Hello all, I'm planning a trip to Colorado around March. The plan is to fly from Waco, Tx to Colorado Springs, then drive to Breckenridge. The reason for landing in Colorado Springs is because I have zero mountain flying experience and I'm not about to take my family into uncharted territory without a significant amount of experience. Would this journey be a good trip for a lowlander like me? I've charted out the route and it doesn't look like it would be any significant heights. I plan on cruising at 8,500 and this would be well clear of any obstacles. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, is Colorado Springs the best airport to fly into before you hit the mountain range or would you recommend something else?

I took a quick look at a direct route from Waco to Colorado Springs, and other than passing through a few MOAs and close to military magazines near Pueblo it looks like you would be fine flying at 8500 ft. I am based in New Mexico (my field elevation is 6200 ft) but I fly up into Colorado routinely, and almost all of my flying is between 9500 and 12500 simply because of the terrain around here. In March you won't have any significant density altitude issues, nor will you likely have convective turbulence, however here in New Mexico we get horrendous winds in the springtime that start around March (50 mph winds are not uncommon). Not sure if that part of Colorado experiences the same thing. If they do, your biggest issue will likely be turbulence rolling off the mountains. If the winds are strong enough you can find yourself in wave conditions that include strong up and downdrafts that are relatively smooth, as well as rotor that can be severe enough to be dangerous. Know your maneuvering speed! There is an airmet for turbulence almost every day in these mountainous regions, so make sure your family is prepared for it.
If all you are doing is flying into Colorado Springs, or Denver (not sure which is a shorter drive to Breckenridge) then I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you are planning to to do any mountain flying it would be worth contacting the Colorado Pilots Association to see if they could recommend an instructor to give you some training first. Mountain flying can be a lot of fun, with beautiful scenery, but it can also be dangerous if you are not familiar with the associated hazards.
Good luck and have a great trip!

The drive to Breck from C Springs is pretty, but I think it is faster to drive there from Denver. If you fly in to Denver, you have 3 main choices for GA flying, APA, BJC, and FTG. I am based out of FTG and it is the quietest in terms of traffic, and will have cheaper fuel and tie downs. There are other GA airports, but if you need a rental car, those three are probably best. From FTG, you can be in Breck in less than 3 hours as long as the ski traffic isn't crazy.

I'd fly direct to KFTG... Easy drive to Brek from there... I can help arrange hangar space for you if needed. I'm based out of KFTG, its a great airport!!!!

Jim

NMXWinds wrote:I took a quick look at a direct route from Waco to Colorado Springs, and other than passing through a few MOAs and close to military magazines near Pueblo it looks like you would be fine flying at 8500 ft. I am based in New Mexico (my field elevation is 6200 ft) but I fly up into Colorado routinely, and almost all of my flying is between 9500 and 12500 simply because of the terrain around here. In March you won't have any significant density altitude issues, nor will you likely have convective turbulence, however here in New Mexico we get horrendous winds in the springtime that start around March (50 mph winds are not uncommon). Not sure if that part of Colorado experiences the same thing. If they do, your biggest issue will likely be turbulence rolling off the mountains. If the winds are strong enough you can find yourself in wave conditions that include strong up and downdrafts that are relatively smooth, as well as rotor that can be severe enough to be dangerous. Know your maneuvering speed! There is an airmet for turbulence almost every day in these mountainous regions, so make sure your family is prepared for it.
If all you are doing is flying into Colorado Springs, or Denver (not sure which is a shorter drive to Breckenridge) then I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you are planning to to do any mountain flying it would be worth contacting the Colorado Pilots Association to see if they could recommend an instructor to give you some training first. Mountain flying can be a lot of fun, with beautiful scenery, but it can also be dangerous if you are not familiar with the associated hazards.
Good luck and have a great trip!

Thanks for the info I'll be sure to get wx briefings before I head that way. The last thing I'd want is some bad turbulence for my wife and the newborn.... I'm going to get some mountain flying training at some point. If I have some extra time I'll get a lesson or two while I'm there, but won't take the family until I feel comfortable, which could be awhile.

Thanks Aeropod for the advice.... Jaudette, I might take you up on that hangar. I'll let you know as we get closer. I'll most likely fly into KFTG since you recommend it. There's some good people on this forum

Stay out of the weed(s) no "rocky mountain high"

shorton wrote:Stay out of the weed(s) no "rocky mountain high"

I'll make sure to steer clear

Not much by way of mountain experience you are going to gain by driving around here. You should fly in and hire an instructor to show you the ropes. COS is nothing more than a big towered airport in the high plains. If you are coming - and it sounds like a lot of fun - don't waste your time by not getting the experience that will make you a better pilot and prepare to do it on your own. March will be either fantastic or obviously unflyable for the most part. Winter is a good time to fly - performance/DA wise - or it will be hammering and you'll be driving anyway.

