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the south and Hollister Airport (CVH) to the north. Both have runways plenty long enough for most King Air operations. Even a few likely King Air destinations within the Central Valley are within a couple of hours’ drive time. Those include the Class C Fresno Yosemite Int’l (FAT), Madera (MAE) and Merced’s two airports (MER and MCE). Best of all, all the above airports offer fuel, pilot services and instrument approach procedures (IAPs). Most offer rental cars, as well. Although, never assume and call ahead for specific details on available service and transportation options.
Stark Contrast
One thing any pilot who’s flown much within 17 California can attest to is the incredible variety of both
nature and humanity within the Golden State. Rocky coastlines, vast deserts, intriguing islands, rugged mountain ranges, dense forests, urban sprawl and tiny rural communities all surround the enormous Central Valley. There, abundant harvests of fruit, vegetables and nuts are grown in such quantities they’ve earned the region the nickname “America’s Salad Bowl.”
Yet, there is something oddly out of place in the Salinas Valley and the Gabilan mountains. Remains of an ancient volcanic field have been shaped by eons of erosion into the foothills, caves, spires, cliffs and ramparts that now make up Pinnacles. But, only about two-thirds of that volcanic field is within PNP. The remaining portion is not simply outside the official park boundaries, it is 195 miles southeast, totally detached from its prehistoric neighbor. The reason is another one of California’s famous features – The San Andreas Fault. Running just east of PNP, the active fault line’s ever-moving tectonic plates split the volcanic field and have separated its components over millions of years, leaving Pinnacles as a unique topography within the surrounding landscapes. Additionally, the shifting of those same plates has helped create one of PNP’s most fascinating features: its above-ground caves. Known as talus caves, they form (and change) as earthquakes topple boulders into and across deep and narrow gorges. Singularly or in clustered piles, the boulders span the gaps between rock walls, creating “ceilings” and
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within. Yet, they are not truly subterranean.
Similarly unique to Pinnacles is its wildlife. The talus caves attract a variety of bat species, all of which rest peacefully during most daylight hours. The soaring conditions created by the winds and terrain features, attract large raptors and scavenger birds alike. A variety of hawks, ravens, and vultures are common within PNP and are fairly easy for even the casual tourist to spot. Die-hard birders (and pilots too, I suspect) all hope to see one bird in particular, though. The massive California condor was brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to a decadeslong captive breeding program. They were reintroduced into areas
4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2023