Italianjon, if you are flying VFR, then the semi-circular rule is only a recommendation, and the safe altitude marked on the chart (grid MORA; MSA is minimum sector altitude, a totally different animal) will only apply if you are not in sight of the surface, otherwise you can route around the highest points.
Yep, fair point, but they are mountains, and if weather picks up and clouds roll in then I would like to know that I'm not going to hit anything, so that I can work on other "issues" at that time, like getting back VMC - I would not cross unless the forecasts were basically CAVOK with light winds... but you never know.