October 2008 Colorado Springs Trip, Part I

October 23,24 2008 Flight up the Red River valley from Jackson, MS to Monroe LA to Witchita Falls, Texas,
Tucumcara NM, Colorado Springs CO
And return October 25,26 down the Arkansas River from Colorado Springs, CO along a route through Dodge City
Kansas, Fort Smith AR, Little Rock, Greenville, MS



Figure 1 Started out flying about an hour and a half in whiteout IFR conditions from Jackson, Hawkins
Field westward to Monroe, LA. This picture is taken at 10/23 3000’ about 1:30pm after breaking out
on the other side of the front. 32 deg.30 min. latitude 92 deg. 20 min. longitude. There were still some
rainshowers after this (see figure 2) to fly through but you could see for at least 10 miles through them.






Figure 2 33 deg. 30 min. latitude, 92 deg. 30 min. longitude.









Figure 3 Picture taken at 4500’ looking down into the Red River just west of Wichita Falls, TX. 34 deg.
30 min. latitude 100 deg. longitude






Figure 4 View of the Red River valley from 6500’ along route from Wichita Falls, TX to Tucumcari NM
34 deg. 40 min. latitude, 101 deg. 50 min. longitude 10/24/2008
Photo 7




Figure 5 6500’ same route as last
photo 8




Figure 6 Coming up the river valley to the top of the plateau southeast of Amarillo that leds to
Tucumcari. photo 9








Figure 7 8500’ altitude 35 deg. 20 min. latitude, 103 deg. 40 min. longitude approaching Tucumcari, NM photo 10




Figure 8 photo from 10,500’ altitude along route from Tucumcari, NM to a higher land plateau at
Las Vegas CO photo 11




Figure 9 10,500’ altitude further along same route as previous
photo 12






Figure 10 10,500’ nearing Las Vegas CO, Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background. photo 13





Figure 11 Town of Las Vegas CO from 11,500’ altitude.
Photo 15






Figure 12 photo from 11,500’ , 36 deg, 20 min. latitude 105 deg. 15 min. longitude along route from
Las Vegas CO to Cimmaron CO. Twin peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and the Philmont
Eagle scout ranch in the background.
The twin peaks are Eagle Nest Peak at 13,161’ and another at 12,441’ 10/24/2008.
Photo 18





Figure 13 Further north along the route from Cimarron to Colorado Springs (the twins peaks from
The previous photo are on the left. Photo is again taken from 11,500’
Photo 19