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Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:19 pm
by rlown
Image

This was taken a couple years ago at Boothe Lake just North of Vogelsang HSC. When we got to Evelyn Lake, the night was clear and there were planes stacked up all day, at 2-3min intervals right over our camp, until about 11pm.

I guess it's a major flightpath for SFO Inbound traffic from the East. It doesn't really add to the ambiance of the experience. I wish the FAA could move the traffic either just a little North or South of Yose and Seki. It also seems to be a North/South route for planes, but those are fewer.

The Military planes are really few, but exciting. They seem to fly along the eastern escarpment so you don't generally see them if you're west of the divide.

Still, i'm bugged by the constant noise barrage. Just ranting.. not sure what to do about it yet. ;)

What do you all think?

Russ

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:40 pm
by hikerduane
Is that fish rings showing in the water? What was the question?

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:52 pm
by rlown
Image

Ok. No one should ever go to Boothe Lk. That should be gill-netted for frogs (yes, i said that.)

This is my friend John with his prized catch. His expression explains why we cut up directly to Evelyn now.

Still the issue is about plane fly-over. Does it bug you?

Russ

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:00 pm
by markskor
On the other end of the lake...(in fact just past your fist in the picture...Northwest side), are some deep holes.



Yes I hate the jets too.

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:06 pm
by The Other Tom
rlown wrote:Image
Kinda ruins a good pic, doesn't it.

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:19 pm
by markskor
What I detest most, more than the damn contrails, is the friggin jet noise all night when trying to get some sleep.
Every 5 minutes...sounds like Yosemite is in the main holding pattern for the Western US...

I can understand in the day...the pilot saying, "look down, there is Half Dome on the left...", but at night, Come on!!! Move the pattern over, PLEASE! Could drive a man to drink...in fact, I think I will bring some Single Malt along...as if I needed a good excuse.

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:25 pm
by maverick
They used to bug me before the digital camera age, but now I just photoshop
them out of the pic.
The noise has not been a major issue most places I have stayed.

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:32 pm
by rlown
The noise is the biggest detractor for me. Contrails actually help me sometimes figure out storm patterns.

Probably need to complain to someone about the current SFO inbound pattern, just not sure who yet. Not like i can throw gill-nets up 5 miles and remove the "problem." \:D/

Russ

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:53 pm
by copeg
Its never bothered me to the extreme, but I bet that'll change now next time ;) I do find it a nuisance for photography.

I recall hiking down from Shepherd's Pass a few days before Sept 11, 2001, and talking to a backpacker as he was heading in for a week or so. I still wonder if he noticed the lack of air traffic (that memory crosses my mind quite often when I see air traffic while backpacking).

Re: Commercial Flight Traffic over Yosemite and other NP's

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:06 pm
by oldranger
While I don't like overflights anymore than anyone else where exactly to you propose e-w flights be relocated to. Virtually every mile of the Sierra between Tahoe and the lower kern is someone's favorite place. It might be possible to relocate some n-s travel routes relatively cheaply but rerouting e-w travel would be a pretty expensive proposition. As I recall relatively few flights cross Kings Canyon NP, though the s. most part was affected by 2 daily round trips between Lemore Naval Airbase and a bombing range in Nevada in the 80s (these were flights at legal altitudes, not the infamous Kern and Whitney buzzes). Don't know if they still do that. I also remember flying into SF from Boston in the late 70s and we must have been flying directly over the Tuolumne River because looking to the North I could clearly identify Benson and Tilden lakes, but can't recall seeing Hetch Hetchy.

Mike