BE35 PLT ENCOUNTERS SEVERE ICING CONDITIONS ON AN IFR PLAN FOR CYS TO OGD AND WAS REFUSED A LOWER ALTITUDE BY ZDV CENTER EVEN WHEN THE PLT RPTED THE ACFT WOULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.

Narrative

I WAS IN RTE FROM CHEYENNE TO OGDEN AFTER A FUEL STOP IN CHEYENNE. I OBTAINED A BRIEFING FROM CHEYENNE FSS; FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN; AND DEPARTED CHEYENNE. THE FLT WAS FILED FOR 10000 FT DIRECT AND INITIALLY ASSIGNED. LATER; I WAS GIVEN HEADING AND ALTITUDE CHANGES BY DENVER CENTER. THESE CHANGES DIRECTED ME INTO IMC; WHERE I ENCOUNTERED UNUSUALLY STRONG AND UNFORECASTED HEAD WINDS; AND ACCUMULATION OF RIME ICE. I REPEATEDLY REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE FROM ATC TO AVOID THE ICE ACCUMULATION; BUT WAS DENIED. I THEN RPTED TO ATC THAT THE ACFT WOULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN ALTITUDE; AND AGAIN REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE. ATC ANSWERED THAT A LOWER ASSIGNED ALTITUDE WAS NOT POSSIBLE; BUT I COULD DESCEND IN AN EMER SIT. I RESPONDED THAT I WOULD DECLARE AN EMER AND DESCEND. I CHANGED MY HEADING DIRECT TO ZZZ AND STARTED A DESCENT. I BROKE OUT OF IMC AT 11000 FT; AT ZZZ; 4500 FT AGL; WITH ZZZ IN SIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO ZZZ AND LANDED. AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT; I HAD A MIND SET TO PROCEED TO MY DEST. I HAD OTHER OPTIONS THAT I DIDN'T THINK OF AT THE TIME. I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A HEADING CHANGE MORE NW WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT ME INTO AN AREA OF LOWER MEA; THEN A LOWER ALT COULD HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED. I COULD HAVE TURNED N; OR TURNED AROUND AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS; REROUTING TO RAWLINS; OR LARAMIE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR MY DECISIONS WERE MY LIMITED; SELF TAUGHT; MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE; ALL VFR (ABOUT 25 HRS); THE UNFORECASTED AND UNUSUALLY STRONG HEAD WINDS (AT TIMES 75 TO 95 KTS); AND WINTER CONDITIONS.