Oregon
Oregon has numerous beautiful landscapes. There are mountains, an ocean, rivers, a desert and lots of forest land. While attending graduate school at Oregon State University, I had the opportunity to summit Oregon's highest peak, Mount Hood, twice. I also had a failed attempt on Oregon's second highest, Mount Jefferson. Top to bottom in the above photo: Mount Adams (residing in the state of Washington), Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack.
Snowcatcher and I are off to Oregon to attend my nephews wedding. It's a cold Friday afternoon at Denver International, and we're happy to be in the concourse. All in all things went well. We didn't wait too long to clear security, although my hat got stuck after passing through the x-ray, and I got in trouble for being on the wrong side of the conveyor to retrieve it. After check-in, we ate some food and took a stroll to our gate. We settled in for an hour or so of airplane and people watching.
Soon our ride taxied up to the gate. It's an Airbus 319. In short, it's a flying aluminum culvert with two engines hanging on the wings.
The tail section of each Frontier airliner sports a picture of some type of wildlife. We were storks today.
After leaving the gate, we rolled-up next to another Frontier jet. Then we had a drag race to the runway taxi lane. We won!
A Southwest airliner, and a Frontier airliner, line up behind us for take-off.
Our flight flew over the suburban sprawl of Westminster, Broomfield and Boulder.
A popular climbing area, the Boulder Flatirons caught late afternoon sun directly below us.
Longs Peak is Colorado's 15th tallest mountain at 14,255 feet. The peak is hiding under clouds and most likely creating its own weather (center top).
The weather deteriorated as we flew over Colorado's front range...
...however, we popped into the wide blue yonder fairly quickly
As we flew across eastern Oregon, heavier, rain-laden clouds floated below us.
As the airplane descended for landing, it pierced several cloud layers.
Just as we broke out of the clouds, the pilot hit the throttle, propelling us back up through the clouds for another go-around. It was kind of exciting. The cabin became quite silent.
Banking left for another final approach.
We dropped out of the clouds again and landed according to plan.
After a little air brake action, we taxied right up to the gate of Oregon's Eugene Airport.
More Oregon to come.
Adios
