On our way back from Las Vegas, my coworker August and I stopped for lunch and fuel at Shafter-Minter Airport (KMIT). There were some unusual aircraft parked there, including two crop-dusting helicopters and a Fouga Magister jet.
May 1st, 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of my first time leaving the Earth in an aircraft alone. I had been planning a flight over the Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite into the high desert, and conditions on 5/1 were perfect. Below are my photos from the trip.
Sorry about the lack of detail (especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains) – the side windows on my airplane are crazed and in need of replacement. Soon, I promise.
Set 1: Flying over the Sierra Nevada Mountains via Mammoth Pass:
Set 2: Flying from Bishop, CA to Beatty, NV over Death Valley:
The desert photos are my favorite. I have to go back there and explore some more. The world is just different out here, compared to the forest and field covered Southeast.
Edit: If you’re wondering, here’s (roughly) my route of flight: http://goo.gl/atBjz
So apparently there’s a Ghost Town nearby!
I took the Cessna 172 up to Lake Tahoe just to see some snow. 
I didn’t have the Canon with me, so these shots were taken with my HTC Evo phone.
