The RV is now on all three wheels.

The record setting winter storm that moved through Arizona late last week deluged the  exposed surfaces of the state with a thick blanket of snow in the northern parts of the state as well as filling the lakes in the south.  After several days of rain, Sunday offered bright blue skies and light winds, a perfect inducement to AZ Rvators to indulge in their favorite pastime.

What better place to go than northeast from Phoenix where the white covered mountains beckoned as soon as we were airborne.  In the far background, the white frosted Mogollon rim blends into the far closer mountain range.

The Matzatzal mountains divide the Tonto basin/upper Roosevelt Lake from the eastern side of the Phoenix Gigantoplex.

Mt Humpries (Arizona’s miniture Mt Shasta), as always, looks awesome in the distance.  We wonder if the ski area is open today?  On Saturday, Arizona’s ski areas were all still closed as the tried to dig out from the huge snow fall.

Payson airport is encased in a white border as we get closer.  Seeing the black stripe is reassuring.

Most of one side of the runway is plowed so we decided it wasnt a good time to land on the centerline.  Or at the Southwest end of the runway which was still covered in ice.

The plow must have spent a lot of time getting the taxiways plowed enough for plane traffic.

The spots in front of the restaurant were all filled so 53L parted in front of a row of hangers.

A couple of Bonanza drivers didnt think there was enough clearance on the taxiway to get past this bottleneck above without using their wingtips as shovels.

The friendly, neighborhood FBOman was happy to push the snow further away so the Bonanzas could taxi by in formation.

The walkway to the restaurant from the airplane parking ramp showed that only a few brave pilots has passed this way today.

Glenn lucked out as the departing bonanzas left a prized parking spot for him to slide into.

Dave and Ann landed soon after Glenn.

A Model T (or is it a Model A?) doing a FOD check on the taxiway?  We never did see him come back and there was no where else to go.

Dave and Ann launch for home after a hour of good food and camaraderie.

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Perfect chance to get in some flying!

Flying by Sky Ranch airpark in Scottsdale, AZ.  Heard you have to be rich to live there.

Sahuaro Lake is pretty low this time of year.

Four Peaks looms in the distance.  A long way by Phoenix by car, a few minutes by RV.

Level at 7.5K and leaned out.

Flying across the McDowell Mountains just to the east of Scottsdale.  Still some snow on them.

Two Friends from Idaho that I grew up with are camped out below.  They are both retired and probably sitting around discussing the meaning of life.  Can you find them?

The north end of Roosevelt lake.

Landing at Payson Airport; one of my favorite places to go.  With the cold dense air ourside, it seemed like I floated a long time on landing.  Still snow from the last storm on the sides of the runway.  As suspected, the restaurant is closed and no one around.  Good thing I brought a thermos of Coffee and a blueberry muffin.  Sat at the end of the taxiway with the canopy popped and enjoyed the millon dollar view while snacking. Before I departed, I dug around in the baggage compartment and found the stereo cable to plug the XM music from the Garmin 496 into the intercom.  We had removed it before the last Young Eagles flight.  Perfect day to listen to the Golden Oldies.

Departing from Payson, I headed northeast towards Sedona. Mt Humphries is in the snow covered distance.  The ski area got blessed with some early snow this year and has been open for about 10 days now.  Unusual anymore for them to open that early if they open at all.

Approaching the Sedona airport from the southwest.  Had a skylane call in about 5 miles ahead of me.  First plane I had heard on the radio so far.

About 3 miles SW of the airport for a mid field crossover to a left downwind landing on the uphill runway 3.

Another view of My Humphries.

Sitting on the ground at Sedona.  The FBO and the restaurant were both closed.   The owner of the Skylane who landed ahead of me was landing to collect some snow in a cooler to take back to his kids so they could have a snowball fight.  He should have just brought them with him and let them have at it!

The pilot of this plane was patiently waiting for the rest of the people to show up.

A roadrunner showed up at the beginning or runway 21 to challenge me to a race.  I am happy to report the RV won!

Its hard to believe the view ahead is of a major metropolitan area.  Looks more like a bleak and forbidding landscape.

1.5 hrs flight

2.5 hrs total time.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Don Ridder, our former EAA chapter 538 President, came over on Saturday and spent about 5 hours helping me install and remove the wings to get the correct sweep and alignment on them before I drilled the rear spar.