Grand Canyon this morning.

.

Not today but recently. Interesting hill strip.

Nice one Jamie I was wondering when the super' bin was going to appear over the horizon

Today I flew to the moon....


Seriously, this is actually the new home to the High Sierra Fly-in! More on that in a different thread.

AKT

aktahoe1 wrote:Seriously, this is actually the new home to the High Sierra Fly-in! More on that in a different thread.

Sweet!

aktahoe1 wrote:Today I flew to the moon....


Seriously, this is actually the new home to the High Sierra Fly-in! More on that in a different thread.

AKT

Take me to the moon good sir!

So decided against the private strip? No complaints, that looks amazing!

DrifterDriver wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote:Today I flew to the moon....


Seriously, this is actually the new home to the High Sierra Fly-in! More on that in a different thread.

AKT

Take me to the moon good sir!

So decided against the private strip? No complaints, that looks amazing!

That is private Tim! It's now referred to as "Babylon"

Akt

Cant wait chief! Looks amazing

Looking down on Babylon

Popped down to the 'other' glider port in the area and ran into a nice 'big' tire'd C120...I like the look of 8.00x6.



Of course the goal of the trip was to prove that mountains can do the work of a motor for you. Which they sure can...crossing through 9000ft after dropping the rope at less than 5000ft. It helps to have a glide ratio in excess of 30:1 too. Perhaps it's time to explore wing extensions on the 120.

Yesterday, I had the distinct displeasure of unexpectedly flying straight into IMC over the Pennsylvania mountains

1,000 feet over the ridges, haze, low ceilings and a broken layer a few hundred feet off the valleys. I THOUGHT I was below the overcast as I approached the next ridge to see if the next valley was broken or solid to decide if I could continue.
All of a sudden, poof! I started what I though was a standard rate turn to the left but within 10 seconds I was over banked, over tasked and feeling panic set in. I coudlnt remember what airspeed I was supposed to be at and the artificial horizon seemed to confuse me as well. I had to ignore everything except the needle, ball and tach - which I knew was 2550.

Longest 60 seconds of my life.

It happened in an instant. I had better than 5 mile vis the moment before as I was looking at the ridge and the layer beyond the ridge.

It was a real eye opener about flying marginal conditions in the mountains.

Bagarre,

Good job getting back. I never liked layers much, unless IFR. I tried to keep contact and instrument flying separate. If my plane wasn't current for IFR, I mostly stayed below the bottom layer. Much easier in dry western air where visibility is usually good below the clouds. It's a tough call, except for a pipline flier, back there where the air is not really clear on a clear day. Scud running not a choice, just a way of life.

Contact

I wont go over the next ridge if the layer isn't broken enough that I can easily see landing spots and get down thru it. On my side of the ridge, it was clear below me but I could see a layer forming ahead of me. I wont fly over a solid layer in a valley even if it's clear above me.
My mistake was not being CERTAIN I was below the overcast. I THOUGHT I was as it was overcast at 5,000 and I was at 4,000 but there was another broken layer at 4k at the ridge that I couldn't see. If you can't see the bottom of the clouds, you're not below them.

I remember looking down at the map (Ipad) a few times to look for nearby airports and thinking I shouldn't look away very long cuz It's really hazy and it might get worse. One time, I looked down and the map and when I looked up I could have sworn it got worse all of a sudden but I could still see the ridge. That should have been enough to make me to turn around - it will next time.

The Owens Valley always has something to offer, and today, with some cooler air and calm winds, it was a nice chance to try a few of the strips south of Owens Lake.

First up was Cinder Cone Dry Lake to get warmed up. Recent rains and a few reckless road vehicle look to have added some ruts, especially at the south end, but the main "runway" area by the windsock was amply smooth even for my little tires.


Then popped over the little summit there on 395 to the town of Olancha to take a close inspection of the strip there. I'd call it land-able.

And then back south to Coso Junction, just south of the greatly named town of Dunmovin. This is a lake much like Cinder Cone with a well kept windsock to aid you in your landing decision.


As well at Coso there is Chevron station within walking distance.


And finally, headed south of KIYK into those perilous looking hills to take a look at the old Holland Camp strip. A close inspection makes me think something with large tires would do fine; the 120 may even be able to. I think I will drive out though and inspect it first.

We had a family reunion this weekend up near Donnelly, Idaho. We left a day early to spend a night at Smiley Creek, do some hiking, and have breakfast at Stanley. A great weekend of family and flying. It was a bit hazy going up and really smokey coming back today all through southern Idaho.

Smiley Creek camping



A little minivan four wheeling and hike to Hell Roaring Lake



Breakfast at Stanley



Picnic at Donnelly, Idaho


Smokey Idaho today.


Fuel stop in Gooding for the plane and us.


On our way home over Southern Idaho, Sadie said she had to go really bad! So, down we went to a spot I had previously scoped out when searching out the concrete arrows but not landed.

Fiddler wrote:Popped down to the 'other' glider port in the area and ran into a nice 'big' tire'd C120...I like the look of 8.00x6.



Of course the goal of the trip was to prove that mountains can do the work of a motor for you. Which they sure can...crossing through 9000ft after dropping the rope at less than 5000ft. It helps to have a glide ratio in excess of 30:1 too. Perhaps it's time to explore wing extensions on the 120.

Great pics!

Is that Tehachapi Pass? Lovely area.

I looked at a job there about 11 years ago, on and off I have regrets about not taking it but the exwife did not feel there was 'anything' to do for her deatbeat kids...

Hiking riding fishing camping flying hunting all clearly fit into the 'nothing to do category!

Mountain Doc,

That was over the San Gabriels at Crystal Air east of Palmdale. An intern at work had just finished up his CFIG and was eager to fly some of us. My usual haunt for fun landings and the occasional motor-less aspiration is here at home in Tehachapi at Mountain Valley Airport. Many evenings find me over there shooting a few landings.

-Fiddler

Exploring around the glacier today.

Cool shot!