Snow Clouds

"Snow Clouds"

The only clouds in the sky on this particular day east of Portland, Oregon were hanging low around the peak of this one particular snow-covered mountain. None of the other similar, nearby peaks had such a companion cloud. I'm constantly amazed and intrigued by natural phenomena like this.

Hall of the Mountain King

"Hall of the Mountain King"
Copyright 2006 V1VrV2

It's late afternoon over Iowa. Exploding with the power of a hundred Hiroshimas, a ten-mile high thunderstorm provides stark contrast to the sedate field of sun-dappled cumulus clouds that lies beyond. We drink in the glory of it all, our passage around the storm made peaceful by our distance from it. A poet's words come to mind: "With silent lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space..." [John Gillespie Magee].

Mt. Adams Twilight

"Mt. Adams Twilight"
Copyright 2006 V1VrV2

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Mount Adams, Washington glows in the clear light of post-sunset, as seen from 80 miles to the south at 19,000 feet.
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Nestled between the imposing Mount Ranier, the famous and petulant Mount St. Helens, and Portland's lovely Mount Hood, Mount Adams (12,276 feet) is one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated volcanoes along the Cascade chain. The fact that it hasn't erupted in over 3,500 years doesn't mean it's not capable of more attention-getting someday in the future.

Night Companion

"Night Companion"
Copyright 2006 V1VrV2
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Night "transcons" can be quiet and slightly lonely. The other pilots with whom I fly usually aren't as talkative at night as they are in the bright sunshine. With far fewer aircraft in the air at night, the Air Traffic Control frequencies are silent most of the time. We have plenty of time to think deep thoughts and contemplate the vastness of this world. We are sometimes kept company by the moon. It is our friend, our silent overhead companion, and a reassuring beacon that lets us know the sun is still shining on the other side of the planet. To us, it says: Tomorrow will come; daylight is coming.

Canyons and Mesas in Winter

"Canyons and Mesas in Winter"
Copyright 2006 V1VrV2

Our country has thousands of lovely sights like this, and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to see them on a regular basis from a vantage point most people never get to experience. I'm also happy to share them with you when I see them.

Ripples

Here's another recent shot that illustrates the fascinating repeating patterns found in nature. It was taken from 33,000 feet over central Ohio. This cloud pattern extended as far as the eye could see -- probably 100 miles. It looks like wind-generated ripples on a sand dune, doesn't it? [Click photo to enlarge...]

Sun Dog

Some non-pilots have trouble believing me when I describe all the various interesting phenomena I get to see on a regular basis. One of them, the "Sun Dog," is formed by the sunlight refracting off the bright aluminum fuselage of the aircraft, and out onto whatever visible moisture is in the air. If the moisture takes the form of a thin, misty cloud, you might see a weak halo. If that moisture is a full-blown cloud, you sometimes get to see a bright aura around the aircraft's distinct shadow. Either way, it's called a Sun Dog. Here, you can see a good Sun Dog, along with our contrail shadow. What's really neat about this scene is that the bright corona that's reflected on the cloud indicates that we are sitting in the very front of the aircraft. Passengers in the back would see the corona centered more toward the back of the aircraft's shadow. Cool, huh?