Californians ? you?re excused. This is old hat for you, I know.
But for those of us who grew up flying in the center of the country ? despite all the ground-bound mountaineering in my past ? well, my first flight up the Owens Valley was, to say the least, inspirational! The magnificent contrast between the forested Sierras to the west, and the desert ranges to the east was astounding, and the effect of flying along at 12,500?, with the ridges of Mount Whitney soaring another 2,000 feet higher was sobering. It was almost as if I was flying through a massive natural cathedral, high among the arches, yet humble below the spires.
I left Big Bear lake early enough to avoid the afternoon turbulence I have heard about downstream of the Sierras, and this gave me the benefit of wonderful lighting of the range itself. Joshua Approach was moderately busy with IFR traffic (mostly), and even though I got flight following from Victorville up around Edwards and nearly all the way to Bishop, they never gave me a traffic call. It was fun listening, however, as a gaggle of F-18 Hornets sounded as if they had declared war on Lone Pine, and the controllers were trying to figure out the good guys from the bad guys ? and where everyone was headed. Hey, as long as I wasn?t getting in anyone?s way, it was fine with me!
The Edwards complex is a place I fly in to regularly ? but not for real. Shooting approaches in the computer-generated world of our simulators is quick and easy, but nothing beats the real world when you?re staring down the final approach for Runway 04 at EDW. If I were in the Shuttle, I?d be landing on the lakebed at Rosamond from this view ? if I could even make that?..
Starting up the Owens valley, the Sierra climbed steadily on my left, with pine forests and the high plateaus inviting thoughts of wonderful hiking and outdoors activities.
To the right, off across the Basin and Range country of Nevada, promises of hardship in the parched dry desert predominated. The Owens Valley appeared as a demarcation between the Promised Land and someplace that you?d rather not end up?.
Before long, Mt. Whitney and it?s surrounding battlements came in to view, awe inspiring in their steep climb from the valley floor to the top of the ?Lower 48?.
Mt. Whitney itself, looming high above Lone Pine and the Whitney Portal is a place I need to add to my list ? need to make that climb while I still have the legs!
Farther along route, north of Mammoth Mountain, the Minarets appeared, stabbing at the sky with their jagged spires.
The odd and unique Mono Lake reminds of the tales told by Mark Twain in his landmark work ?Roughing It?. A curious body of water with odd properties, it stands out among the surrounding mountains.
After a stop for inexpensive fuel in Yerrington, our future home at Dayton Valley Airpark came in to view, the Carson River leading the eye upstream to Carson City and the beautiful Sierra beyond. I couldn?t resist a quick touch and go, just to try the runway on for size. The Valkyrie approved with a subtle ?chirp?.
Majestic views of California and Nevada are the reward for a couple hours of easy cruising in the RV. I can hardly wait for the chance to expand our horizons even farther as we look forward to making the area our eventual home. In the meantime, we?ll settle for these short trips to wet the appetite for what is to come!
Paul
But for those of us who grew up flying in the center of the country ? despite all the ground-bound mountaineering in my past ? well, my first flight up the Owens Valley was, to say the least, inspirational! The magnificent contrast between the forested Sierras to the west, and the desert ranges to the east was astounding, and the effect of flying along at 12,500?, with the ridges of Mount Whitney soaring another 2,000 feet higher was sobering. It was almost as if I was flying through a massive natural cathedral, high among the arches, yet humble below the spires.
I left Big Bear lake early enough to avoid the afternoon turbulence I have heard about downstream of the Sierras, and this gave me the benefit of wonderful lighting of the range itself. Joshua Approach was moderately busy with IFR traffic (mostly), and even though I got flight following from Victorville up around Edwards and nearly all the way to Bishop, they never gave me a traffic call. It was fun listening, however, as a gaggle of F-18 Hornets sounded as if they had declared war on Lone Pine, and the controllers were trying to figure out the good guys from the bad guys ? and where everyone was headed. Hey, as long as I wasn?t getting in anyone?s way, it was fine with me!
The Edwards complex is a place I fly in to regularly ? but not for real. Shooting approaches in the computer-generated world of our simulators is quick and easy, but nothing beats the real world when you?re staring down the final approach for Runway 04 at EDW. If I were in the Shuttle, I?d be landing on the lakebed at Rosamond from this view ? if I could even make that?..
Starting up the Owens valley, the Sierra climbed steadily on my left, with pine forests and the high plateaus inviting thoughts of wonderful hiking and outdoors activities.
To the right, off across the Basin and Range country of Nevada, promises of hardship in the parched dry desert predominated. The Owens Valley appeared as a demarcation between the Promised Land and someplace that you?d rather not end up?.
Before long, Mt. Whitney and it?s surrounding battlements came in to view, awe inspiring in their steep climb from the valley floor to the top of the ?Lower 48?.
Mt. Whitney itself, looming high above Lone Pine and the Whitney Portal is a place I need to add to my list ? need to make that climb while I still have the legs!
Farther along route, north of Mammoth Mountain, the Minarets appeared, stabbing at the sky with their jagged spires.
The odd and unique Mono Lake reminds of the tales told by Mark Twain in his landmark work ?Roughing It?. A curious body of water with odd properties, it stands out among the surrounding mountains.
After a stop for inexpensive fuel in Yerrington, our future home at Dayton Valley Airpark came in to view, the Carson River leading the eye upstream to Carson City and the beautiful Sierra beyond. I couldn?t resist a quick touch and go, just to try the runway on for size. The Valkyrie approved with a subtle ?chirp?.
Majestic views of California and Nevada are the reward for a couple hours of easy cruising in the RV. I can hardly wait for the chance to expand our horizons even farther as we look forward to making the area our eventual home. In the meantime, we?ll settle for these short trips to wet the appetite for what is to come!
Paul