The best place to fly for Breckenridge is 20V - McElroy Field, in Kremmling, CO - which is a standard stop on mountain flying courses - as is Leadville, Steamboat, Glenwood Springs, and maybe Granby. Fly to one of the closer in fields with good instruction - take an extra day or so to do some flying with an instructor and without your family. Rent a car and let your wife drive up to Breck - and you fly your plane closer under with some supervisory instruction. FTG and APA are also good options - closer in - but a lot more traffic and towers. If that doesn't bother you - good options.

I recommend getting a little closer - KBJC (Broomfield), KLMO (Longmont) are great options - a little farther north. Let me know if you need recommendations for CFIs or questions with planning. Great jumping off points for mountain flights. Breck is better accesssed from the North - fewer passes - better "outs" and shorter times over the rocks. From the south - like around COS - you'll be flying multiple very high passes.

soyAnarchisto wrote:Not much by way of mountain experience you are going to gain by driving around here. You should fly in and hire an instructor to show you the ropes. COS is nothing more than a big towered airport in the high plains. If you are coming - and it sounds like a lot of fun - don't waste your time by not getting the experience that will make you a better pilot and prepare to do it on your own. March will be either fantastic or obviously unflyable for the most part. Winter is a good time to fly - performance/DA wise - or it will be hammering and you'll be driving anyway.

The best place to fly for Breckenridge is 20V - McElroy Field, in Kremmling, CO - which is a standard stop on mountain flying courses - as is Leadville, Steamboat, Glenwood Springs, and maybe Granby. Fly to one of the closer in fields with good instruction - take an extra day or so to do some flying with an instructor and without your family. Rent a car and let your wife drive up to Breck - and you fly your plane closer under with some supervisory instruction. FTG and APA are also good options - closer in - but a lot more traffic and towers. If that doesn't bother you - good options.

I recommend getting a little closer - KBJC (Broomfield), KLMO (Longmont) are great options - a little farther north. Let me know if you need recommendations for CFIs or questions with planning. Great jumping off points for mountain flights. Breck is better accesssed from the North - fewer passes - better "outs" and shorter times over the rocks. From the south - like around COS - you'll be flying multiple very high passes.

Also Boulder is another good option. On the other side of the rocks after getting mountain instruction, add Eagle to the list in addition to Kremmling. Kremmling is the closest, only 50 miles by road to Breckenridge, compared to a bit over 100 miles from KFTG, 85 miles from KBJC, 92 miles from KAPA, 92 miles from Boulder, 104 miles from Longmont, 69 miles from Eagle.

If I had Jaudette's offer to obtain a hangar at KFTG, though, that's what I'd choose. March winds can do a number on an airplane parked outside, for sure. Front Range is a nice little airport, towered but not real busy. It's under the outside ring of the Denver B, but I wouldn't try dodging talking to Denver Approach. If you come in IFR or on Flight Following from the south, you'll get vectors as soon as you get over the ridge between Colorado Springs and Denver and a hand-off to Front Range tower--easy flight in from that direction. The only thing to watch for of substance (other than weather, of course) is that the USAF Academy cadets do a lot of training flights in the C-Springs area, and there's a very active glider operation at Kelly Airpark on top of the ridge. Denver Approach will keep you out of the way of the airline traffic.

Cary

A friend of mine bought a hangar in Longmont and told me I could use it any time. Never been to Longmont or anywhere around the Denver area. Why would I want to go to Longmont? Good fly fishing near there?

There is good fly fishing near Longmont - well in the winter here it's mostly in the tailwaters - but in the fall and summer the creeks are good. A fellow BCP'er turned me on to Tenkara - makes the small creeks are very fun.

Shout if you are in the area - mountain flying or fishing. Boulder is great. I'm happy to show anybody around what I know.

Barnstormer wrote:Why would I want to go to Longmont?

Longmont is a nice airport. It is close to Rocky Mountain National Park, and even nicer spots elsewhere. If a guy is trying to get to Breck, I'd recommend KBJC or KAPA to save drive time. An available hangar is killer though, and worth the extra 1/2 hour each way from FTG. Fishing is good (for front range Colorado).

Kremmling is nice, but can get weathered out when the front range is still pretty nice. It is a friendly place, though, and a car rental and courtesy car is available there if you ask around. There are big rocks to cross to get there unless you fly quite a ways around, however, and with your chariot laden with family on a first trip into the rocks, you might consider the very comfortable airports already mentioned on the Front Range. It is a nice drive in any case that they will like. Eagle is also close and my preferred ski stop, but same rocky crossing to get there.

