Don't want to get into a debate about wether it's a good/bad/foolish idea to do this with xxx hours as there's no right answer - in the end it's down to each pilots own personal confidence. If you feel 100% happy then do it, if not... (if in doubt, there's no doubt etc.)
Having said that, I do agree with David. I did a very similar trip a couple of years ago when I had about 70 hours (just 25 post PPL). Rented from the Phoenix area, up to Vegas, out over Utah then south over the canyon and back to Phoenix in 4 days. Properly trained (i.e. a proper mountain checkout) and LOTS of time reading charts etc. (and asking on prune of course!) and there's no reason why you'd be more likely to come to any harm than flying anywhere else.
Airsapce - very simple compared to UK. Read the charts, follow the procedures. Navigation is a doddle as there are so few features to confuse - plan a route that follows the highways which will also make things easier if you do have problems. Plenty of VOR's to cross-check your position regularly - useful to have something to do as flying over the great-american-bugger-all can get boring after the first few hours. Yes, the airspace over Nevada is a patchwork of restricted and controlled airspace but remember 95% of your time on this trip will be in Arizona where it's much simpler and your much nearer to civilisation.
Don't take any risks with mountains and wind etc. - actually get an instructor to show you what the downdrafts on the lee-side of mountains feel like and you WON'T go there again. As far as weather and wind - go in winter. It'll still be a pleasant 70 degrees in the Phoenix area and colder everywhere further noth - i.e. no real perfomance issues from the afternoon heat and also less blustery winds. At that time of the year you're likely to see the canyon area coated in snow which is even more beautiful than usual.
Most important is file a flight plan for any 'remote' trips and stick to it. That way, as long as you can do a forced landing in 200 miles of open desert you'll be fine. (OK I know - I'm being a bit simplistic, but you really won't be spending that much time over massive, inhospitable mountain ranges).
I could happily go on about this all night. If you want me to, PM me and I'll answer any specific questions you have. I have photos of my trip
here and I know David has a good website too (which was of great help planning my trip) but I cannot remember the URL.
Really sb676, I'd go for it if I were you - this kind of thing is why you got your license in the first place, and the best way to become a better pilot is to stretch yourself, but obviously only within your own comfort factor. Hey, if you get to Phoenix, set out and don't feel comfortable with the weather - just visit Vegas, and some of the less remote local fields and you'll still have the flying trip of a lifetime
Don't worry about renting low hours - I'll PM you details of what I rented if you like (plus a few quirks about the place). But if you contact them and ask sensible questions like you already are here, they'll have confidence that you're being mature and cautious about the whole thing and are therefore a better pilot than the 10,000 hours know-it-all skygods that are unfortunately quite common over there.
I've flown over the grand canyon at 11000ft and over downtown Los Angeles at 2500 in smog with traffic all around. Wanna guess where I felt safer?
PS - Furnace Creek is a must.
PPS - and the PHX VFR transition
- and the Vegas transition
- and... get the point?
