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Flying into
Lee Vining Airport
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N4201B at Lee Vining Airport. Mono Lake
beyond.
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Best time of the year to go? |
Spring, Summer and Fall. Some places
close down in the winter. |
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Flight time in a Super Viking from KAJO? |
1.9 |
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Food on the airport? |
No but several within walking distance |
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Fuel on airport? |
No |
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Landing or Handling fees? |
No |
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Comments about arriving and departing. |
Watch your DA. This is a high elevation
airport. |
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Things to do at or near the airport. |
Visit the town. Lake actives if you have
transportation. |
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Rate this stop with 10 being best, 5 average. |
8.0, surprisingly good stop! A good 1 day
adventure |
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Had to Try it to
Believe it! |
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On
Yelp I've noticed a restaurant at a Mobil Gas Station in Lee Vining California had 35 reviews and is rated 4.5 of 5 stars. This
must be the 11th wonder of the world! I got to try this place, fuel
up the Super Viking!
I really like flying the Owens Valley
and this trip was no exception. Climb to 12,500 and over fly the
eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada's The view in morning light is
stunning with terrain just off the wing soaring above us. I can't
stop looking at the snow cap and 100's of natural lakes. God's
country!
We doglegged at Bishop, passed Mammoth and descended
into the Mono Lake basin. The pattern altitude is 7600' so don't
plan your decent too far out. The entire runway was regraded and
repaved opening in September 2010 so it's in great shape. After
landing get your aircraft secured right away so it doesn't roll
backwards down the slope towards the runway.
There is no transportation in town so you're on your own. I also
looked for tours that provided transportation to the lake. No such
luck. Walk up the only road towards town. You can see the Mobil
station on the hill surrounded by cars. Even the overflow parking
was full. At highway 395 you can turn right towards town or left
towards the Mobil Station and the Whoa Nellie Deli. Choose left,
eat, then go to town. The Deli seats about 150 people both inside
and outside. Our food was ready within 5 minutes of ordering. The
food was good, I mean really good! I couldn't help but laugh while
eating lunch, a Mobil station with a chef on staff. Who would have
know? I'm happy to give the place 5 of 5 stars. The
facility is closed when the Tioga Pass snows in for the winter so
call ahead.
We spent the day in town shopping, even walked to the Mono Lake Visitor
Center. Before leaving we had a quick bite at Bodie Mike's BBQ, good
food and lot's of it.
Lee Vining was a surprisingly good stop! We really enjoyed the day.
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Pictures
from Lee Vining and Mono Lake! |
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Inbound to Lee Vining Airport |
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Mono Craters |
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Mono Craters |
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Mono Tufa Towers along the south shore. |
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Mono Lake Visitor Center is just
north of town on 395. |
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Lee Vining Airport was regraded, repaved
and remarked. The condition is excellent |
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Lee Vining beyond the airport. This shot
gives you some idea of the walking involved. |
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From the ramp you can see this Mobil
Station about a 1/2 mile south of town. Yelp gives this
place 4 of 5 stars and there is a reason for that. |
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Another view of the Mobil Station. Look
at the background in this shot. |
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I'm not tricking you. The food here is
rated 4
of 5 stars. http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/ |
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Mobil gas station Grilled Salmon Salad. The
Whoa Nellie Deli had a lot of healthy selections on their menu. |
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The Whoa Nellie Deli's Legendary Lobster Taquitos.
See their menu here (Sept 2010) |
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There is an overlook near the Mobil
Station |
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The Lee Vining Airport in the foreground,
Mono Lake beyond. |
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Nice store in Lee Vinning, suggest you
stop in here. |
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Another place to stop. |
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Hiking to the Mono Lake Visitor Center
along the stream bed. This route is pretty but it avoids
town. |
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You can pick the trail up at just as you
enter town from the south, east side of street. The handrail
ends and there is a small sign and a entrance to the trail. |
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Bodie Mike's BBQ - We had a quick meal here before heading
home. Good food, large portions, nice patio. |
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