A little bit of scud over near Pocatello - a welcomed sight…I prefer some weather over blue skies and unlimited vis…
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There’s a good reason the FSE Mudspike operation flies out of there 
It’s one of my favourite bush locations!
Leg 05 Ft. Collins, CO to Salt Lake City, UT (KFNL - KSLC)
Just in case everyone is not getting enough Colorado scenic screens, it’s time for me to add another leg. Also, mustn’t get too far behind due to a USMC Reserve (virtual) training commitment in the AV-8B. 
Founded in 1864 as an army outpost, Ft. Collins is the fourth largest city in Colorado and home to Colorado State University. There are also a number of craft breweries in residence, most notable, New Belgium Brewing Company.
While New Belgium was somewhat a priority, we were looking forward to a stay with our good friend’s son, Patrick, a recent graduate of CSU. In his rookie year as an elementary school teacher (is there a higher calling?) as well as an aspiring writer, he was more than happy to be our craft beer tour guide. Since Patrick’s flat was within walking distance of his favorite, Odell Brewing, we decided to begin our tour there. And…as these things sometimes go, that’s as far as our Ft. Collins brewery tour would reach. The tap room staff, comfortable environment, Patrick’s entertaining girlfriend, and of course the beer, all conspired to keep these weary travelers well planted on their bar stools. New Belgium would have to wait until next time, perhaps the return leg.
Patrick is also a fairly accomplished guitar player. So, after we stumbled back to his place, he produced a couple of beater acoustics and a Tele for some drunken (my version) renditions of our personal favs, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, AIC, and the like. While he would throw an occasional frown our way at perhaps an unorthodox chord progression or hacked up rhythm, our guest displayed an uncanny knack of playing down to his quests abilities. We were grateful. But I am getting far from the flying…
The next morning found me handing the flight bag to brother Bill, “I believe that it’s your leg.”
“Then go kick the tires biotch.” he replied gruffly. Such was the disposition of middle-aged men the morning after trying to hang with twenty-somethings.
Unfortunately for us, the weather along our route did not bode well for sightseeing. At least the first half. We flight planned for FL200 cruise to allow for good looks at the southern Rockies and hoped for some holes.
Patrick had sent his pseudo-uncles out the door with an old Thermos of hot java, that we promised to leave for him at the FBO. Being of questionable faculties, I was especially attentive to both consuming my share of the Thermos, and to completing the pre-flight.
We launched without drama, turned West, and watched Ft. Collins slowly dissolve from view.
Although we broke out at around FL190, we decided to request FL260 for a bit more separation and additional speed. This would be our view for the first hour of the trip, but the GTN rewarded us with an eventual 263 KTS GS.
Eventually, we got some breakup. Shifting high in my seat, I searched over the glareshield for evidence of the Great Divide.
I decided to stretch my legs and take a look out one of the starboard ports. Hmmm, having ridden much of the Colorado segment on or near the CDT on dirt bike, including suffering through a blizzard in late July, I was expecting to see a little bit more fluffy stuff by December. As good as ortho photo scenery is, no Winter tiles I’m afraid.
As we crossed into Utah, the views were no less spectacular.
Nearing our destination, we pleasantly surprised that our route passed over Park City. Sometime back in the late 80’s a stop along the Women’s World Cup GS would take place on the run just off our port side. The organizers left the course up and open to the public for a few days after the event. Eye opening and thigh crushing come to mind. Legs of steel must the racers possess.
Bill handled the descent and approach into KSLC much better than I had exhibited on the previous leg.
A long but enjoyable taxi heading to the GA ramp on the east side.
Delta has a massive presence here.
We saluted Southwest and then marveled again at how much real estate that had been acquired by our home team.
We headed down past Alaska, before conceding to ground control that we needed help crossing to the other side.
When in doubt, check the KSLC AD on the GTN 750.
Traffic provided by World Traffic 3. KSLC by ShortFlight Design.
