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As we approached the summit of the High Peaks Trail, menacing Turkey Vultures circled overhead. Their inky black feathers and scarlet heads contrasted sharply against the pale blue sky as they effortlessly soared over the cliffs surrounding us. Riding thermals between and around the craggy spires, then crossing the valleys again to repeat each circuit, their display was the epitome of energy management. Reading air currents via pure instinct residing deep within their DNA, their ability to capitalize on rising air while minimizing their exposure to descending air would be the envy of any glider pilot. The display was enough to hold the attention of any person intrigued by the mysteries of the air and the creatures who call it home. If you are such a person, and find yourself with some downtime at any of the many airports within California’s South Bay or Salinas Valley areas, consider a visit to the largely unknown Pinnacles National Park.
Hiding in Plain Sight
If your flying missions have ever taken you to the central coastal regions of California, you’ve likely been close to Pinnacles National Park (PNP) without even realizing it. It is less than 50 miles from the scenic Pacific Coast Highway drives through Big Sur, Pebble Beach and Monterey Bay. Pinnacles is relatively new within the national park ranks and far less known than some of its in-state siblings, such as Yosemite, Sequoia and Death Valley. It has been protected by the National Park System (NPS) for over a century, having been designated a national monument in 1908. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that it was upgraded to national park status, making its 105-year gestation from monument to park one of the longest in NPS history. It’s a sparkling
FEBRUARY 2023
gem and the smallest of California’s nine national parks (and 57th in size, among the current 63 U.S. National Parks). Covering less than 27,000 acres, Pinnacles is perfectly sized for day visitors.
While one could certainly make repeat visits and take in different sights each time, pilots passing through the area could easily get a great taste of PNP in a single day trip, whether they are solo, laying over with crew members or on a family adventure. Pinnacles is only a 11⁄2- to two-hour drive from major hub airports such as San Francisco Int’l (SFO), Oakland Int’l (OAK) and San Jose Int’l (SJC). Monterey (MRY) and Salinas (SNS) Airports (Class C and Class D airports, respectively) are within an hour. Additionally, a variety of small, pilot- controlled airports are even closer, with the nearest two being King City’s Mesa Del Rey Airport (KIC) to
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