The past week has brought a cycle of afternoon thunderstorms to the Talkeetna Mountains. The hot afternoon air is unstable and by 1 PM it is so rough, that it is really not fun to be flying. This is a weather pattern common in the lower 48 but relatively new territory for us Alaskans.
I was returning from a trip to a local gold mine when I took this picture today. I loved the blue sky and the way that it changed to a darker shade as it got closer. It was only 44 degrees at this elevation but the moderate turbulence was consistent and annoying. I don’t like up and down drafts that exceed 1500 feet per minute. I think I really like this picture though.