This would be a short but comfortable stay at the Marriott downtown, having saved some lodging expenses in Ft. Collins. Perhaps a short run, good dinner, and early to bed would energize us for the next leg to Jackson Hole. As you will later read, a surprise awaited us there.
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Thank you!
For the Himalayas, I’m using Ortho4XP with Bing as source, Zoom Level 16 (17 around Lukla). I built the overlays from HD mesh v3.
What I kept out of the screenshots is an area just east of Paro where Bing has no coverage at zoom level 16, thus it appears white in-game.
Also, there is the occasional cloud but it mostly looks awesome!
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Great post! Some tasteful screens (almost didn’t notice there was a real picture between them) and it sounds like you are actually travelling: very vivid storytelling
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Mudspike’s literary pride, Poster of the Year Cygon Parrot, does not disappoint.
You are unparallelled in your description of the development of madness.
Did you ever write a book? Are you going to?
And will you make it to Christmas Island by Christmas?,
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Just been reading through this all to catch up. Early shifts always knacker me a little, but great writing all round again!
Honestly, I think we should do a summer event each year too, last year we had the olympics, perhaps we can find something themed for this summer?
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When will I go back to flying DCS?
Seriously though, that would be cool!
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Great idea. Maybe a summer island escape or island rally…!
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Good to see that you have favorable winds CP. Wishing you the same for the rest of your journey.
Concerning the GBR, it is fascinating what you can learn from a purported combat flight sim web site!
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Gonna knock out another leg tonight. Leaving Mud Lake, Idaho (1U2) and headed to Pine Hollow, Oregon - a fly-in community nestled on a beautiful lake in the shadow of Mount Hood. Never been there…but it looks cool…!
Feel free to follow along: http://xfsd.ansorg-web.de/fsdmap/
Since Pine Hollow (32OR) is apparently too small (or too private) to register in the GNS database, I simply create a lat/lon user waypoint - a very easy and intuitive process…
Leaving the northern edge of my Idaho ortho…but I should cross back into it continuing westbound. It has definitely spoiled me though!
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Little bit of weather just south of our track…
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My plan might be in jeopardy with the lower ceilings we are flying into. As long as it is high enough I might be able to shoot an instrument approach into Columbia Gorge (KDLS), then get under the clouds and proceed VFR to my destination…
That plan worked out good. I shot the RNAV-A approach to DLS to get under the scud layer, and broke out on the transition…
Loaded up the approach and flew the CEVBI transition, which allowed me to make a further stepdown at SURDE…
I kept my USER1 waypoint in there as my actual destination…ready to proceed direct once I broke out…
Breaking out of the bottoms on the transition…
Given that we are descending off airway and with no instrument approach, the terrain awareness colors of the GTN 750 are nice…
Pine Hollow comes into view, so I fly a left downwind to 7…
Nice little community airpark…
We will spend the night here and see where tomorrow takes us. Unfortunately, I picked this destination because I wanted to see some of awesome Mt. Hood…but it remained obscured in the haze and overcast…
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Getting back on my horse tonight. Departing 32OR (Pine Hollow, Oregon) and headed up to the EPOCH Passage Aviation area of operations…the virtual bush airline that I was very active in last year. They are a great bunch and I can’t wait to carve out the time to participate more!
The destination for this evening will be Seymour Inlet…an interesting EPA destination…
As usual - the real time flight tracker will show my progress (unless I get paged):
http://xfsd.ansorg-web.de/fsdmap/
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Out of Pine Hollow…bases are around 7,500’ though…so I cut a bit west to sneak a peek (or peak?) at Mount Hood…
Just happen to catch a patch of blue sky on the way past…
Then back into the murk…time to put the anti-ice equipment on…
As we climb up to 14,000, we start to break out…
Mount St. Helens coming into view ahead…and maybe I’ll get to spy Rainier!
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Wow…what a view…looks like Kai gets the best vantage point on his side…!
Ortho is just silly awesome…
The huge chunk missing from the flank as a result of the devastating 1980 eruption…
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