Get a mountain checkout from a knowledgable instructor before you venture into the mountains. Do the FARs require it? Nope, but with the right instructor, it will be a very worthwhile investment and we all know that there is a big difference between being safe and legal.
Time for my annual mountain flying plea to get some training before attempting mountain flight. Don't attempt this type of flying without the right equipment (plane/pilot/survival). It is a different world up here and very hard for the unfamiliar to imagine. On Monday, it was 31.9 degrees at my house at 8500 msl. Within the last week, highways were closed due to snow and chain laws were in effect at Vail pass. Chose your flight time in the mountains carefully and watch the density altitude. 70 degrees at Leadville equates to about 13,000 ft density altitude. You must be flexible when flying the mountains. Either wait until it gets cooler, leave the mother-in-law on the ground, or off load some fuel (not the best idea). Many performance tables don't provide data for this type of environment, so, congratulations, you are a test pilot. Do you have the knowledge and tools to perform in that capacity??
I hope that I don't have to go out and try and find somebody this year, but if I do, keep in mind that I am only going if it is safe for me to go, so depending on where you are located, you might be there for a while before help arrives, if you can be found at all. There is an aircraft still missing from a couple of months ago.
