As a flatland pilot, I am fascinated by the mountains - the look of them towering over the landscape, the way they manipulate the wind, and the challenges they present to aviating and navigating.  These photos are from my few forays into the Adirondack Mountains of eastern New York and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

January 3, 2007:  Taken from 6500' over Indian Lake in the Adirondacks.  It was a clear day in New York and the contrast in this photo was almost startling to me the when I downloaded it from the camera.  The slight color blemish in the lower right corner of frame on the edge of that frozen pond results from a Warrior-induced glory tracking my progress across the ground.  

January 3, 2007:  Indian Lake looking westward.

January 3, 2007:  Having lived in Michigan for most of my life, I've always been fascinated by water because there was so much of it around.  I find mountains fascinating for exactly the opposite reason - their unfamiliarity.  With a brisk wind out of the west, I made a point of staying in the smooth air a couple thousand feet above the tallest peaks (using my rudimentary TAWS equipment - i.e., a sectional chart).

January 3, 2007:  To the east, the horizon was dominated by white topped mountains - an exotic sight to this flatlander's eyes.

January 3, 2007:  The snowcapped peak in the center of frame is Whiteface Mountain, the fifth highest peak in New York.  Check out those lenticular clouds in the distance.  I kept a healthy spacing between myself and them.  Near the base of Whiteface is Lake Placid, famous as the home of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.  There's an airport in town, but in order to drop in there I would have had to land in a 20+ knot direct crosswind.  I chose nearby Adirondack Regional (Saranac Lake) instead where the wind was coming directly down the runway.  Maybe next time...

January 3, 2007:  This was taken a few minutes after departure from Adirondack Regional airport in Saranac Lake, NY.  There's a lot of water in the Adirondacks, but I found Lower Saranac Lake to be particularly eye-catching.  the snow-capped peak in the distance is Whiteface.

August 20, 2007:  On approach into the Lake Placid area, Whiteface is unmistakably the dominant peak.

August 20, 2007:  At 5000' above Lake Placid, the Warrior finally out-climbed the immediate terrain.

August 20, 2007:  Lake Placid, as seen upon departure from the airport.

August 20, 2007:  Turning south from Lake Placid, the overcast settled about 2000' above the highest peaks.  Though ominous looking, there was no precipitation and the air remained glassy smooth.

September 16, 2007:  Close to Lake Placid, we found ourselves bathed in sunbeams beneath a scattered cloud layer.  The rising terrain of the Adirondacks blushed with the slightest hint of autumn ruddiness.