoula lately. IMHO, flying in smoke isn't a lot of fun. At altitude I think it's kinda hard on my eyes and lungs. It's usually thicker in the mountain too.

As others have said, the smoke is BAD out here.

See: https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/land/hms.html

There are 600 fires in BC and there has been 135000 acres burned in Washington State so far.

Montana, Idaho, and Oregon have similar issues.

I went up in Western Wa today (North of Seattle) and even with a Marine layer pushing in there was 5-8 mile max visibility in smoke and haze
the low stratus was just another fun obstacle in a general aviation day in a Western summer.

Be very careful out there you can lose sight of the ground in a hurry and you cannot see what else is lurking i the smoke.

TD

Thanks all for the tips. Have been watching the TFR’s and smoke reports and that is my biggest concern. Midwest/Plains rain would sure help the west.