EASTBOUND FROM SOCAL ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS ?

[DCarlton]

Every time I've flown back east from SOCAL in the summer or fall, I've flown from the San Diego Area through Tucson, Deming NM, and El Paso; one time I flew across ABQ and then up to DEN.  Deming is usually my first fuel stop.  Even flying the Southern route can be pretty rough across NM in the summer.  I'm currently planning a trip to MN from SOCAL.  Does anyone have an alternative or preferred route across the mountains in a normally aspirated Mooney?  A route that doesn't involve long periods of mountain or high elevation turbulence?  Thanks! 

[TGreen]

Could make your first stop at KAEG -- Double Eagle, Albuquerque. Then skirt just south of the Rockies. 

[N201MKTurbo]

NM is always bumpy. No way around it. Some days are good, most are not. 

[Danb]

34 minutes ago, TGreen said:

Could make your first stop at KAEG -- Double Eagle, Albuquerque. Then skirt just south of the Rockies. 

You’re not going to evade turbulence unless early in day or up in the high teens or be lucky. Worse turbulence I’ve ever encountered was AEG to Las Vegas 

[Skates97]

40 minutes ago, TGreen said:

Could make your first stop at KAEG -- Double Eagle, Albuquerque. Then skirt just south of the Rockies. 

KGNT (Grants, NM) makes a good fuel stop as well. When we went from SoCal to Osh we stopped at KGNT, then east past the southern end of the range and up to KGCK (Garden City, KS) for our next stop.

4 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

NM is always bumpy. No way around it. Some days are good, most are not. 

Agree, really anywhere across the southwest, but that's just part of flying here unless you are going early in the morning.

[MooneyMitch]

As mentioned previously, it's an early morning departure.  Several trips East I’ve made from socal were wheels up by 6 am.  Those were always successful avoiding turbulence in the areas you have mentioned.

[DCarlton]

Not seeing any recommendations North of ABQ.  That's been my conclusion so far too.  The one time I flew over ABQ, I observed 220 KTS over the ground in a 153 KT airplane.  My first ride on the mountain wave.  It was "fun" on the other side.  Will likely just do the TUS, DMN, ELP route and get over NM early in the morning like everyone suggested.  There was more weather and convection in NM last summer than I've noticed before too; stuff coming up from MEX.  I've snaked through those thunderstorms before and it was a blast of a flight but I really don't want to do that again unless it's absolutely necessary.  

[EricJ]

You can cross up north around Laramie/Rawlins and come down the western slope, which is gorgeous, especially once you get down around Moab, or you can cross around  Angelfire or further south, or even a little further north at La Veta pass if the wind isn't too bad.   There are a lot of options, and sometimes if you just keep a couple options in your pocket and adapt along the way it gets pretty easy.    For me the biggest thing is always keeping a close eye on the whole weather picture and picking which day(s) to go.

 

[DCarlton]

14 hours ago, EricJ said:

You can cross up north around Laramie/Rawlins and come down the western slope, which is gorgeous, especially once you get down around Moab, or you can cross around  Angelfire or further south, or even a little further north at La Veta pass if the wind isn't too bad.   There are a lot of options, and sometimes if you just keep a couple options in your pocket and adapt along the way it gets pretty easy.    For me the biggest thing is always keeping a close eye on the whole weather picture and picking which day(s) to go.

 

Getting from Moab to Rawlins looks like it could be a challenge.  Will have to look closer at the charts and MEAs.  I'll bet it's beautiful though.  

[EricJ]

8 minutes ago, DCarlton said:

Getting from Moab to Rawlins looks like it could be a challenge.  Will have to look closer at the charts and MEAs.  I'll bet it's beautiful though.  

It's not difficult at all.   I've done it many times in each direction.