I'm thinking about taking my 12yo son from Western Washington to the Denver area during his summer break this year to drop in on his grandparents. We would probably have 4-6 nights total and would want to camp on the way there and back. Any suggestions on good places to stop and the best time in the summer to make the trip? Ideally we would take a different route back.

I can handle IFR (no oxygen though and no icing conditions) and my personal limts are about 25 knots of surface wind (or 12 knots crosswind component) if it helps make recommendations on the best time to go.

Another option for us is to head up to Alaska just for the hell of it. That idea has a lot of merits. Hmmmm......

-Doug
N234F (KORS)

Doug, Being from the midwest I have no idea on your question about camping options, but I would say that the Alaska idea sure sounds like it would be a lot of fun. Which ever direction you go I bet your son will have a great time. Steve Riggins

I can think of a couple of routes that could be interesting. One would be to Spokane, follow 90 through the Idaho and western MT mountains, then head S to Denver. This would be really pretty in June, before it gets too dry and the fires begin. This route will take you over the eastern WA desert, through some beautiful mountains, over extraordinarily large cattle ranches, Indian reservations, the Custer battlefield (a bit out of the direct flight path, but very interesting to see by air), and then down the front range.

A second route, and one that's a bit more direct, would be to follow the Columbia river gorge to Pendleton, then SE to Ogden, UT. You can climb over the Wasatch at Ogden, then fly N of the Uintas (and S of Evanston and Rock Springs. Then to Laramie and on down to Denver. I've done both routes and found both to be interesting. Always interesting people to be met, good food to be eaten, and pictures to be taken.

Have a great trip!