Mike's visit to Novato from 8/18-8/20 in his 1980 Cessna 172. Flying through Washington, Oregon and half of California. Flying a Cessna 172 from Seattle to San Francisco takes patience; you cruise at 115 kts, about 132 mph. The inland route follows I-5 and takes 1 fuel stop in Roseburg or Ashland, each hop takes 2.5 - 3 hours. Most of the flight is between 8,000' and 11,000'. This year there were forest fires in southern OR and northern CA creating limited surface visibility. The smoke ceiling was about 9,000'.
1 Mt. Rainier
2 Mt. Rainier
3 Mt. Rainier
4
5 Mt. Rainier
6 Cruising south approaching Oregon at 6,500'.
7
8 This is low lying morning fog; the smoke was further south.
9 Mt. St. Helens
10 Mt. St. Helens
11 Mt. St. Helens
12 Mt. St. Helens
13 Mt. St. Helens
14 Morning fog
15 Approaching the Columbia River looking West.
16 The Columbia River and Portland Airport.
17 Portland on the Columbia looking east
18 Portland on the Columbia looking west
19 I believe that's Mt. Jefferson in the distance?
20 A beautiful day in Oregon
21
22 Cruising at 6,500' and 120 kts TAS over central Oregon
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25 Approaching southern Oregon, distant smoke from forest fires
26 Flying by Eugene
27 The smoke gradually thickens
28
29 This is all smoke from the forest fires to the east
30
31 Clear skies to the west
32 Passing the western edge of the firefighting TFRs in southern Oregon
33
34 Fuel stop: Ashland, OR airport S03 at 11:00
35 Flying over the top of a sea of smoke approaching California
36 Mt. Shasta, 14,000', peeking above the smoke
37 Cruising at 9,500' at 115 kts TAS over Lake Shasta, past the worse of the smoke
38 Redding to Red Bluff, the northern California central valley is hazy with smoke
39
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42
43 Looking west from Lake Berryessa toward the coast
44 Lake Berryessa, still hazy from smoke
45 Wally patrols his demesnes
46 The workshop motto
47 Birthday kids
48 Wally yawns before napping
49
50 Mostly awake
51 The return journey begins, departing Novato heading north
52 A mix of low lying fog & smoke along the ridge separating Napa/Sonoma from the central valley
53 Cruising at 8,500' at 116 kts TAS up the California central valley
54 Climbed to 10,500' to get over the top of the smoke near Shasta, still cruising at 116 kts TAS.
55 Up ahead Shasta is barely visible over 50 miles away. Visibility is better than it was during the trip down, but last year Shasta was visible 200 miles away.
56 Mt Shasta to the east, visibility is better than a couple of days ago.
57 Leaving Mt. Shasta behind, approaching the thickest part of the smoke.
58 Just past Medford, which went IFR due to the smoke, while it stayed clear over the top. I heard Medford tower grant SVFR to a departing helicopter.
59 Departing after fueling in Roseburg to avoid the smoke around Ashland.
60 The start of leg 2, Roseburg to Seattle.
61 Climbing through 7,000' on the way to 8,500'. Climbing shallow at 95 kts to help the engine stay cool.
62 Approaching Eugene, OR - the big lake makes an easy landmark
63 Passing Eugene, OR you can see the airport in the lower right
64 A clear day through Oregon and comfortably cool at 8,500'
65 Clear skies well north of the fires and smoke
66 Approaching northern Oregon, we see the mountains to the east
67 Getting close to Portland now
68 Approaching Portland from the south
69 Crossing the Columbia River into Washington
70 Seattle ahead, about 1 hour away
71 A trio of mountains to the east
72
73 Mt. St. Helens
74 Mt. St. Helens and siblings
75 Mt. St. Helens with Adams (I think) in the background
76
77 Looking west while heading north
78 A nice view of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams
79 Here come three views of Mt. Rainier
80 Number two...
81 Number three!
82 Final photo before I had to put the camera away and pay attention to fly into the busy Seattle area
