Friday, May 28, 2010

Death Valley

I took advantage of three consecutive no-fly days by traveling to Death Valley with John and Harald yesterday.

On the way there, we stopped at Sequoia National Forest. We didn't get to see any big sequoia trees because the roads were still closed due to snow. We made it as far as we could to the Blackrock campground, then turned back.


The forest was a nice change of pace from the Mojave Desert. Here is a picture of our descent back into the high desert.


We made our way up to Lone Pine and snapped some pictures of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states.


We arrived at Death Valley in the evening, in time to wander around the Mesquite Flat sand dunes before the sun went down.



This morning, we made our way north to south through the valley:

Zabriskie Point

Telescope Peak above salt flats

The Devil's Golf Course

Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America

It only got up to the high 80s there today. I can only imagine how hot it gets in the summer!

As we were heading out of the park (driving around 50 mph), I saw a coyote walking towards us along the side of the road. I was able to stop the car before it got to us, but once it did, it appeared to beg for food.

Once I realized what it was doing, I realized how smooth an operation that coyote ran. It stayed along the white stripe so it was visible but not in grave danger of being hit. Then it begged for food once a car stopped. We felt bad for it, but didn't give it anything -- we just drove on once it was out of the way.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Last Friday's Flight

Last Friday, the P-3 flew downwind of the Margrethe Maersk cargo ship.



Our flight was cut short, so I didn't get many more pictures. Here's one of the smog over Ontario on our way back.

Friday, May 14, 2010

P-3 and ground site

Here's a picture of me in front of my instrument on the P-3:


I also have a CO2 instrument at the ground site, which is in Pasadena.


While setting up at the ground site yesterday, the sun caused this odd ring of light in the sky:

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Flight over Sacramento Valley

I flew for the first time in California today. The Dramamine definitely helped!

Here are some pictures I took:

The Guardian Jet Center, where we're renting hangar space.


Yosemite Valley


Half Dome


El Capitan


Rice paddies. They are being flooded now and soon will be fertilized and planted.


And one of L.A. on our way back to Ontario.

Friday, May 7, 2010

P-3 taking off

I took this picture this morning. The mountains north of Ontario can be seen through the haze.


If things go according to plan, I'll fly tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Ontario, California

We arrived in Ontario Friday night. Today was our first science flight. I took this picture of the P-3 from the office.