Got a lot of video yesterday and will put together another you tube of lying in the mountains...
Made another cross country flight Sunday the 23rd, Left Oakdale at 12:34, temp. was 66 degrees. Flew to Pine Mountain Lake, about 40 miles, took 50 minuets flying time, oil temperate in the valley was 147 degrees but as I climbed, Pine Mountain field elevation is 2930 msl it got colder and at 6,300 feet msl oil temperature was at 100 degrees, i was cold, filled with fuel and warmed up a bit then took off for Columbia about 22 miles north west but when i got there was very cold and they were busy with a lot of arrivals so decided to head back to Oakdale. lost altitude and stayed low to warm up and smell the burning smoke and blossoms from the almond trees. This leg took one hour and 26 minutes. Great day. My take off roll in PML was only slightly longer then at Oakdale, at 240 msl so my goal of flying out of Ely Nevada. field elevation 6259 msl, this summer and making it to the top of Ward mountain is within reach. Got a lot of video yesterday and will put together another you tube of lying in the mountains. If you are wondering why i was so high it was at least three reasons, main reason is in event of engine stoppage a semi safe landing site should be in gliding distance, There was a little bit of turbulence over the mountains and altitude is great insurance and working towards 10,000 feet a few feet at a time. My old altitude record was 4,800 feet last summer in a flight. Besides it is nice to get nose bleeds once in the while.