Are you totally set on Breck? Summit county is an absolute nightmare during March, as far as crowds and pricing is concerned. If your details aren't completely locked in, you may consider one of the more "off the beaten path" ski areas to save yourself a couple grand and a lot of brain damage, while opening up a few options for flight destinations.

Consider Monarch, and stay in Salida, fly into either CO springs, Canon City, or Salida. Salida is pretty easy approaching from the east and following the river, however I would still probably stay a little further away from the pointy rocks without more experience.

Crenshaw wrote:Are you totally set on Breck? Summit county is an absolute nightmare during March, as far as crowds and pricing is concerned. If your details aren't completely locked in, you may consider one of the more "off the beaten path" ski areas to save yourself a couple grand and a lot of brain damage, while opening up a few options for flight destinations.

Consider Monarch, and stay in Salida, fly into either CO springs, Canon City, or Salida. Salida is pretty easy approaching from the east and following the river, however I would still probably stay a little further away from the pointy rocks without more experience.

Since I'm not a downhiller (I know, heresy in CO), I can't compare ski areas, but for sure traffic getting to/from the more popular ski areas turns I-70 into a very long parking lot, Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings. Been to Breckenridge in February (not March) and the prices would have been sky-high except that Wife 3 had us booked at the hotel where her seminar was, which had given a package break to all the attendees. The town itself is delightful, with good restaurants, but I could say the same for Salida, but with lower prices. Salida is enough off the beaten path that it's much quieter any time of the year.

Cary

soyAnarchisto wrote:Not much by way of mountain experience you are going to gain by driving around here. You should fly in and hire an instructor to show you the ropes. COS is nothing more than a big towered airport in the high plains. If you are coming - and it sounds like a lot of fun - don't waste your time by not getting the experience that will make you a better pilot and prepare to do it on your own. March will be either fantastic or obviously unflyable for the most part. Winter is a good time to fly - performance/DA wise - or it will be hammering and you'll be driving anyway.

The best place to fly for Breckenridge is 20V - McElroy Field, in Kremmling, CO - which is a standard stop on mountain flying courses - as is Leadville, Steamboat, Glenwood Springs, and maybe Granby. Fly to one of the closer in fields with good instruction - take an extra day or so to do some flying with an instructor and without your family. Rent a car and let your wife drive up to Breck - and you fly your plane closer under with some supervisory instruction. FTG and APA are also good options - closer in - but a lot more traffic and towers. If that doesn't bother you - good options.

I recommend getting a little closer - KBJC (Broomfield), KLMO (Longmont) are great options - a little farther north. Let me know if you need recommendations for CFIs or questions with planning. Great jumping off points for mountain flights. Breck is better accesssed from the North - fewer passes - better "outs" and shorter times over the rocks. From the south - like around COS - you'll be flying multiple very high passes.

Good thoughts, thanks for the advice. I'll send you a PM if I decide to take some classes and see which CFI's you recommend

Crenshaw, I'm not totally set on Breckenridge. My family went there for Christmas 2 years ago and it was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've been in my entire life. I'm sure there are other places like that in Colorado, but Breck really made an impression.... I guess any big rocks with snow on them would do that to me

1 word - steamboat


Better skiing better scenery and an airport IN town with shuttles and taxis to al the resorts and hotels

soyAnarchisto wrote:1 word - steamboat

+5

This is one of my top fave fly-in ski spots. Land in town (not at Hayden), taxi is ~$12 to the lift, tie down is 5 a night or so, has plug-ins, and you can get there by heading up to Laramie to avoid the rocks. Weather can settle in at the town airport, but the other airport outside of town has a bit of a racket in the transport, fuel, and tie down situation. TKS in a pinch if it is too cold to get the frost off. You don't need a car while there at all unless....

Strawberry hot springs is a nice in-between day trip. Pricey for cab fare to get there, but a SUV rental was 45 a day the last time I did it with friends (Chevy dealership worked best). While you have the car, you can take some epic fluffy backcountry runs up the pass just 20 minutes away if you feel like glades and light trees and can tour under a mile to get to the downhill fun.

There are a few exceptional places to eat. The diner on the main drag makes a good breakfast. And tons of reasonable places to stay on VRBO...it can work out to be competitive with a hotel if you look.

I'll second that. My daughter and her family live there and I love to visit. Flew into Steamboat on my way back from Osh thais past year.

soyAnarchisto wrote:1 word - steamboat


Better skiing better scenery and an airport IN town with shuttles and taxis to al the resorts and hotels