I left the hotel in Atacama around 9 and went to the airport in Calama. The drive was about 1 1/2 hours and with fueling up I took off around 11:30. I filed a flight plan on the airways along the coast as I have been doing. The tower asked if I wanted a more direct route South to Santiago, something that I hadn't even thought to ask for as it took me closer to the mountains. After thinking about the weather and the beautiful day I accepted the route and took off and headed due South.
If you draw a straight line from Calama to Santiago you will see that you start in a high desert.
But as you proceed South the mountains start to merge with the flight path.
In fact in less then an hour the mountain tops off the wings are reaching up toward the airplane - while I was flying at 25,000 feet.
The colors and the rugged patterns and the altitude of the mountains is amazing.
The further South the higher and rugged the mountains became.
I took these pictures for me and my pilot friends as I know we will appreciate them the most. I kept hitting the nearest button on the GPS which shows you the direction and info on the nearest airport. Something to do when you have nothing but mountains under you for as far as you can see.
Somewhere out there is Santiago - it sure doesn't look like there is a city of 10 million somewhere ahead.
These peaks were well over 20,000 feet.
Oh Santiago - where are you?
Nope still don't see Santiago!
Marco (Polo) Marco??
The controller started to decend me long before any thing was visable out there. (other then more mountains)
Marco?
Marco?
Hmmm, this is starting to look promising.
The controller announced that there was a mountain - I didn't get the name - at 9 o'clock and 38 miles. It is the highest peak in the Andes - for your sight seeing pleasure. Welcome to Santiago. Not a bad way to be welcomed to a city. I was impressed and the view was spectacular.
I will have to look up the name when it isn't 2 in the morning.
Pretty huh?
About 12,000 feet trying to see the area of the city - not yet.
At about 6,000 feet it started to look more promising.
Hey, there is an airport out there - I love it when that happens.
On final.
Short final - and incidentally, it isn't easy to take photos on short final when you are alone in the airplane.
On the ground in Santiago.
It was pretty hot on the ground.
The view from the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
I had dinner at the hotel and now I will go to bed. I am taking a tour tomorrow of Santiago.
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