June 15, 2006 - Kemmerer to Pocatello, Idaho

This leg of the flight was probably the most scenic and enjoyable of the entire trip.  Keep in mind, I've been in the high desert for the last two days.

Kemmerer Municipal Airport (KEMM) - elevation 7,285 - from the air after takeoff.  The terminal buildings and hangars are in the upper left hand corner of the picture.  I landed on the shorter runway to the right but it was right into the wind at the time.  (When I landed yesterday in the strong wind I was too focused on just getting down without busting the Citabria up to take pictures!)

I took off this morning around 6AM.  Weather was perfect.
   
The small town of Kemmerer, population 2,656.   The J. C. Penney company store was founded in Kemmerer in 1902.  Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers during the glory days of Showtime with Magic Johnson et al. was raised here.
   
Another look at the airport.  You can see how it sits on a plateau.  I landed on the short diagonal runway because it was aligned with the wind.  In the morning when I took off, the wind was calm, so I used the long runway.
   
A huge quarry west of town.
   
I passed by Fossil Buttes National Monument on the right, where I had visited yesterday.
   
I flew about 20 miles following a highway through a mountainous area, then suddenly I came to this beautiful green valley.  It was incredibly scenic with the green fields, blue water, and white clouds.
   
On the west side of the valley were some more mountains, and then I saw Bear Lake.
   
Lynnette and I had driven by Bear Lake about 20 years ago and it had made an impression on me then as a beautiful place. 
   
I turned north and flew along the east shore.
   
 
   
This swampy area at the northern end of Bear Lake was striking.
   
Bear Lake Airport north of the lake.  I couldn't get over how green it was here after flying over brown desert for so long.
   
It was neat how fog was coming off the river and ponds.
   
 
   
 
   
I am back on the Oregon Trail!  Ruts running bottom to top center really stand out.
   
The wind was absolutely calm, the temperature was just right, the air was smooth, the scenary was magnificent:  flying just doesn't get any better than this.
   
Even the mountains were covered in green.
   
XXX
Breathtaking.
   
Ruts running right to left at the top of that pond.
   
The trail runs north now, skirting the big mountains to the west.
   
Cumulous clouds are forming ane making big shadows on the ground.
   
Magnificent!
   
 
   
The Trail angles northwest to get around a mountain range and into the Idaho Valley.
   
Flying west into the Idaho Valley.  The town of Pocatello is just off the nose.
   
Pocatello (KPIH) - elevation 4452 feet - has a towered airport and they just brought me in on a straight-in approach.  The FBO was friendly.  I borrowed the courtesy car and drove into town where I had breakfast at a Dennys.
   
I drove by this big Simplot plant.  Simplot is a big name in Idaho.  John Simplot started with nothing and built a potato empire.  A classic entrepreneurial success story in America, the land of opportunity.
   
 
   
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