Blu,
Rather than directly address your specific question I first want to clarify the difference between possible performance and a performance limitation.
The SR22 has a maximum operating altitude of 17,500 feet. This is in accordance with FAR 23.1527 which reads:
§ 23.1527 Maximum operating altitude.
(a) The maximum altitude up to which operation is allowed, as limited by flight, structural, powerplant, functional or equipment characteristics, must be established.
What this means is that Cirrus, or any manufacturer that wants to certify an airplane under Part 23 can choose to demonstrate (establish to the FAA’s satisfaction) the ability of the aircraft to operate safely up to whatever altitude they want. Cirrus decided to certify to 17,500. There are probably reasons why they decided on that altitude related to design requirements but I’m not familiar with those parameters. Nevertheless the reason for that decision doesn’t matter.
What matters from the regulatory standpoint is that 17,500 becomes an OPERATING limitation. Because it is an operating limitation you MUST follow it. The requirement to do so is FAR 91.9:
§ 91.9 Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, markings, and placards, or as otherwise prescribed by the certificating authority of the country of registry.
Trust me that paragraph (d) does not give you an out - it applies to helicopters.
The point of all this is that even if the airplane is physically capable of operating above 17,500 it is not legal for the pilot to do so. The same would be true if you didn’t have an IFR clearance above FL 180 or didn’t have a Mode C transponder in Class A or Class B airspace. The plane may be physically able to fly there but unless you comply with all the operating limitations imposed by the POH and the FARs it can’t do so legally.
Service ceiling as pointed out by others is a performance limit that occurs at that density altitude above which you can no longer achieve more than a 100 fpm rate of climb at maximum power and at best rate of climb speed. I believe this is at max gross weight but I don’t know how it is legally possible to get to that altitude if you departed at max gross since you burn fuel to get there. The point though is that service ceiling is NOT the same as a maximum operating altitude.
My answer to your original question given the terrain, below freezing temperatures to the ground, lack of knowledge about the bases and the OPERATING LIMITATION specified in the POH I would have enjoyed Saratoga, WY.
BTW, as a COPA member you are probably better off posting on the member’s side. You will get far more feedback there.