Every summer a bolt of lightning ignites a forest of black-spruce somewhere in Alaska, reducing visibility, burning my eyes, and blackening the leading edge of my airframe. It all depends on winds, temperature, and rain, but I have found that conditions improve above 6000′. This photo was taken in July of last summer on my way to 10,000′. The main reason I dislike smoke is because it hides the clouds. I have flown in reduced visibility due to smoke and suddenly found myself struggling for visual reference because of a hidden cloud. The smoke in the this image is nothing compared to the thick white blanket that occasionally lays on the ground. Fortunately it never sticks around long as we have a steady Southerly flow during the summer months, and a weather pattern that is dynamic enough to keep things moving.