Stage 06 • Eastern Sierra Nevada & Ancient Saline Basin

Lee Vining (O45) to Bishop (KBIH) via Mono Lake & Mammoth

760,000-year-old hypersaline lake (6,380 ft MSL), limestone tufa towers, Mono Craters chain, and Owens Valley

Distance 105.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 42m
Target Alt 8,500–12,500 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: O45 (Lee Vining Airport)

  • Elevation: 6,802 ft MSL
  • Runway: 15/33 (1,247m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL (Self-Serve)
  • Comms: CTAF 122.800 | MVA VOR 114.30

Arrival: KBIH (Eastern Sierra Regional / Bishop)

  • Elevation: 4,124 ft MSL
  • Runway: 12/30 (2,300m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: CTAF 122.800 | BIH VOR 109.60

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Eastern Sierra & Mono Basin)

MONO CRATERS CHAIN MT DANA (13,061 FT) MAMMOTH MTN (11,059 FT) N E S W VAR 13°E (Mag °M) MONO LAKE SIERRA NEVADA ESCARPMENT OWENS VALLEY MVA 114.30 BIH 109.60 350°M 150°M 195°M 135°M O45 Lee Vining (6,802 ft) O57 Bryant / Bridgeport (T&G) KMMH Mammoth Yosemite (T&G) KBIH Bishop (4,124 ft)

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
O45 Departure -- MVA VOR 114.30 0.0 NM 00:00 Depart Lee Vining beneath Tioga Pass (6,802 ft MSL); track North along US-395.
O57 Touch & Go 350° MVA VOR R-350 22.0 NM 00:09 Touch & go at Bryant Field in Bridgeport Valley (6,468 ft MSL) before turning back South.
TUFA / MONO Waypoint 150° MVA VOR R-130 28.0 NM 00:20 Low scenic pass over South Tufa Reserve towers & the young rhyolite domes of Mono Craters.
KMMH Touch & Go 195° BIH VOR R-320 20.0 NM 00:28 Touch & go at high-elevation alpine airport Mammoth Yosemite (KMMH, 7,135 ft MSL).
KBIH Arrival 135° BIH VOR 109.60 35.0 NM 00:42 Descend South down Owens Valley between the Sierra Nevada & White Mountains into Bishop.

Eastern Sierra & Mountain Wave Tips

  • Severe Mountain Wave Turbulence: Strong westerly winds spilling over the 13,000+ ft Sierra Crest into Owens Valley produce extreme downdrafts and mountain waves. Maintain extra altitude margin over ridge lines.
  • Limestone Tufa Towers & Mono Craters: Calcium carbonate tufa spires rise up to 30 ft out of the shoreline. Immediately south sits the Mono Craters chain—a series of steep rhyolitic volcanic domes last active 650 years ago.
  • High Altitude Performance (7,000+ ft MSL): Landing and departing Mammoth Yosemite (KMMH, 7,135 ft MSL) requires rigorous density altitude calculations and leaned mixture settings.

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

O45 O57 MONO KMMH KBIH

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:O45:O57:MONO:KMMH:KBIH

Save as LakeTour_Stage06.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>O45 to KBIH Stage 6 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>10500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>O45</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N37° 56' 56.00",W119° 09' 13.00",+006802.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>KBIH</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N37° 22' 23.00",W118° 21 me' 49.00",+004124.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="O45">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 56' 56.00",W119° 09' 13.00",+006802.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>K7</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>O45</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="O57">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N38° 15 me' 35.00",W119° 13 me' 35.00",+006468.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>K7</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>O57</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="KMMH">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 37' 26.00",W118° 50 me me' 20.00",+007135.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>K7</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>KMMH</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="KBIH">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 22' 23.00",W118° 21' 49.00",+004124.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>K7</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>KBIH</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>