A buddy and I are planning to take a trip from FLD to RTS. We plan to make the trip out two days and the same for the trip back. We will be in reno 3 days. If we can, we will be trying to make it to 48U and camp the first night. I was told following I-80 through the mountains is a pretty good way to go. Any thoughts on good places to stop/camp? different routes? I am a little Leary of the performance the ol 172 is going to put out in those higher elevations. The 172 is a 66 with the 0-300. We plan to be flying in the mountains early or later in afternoon so it will hopefully be a nice calm ride.

once in reno we were going to try and find a place an hour or two away we could fly a fully loaded 172 into and have some fun stuff to do.

It would help if you used actual place names. Most folks aren’t real familiar with all the airport designators on the planet. I know….more typing…..just do it.

MTV

mtv wrote:It would help if you used actual place names. Most folks aren’t real familiar with all the airport designators on the planet. I know….more typing…..just do it.

MTV

Ditto! Late last night when I saw your post. Had no idea where your start and finish points are.

Having said that. my son and I flew the 1960 172A, from Park Rapids, MN (KPKD) to Grants Pass Oregon (3S8). Had to fly within a few miles of the Canadian border to get across the mountains and avoid the smoke. The mighty O-300 amazes me with it's smoothness and versatility.

Apologies MTV for not being able to stop for a meet and greet. We were battling windy conditions and smoke which diverted us to the north.

i know Wells, NV (KLWL) used to have relatively cheep fuel for that part of the country.
Flying that section Wyoming, Utah, Nevada any given afternoon is very likely going to be bumpy, even following 80.

Shouldn’t be a problem… have done similar route in a 65 hp Luscombe.

Standard things: Pick your day when weather is relatively good, cross high terrain early before things get riled up. Lots of airfields to sit and wait if it looks not to your liking.

It’s a nice flight along I-80… Gothenburg, NE (KGTE) has one of the nicest grass strips anywhere and I wouldn’t hesitate to land a 172 there. Rawlins, at 6800’ plus elevation, has a 7000’ runway so you can experiment with high elevation performance - took off there once in 105F and was glad that runway was 7k long!

Lastly, remember that old saying “ it’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.”

Have fun!
Rob B

Fond du Lac, WI to Reno, NV with a stop in Green River, WY.

Sounds like a fun trip. If it were me I'd skip the stop in Green River. Yeah, the name is cool but that's it. I'd consider stopping at Big Piney, WY. That puts you a bit further north so you get to see some cool mountain ranges, Wind River Range and Snake River Range, but not have to fly over them.

i would second the Big Piney (KBPI) recommendation. Nice FBO, friendly service, nice grass crosswind strip

Thanks Whee; For updating this. Yes, Fonddulac, WI to Reno NV. I appreciate the ideas. We are looking for a good place to camp about mid way.

There's loads of cool places around Salt Lake area. The Utah Backcountry Pilots website (https://utahbackcountrypilots.org/) has some great starting points for your Utah portion. I think your 172 should do alright at some.

If you're planning to take the Wendover restricted corridor I'd hugely recommend Delle as a stop-in. It's a remote gas station with two dirt runways in the back. You can shut down in the parking lot and get a snack or drink, and if you can take mogas they have a long hose on one of their pumps for airplanes. The Wendover airport has a neat museum also.

Then Fremont island (both upper and lower) are close by. It's a neat spot, I'd make a point to stop there also. The island is inaccessible except for by plane or boat.

I'd be careful if you're wanting to land in the salt flats area. I have heard stories about getting stuck in some of the soft spots.

ok. thanks

Made it in two days. Went north way to scoot around weather. Had to do some back tracking from Terry MT because of weather yesterday morning.

A couple more

Those AV-30's look lovely

AV’s are nice for sure. Went n flew over Tahoe today. We were gonna go to Bridgeport CA to hit up some hot springs, but after leaving stead’s 6000’ + runway and not climbing to fast we decided against a shorter runway at 7000’. Got done borritos in Carson city and climbed up to 10k over Tahoe. O-300 was not thrilled up there. Fun stuff.