California to Nebraska

I'm thinking of flying from Santa Rosa to Aurora, Nebraska in June. Not taking the Super Cub. Taking the 182.

I've crossed the divide on the southern side, but never on the northern. I'm looking at the following route:

KSTS
BVL
KRKS for gas
CKW
MBW
KAUH

I would appreciate any comments on the route that you might have.

375handh

Flew to Oshkosh last July with my brother and some friends in a Saratoga. They came out of Sacramento, crossed the rocks and basically came east over I-80 to pick me up in Salt Lake City. We left out of KSLC and flew a little north to Ogden and then due east over Evanston then to Rock Springs... decided to overfly the airport and continue direct to Torrington and spent the night. This was an easy route which we did at 9,500 mostly. I wanted 11,500 but the flatlanders were worried about oxygen.

It was my first time crossing the divide in a small plane but never felt worried on this route. The Terrain in Wyoming was certainly high but flat, more flat than I had imagined.

My .02

My first time into KRKS I was pushed down by ceiling so I was following the Hwy looking for the airport. Its got to be here? Saw the windsock above me on the bluff. I must have been 50 ft below runway alt.

I fly along the I-80 corridor through Nebraska a few times a year, going to Michigan. It is an easy route. Very windy in Wy. Stay low on the way back to avoid headwinds. 9,500' is great going East. You will be getting fuel in E. Nevada or Utah. If fueled in Utah, you should make W. Nebraska for your next fuel stop. I doubt you will be fueling in KRKS (expensive anyway).
Jim

If you have the mogas stc, fill up in Delle, UT. Good chili dogs. I came the other way three years ago. Filled up in Torington then Rock Springs. To avoid a snow storm I headed south and spent a few nights in Vernal, UT

Tim

Fuel is about as cheap as you're going to find in Torrington WY. I usually use Rawlins as a fuel stop going east or west.....courtesy car to go into town to get a bite to eat. Beware of the winds at both Rock Springs and Rawlins. Laramie is a little high (7200ft) but they have good xwind runway. Fuel is not cheep ($5.10) here at SNY but Cabelas has a free shuttle.

qmdv wrote:If you have the mogas stc, fill up in Delle, UT. Good chili dogs. I came the other way three years ago. Filled up in Torington then Rock Springs. To avoid a snow storm I headed south and spent a few nights in Vernal, UT

Tim

And if you stay along I-80, it can be of great use in case you need to make an emergency landing

hicountry wrote:Fuel is about as cheap as you're going to find in Torrington WY.

True dat- Seemed like everyone headed west to OSH used Torrington as a fuel stop, the ramp was full of fuelers for the exodus east. We actually skipped over to Scottsbluff to stay with a relative and their ramp was empty

Thanks for all your advice. I have a 2005 Turbo 182 and could easily make it non-stop from Santa Rosa to Rock Springs. The AOPA Flight Planner today says 4:22 hours with 20 gallons remaining. But, having been in Rock Springs (on the ground)(and Rawlins, Laramie, Cheyenne, Medicine Bow, etc.; I hunt a lot in Wyoming, I just haven't ever flown in Wyoming), I do appreciate the comments about the wind. Looks like Evanston may be a better fuel stop. 568 nm and 3:48 hours with 28 gallons remaining. Depending on which internet site you believe, it appears Evanston's gas prices are competitive with Torrington.

By the way, it looks the best gas prices anywhere in that neck of the woods is Pine Bluffs, WY (82V). Advertised right now at $3.95/gallon. Haven't seen sub-$4.00 for awhile. But, I can't make it from Santa Rosa to Pine Bluffs non-stop.

Right now, with some pretty hard tailwinds, Flight Planner says it would take 3:40 hours to fly the 595 nm from Evanston to CKW, MBW and then on the Aurora, NE. The return trip today calcs at 4:49 hours, so the average is about 4 hours and 15 minutes, which should be pretty easy.

Coming back, I am hoping to look at a few places in Wyoming that I haven't been that might be interesting places to live part time, most notably Lander and Ten Sleep. Having grown up in north central Idaho, my sentimental favorite is Idaho County, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Idaho is now not very tax friendly and Wyoming is about the best place for taxes and the economy.

Many thanks, again, guys.

375HandH

A 20 years ago flying back and forth over Wy Ive seen large herds of Pronghorn Antelope and wild horses. Looked like something out of Africa.

My last 2 fuel stops at rock springs both took over an hour on the ground to fill up a 172. once a King air reported 30 miles out on unicom as I was shutting down, they wouldn't fuel my plane until after he landed, filled up, unloaded passengers and baggage into the rental car etc. etc. The other time the kid who was supposed to be running the fuel truck was in the passenger waiting area trying to talk someone out of her panties later that night, and he just didn't want to be disturbed by work.

A little further north but,, great small town airport,, good price on SS fuel, real pretty area.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/46U

Ben

Glad you mentioned Alpine, Afton a few miles south is also a good fuel stop..stopped there coming and going to JC in '09 and '10. Nice clean FBO, courtesy car, and it's run by Mark. Fuel price is also reasonable SS.
I was not impressed by the service at the FBO at Rock Springs.

Stol wrote:A little further north but,, great small town airport,, good price on SS fuel, real pretty area.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/46U

Ben

I second Alpine. Worth going out of your way for, cheap gas and a beautiful place.