Air tour of the Sierra

Friday my buddy Dan called and wanted to know if we would be up for meeting him at a local airport and going for a flight.  Naturally, the answer to that was yes.

At 7:30am, we met, loaded and taxied out to take off.  The 18 year old came too, and with the three of us packed into the Mooney, it was a crowd.

Soon, we were over snow country, and the wind was blowing it off the peaks in banners.  The flight itself, however, was surprisingly smooth. It has just snowed, for the second time this year in California, so the high country was wearing a fine fresh coat of the white stuff.

Winnemucca Lake frozen in its bowl below Round Mountain.  Looks pretty chilly down there.

Leviathan Peak in the foreground, with Antelope Valley behind, and the earth itself curving away across Nevada

Dan let the 18 year old fly for awhile.  What a great experience for a kid, and surprisingly we lived to tell about it!  Thanks!

Washoe Valley, Nevada to the right; Lake Tahoe on the left, and if you look carefully, Washoe Lake in the distance on the right.

The scenery at Lake Tahoe is world famous for a reason.  There below are the casinos at South Shore, as seen from 11 thousand feet.

Pyramid Peak  in Desolation Wilderness

On the way back, we flew over the house, and called to let the ladies know we were coming.  They got a shot or two of our little air ship passing over.

Dipping the wing

Meanwhile, passing by above, I took this shot of the homestead.  Looks a little ragged without leaves on the trees and all the grass brown, but it's still a comfortable spot.

By 10:30, the boy and I were back home, having flown all the way to Nevada and back.  The snow pack looks a bit better than I expected, but we'll need much more before spring.  It was a great flight, and thanks again, Dan, for the great time.