{"id":8521,"date":"2023-07-26T22:59:55","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T14:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8521"},"modified":"2024-04-05T07:54:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T23:54:06","slug":"20230726as","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726as\/","title":{"rendered":"Flight Log of Alaska Airlines Flight 3 from Washington Reagan to Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Towards the end of July 2023, I had some personal errands to run in the western states. This post would be about my flight on Wednesday July 26 from Washington DC to Seattle that commenced the trip.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_232243C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_232243C9.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3>Ticketing<\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s likely a coincidence that I had two personal errands that took place one after the other: during the weekend of July 29-30 in Seattle and then July 31 &#8211; Aug 1 in San Antonio, so it&#8217;s only natural that I combined these two trips.<br \/>\nTranscontinental flights during summer were always expensive, in particular for Seattle as its peak outdoor season, with one-way fares from Washington DC to Seattle hovering around the 300USD range.<br \/>\nI had some Alaska Airlines miles in my account, with such peak demand it shouldn&#8217;t be surprising that the one-way mileage cost from Washington DC to Seattle was 30k on Friday July 28. Since I would be continuing onto San Antonio, and I knew Alaska Airlines allowed stopover for one-way award redemptions, I tried adding a July 30 redeye to San Antonio, and somehow the <em>total<\/em> cost for the entire trip dropped to 25k miles. I guessed I must have triggered some weird fare rules for Alaska Airlines (which almost seemed like a bug). <span style=\"font-size: small;\">Before this, I was under the impression that stopovers were only allowed on &#8220;standard&#8221; awards (at 12.5k).<\/span><br \/>\nBased on that, I found I could change my flight from Washington DC to Seattle to Wednesday July 26, for a total cost of 20k miles <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(instead of 25k)<\/span>. This meant I would have two days to explore some hiking opportunities among the Cascade Mountains.<\/p>\n<h3>The Flight<\/h3>\n<p>WMATA&#8217;s green line was having another maintenance in two years, as a result, I had to take an Uber to Fort Totten Station to begin my journey. In line with my tradition of always forgetting something while traveling, while riding Uber I realized this time I left my mouse behind. So I frantically searched for Best Buy&#8217;s pickup options (as I couldn&#8217;t find anything else to do while riding Uber). Luckily, at the end of the day, I was persuaded that a mouse wasn&#8217;t something I couldn&#8217;t live without for a few days.<\/p>\n<p>I reached the airport only about an hour before the flight&#8217;s departure, where the line for general security screening seemed shorter than the priority one, probably because weekday late afternoons were peak business travel time. I cleared security in 22 minutes, with still some time to spare till boarding.<br \/>\nSimilarly, to showcase the airport&#8217;s busyness, there&#8217;s a 12-minute queue for takeoff.<\/p>\n<p>Alaska Airlines 3<br \/>\nWashington Reagan (DCA) &#8211; Seattle, WA (SEA)<br \/>\nBoeing 737-800 (N514AS)<br \/>\nSeat 27A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 5:40pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 6:16pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 8:35pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 8:29pm<br \/>\n5 hours and 13 minutes<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=166055452&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff. Unfortunately, the windows weren&#8217;t particularly clean.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xp1GD9WuceI\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_175446.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_175446.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Alaska Airlines B738 (N538AS)\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alaska Airlines B738 (N538AS)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In Star Wars livery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_182931.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_182931.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"South Fork of Shenandoah River\" \/><\/a><\/br>South Fork of Shenandoah River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of the town of Front Royal in the lower-left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_184247.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_184247.jpg\" width=\"90%\" alt=\"Intersection of I79 and WV's Corridor H\" \/><\/a><\/br>Intersection of I79 and WV&#8217;s Corridor H<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Typical mountainous terrain of West Virginia. I took this interchange earlier in May for my trip to West Virginia.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_185034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_185034.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ohio River<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_195101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_195101.jpg\" alt=\"Dubuque, Iowa along Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Dubuque, Iowa along Mississippi River<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_195111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_195111.jpg\" width=\"90%\" alt=\"Fields around Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields around Mississippi River<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Three states were featured in this photo. Wisconsin in the bottom, Illinois in the left, and Iowa for the majority.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_175446.jpg\" alt=\"Alaska Airlines B738 (N538AS)\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_182931.jpg\" alt=\"South Fork of Shenandoah River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_184247.jpg\" alt=\"Intersection of I79 and WV's Corridor H\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_185034.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_195101.jpg\" alt=\"Dubuque, Iowa along Mississippi River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_195111.jpg\" alt=\"Fields around Mississippi River\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_175446.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_175446.jpg\" alt=\"Alaska Airlines B738 (N538AS)\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alaska Airlines B738 (N538AS)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In Star Wars livery.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_182931.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_182931.jpg\" alt=\"South Fork of Shenandoah River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>South Fork of Shenandoah River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of the town of Front Royal in the lower-left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_184247.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_184247.jpg\" alt=\"Intersection of I79 and WV's Corridor H\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Intersection of I79 and WV&#8217;s Corridor H<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Typical mountainous terrain of West Virginia. I took this interchange earlier in May for my trip to West Virginia.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_185034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_185034.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ohio River<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_195101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_195101.jpg\" alt=\"Dubuque, Iowa along Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Dubuque, Iowa along Mississippi River<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_195111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_195111.jpg\" alt=\"Fields around Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields around Mississippi River<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Three states were featured in this photo. Wisconsin in the bottom, Illinois in the left, and Iowa for the majority.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Probably because I had a very intense packing session (since I didn&#8217;t want to pay for checked bags) before my Uber ride, I got a better-than-expected nap that lasted more than an hour (as a result of which I missed the snack service).<br \/>\nAfter that, it&#8217;s a pretty uneventful flight. The mountains in Montana felt very shadowy from the setting sun.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_222153.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_222153.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Wildfire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Wildfire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Along the western slope of McLeod Peak, in Jocko Tribal Primitive Area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_222254.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_222254.jpg\" alt=\"Missoula, Montana\" \/><\/a><\/br>Missoula, Montana<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_225735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_225735.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Lenore Lake and Soap Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lenore Lake and Soap Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This could easily be mistaken as a river.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230227.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Columbia River<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_222153.jpg\" alt=\"Wildfire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_222254.jpg\" alt=\"Missoula, Montana\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_225735.jpg\" alt=\"Lenore Lake and Soap Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_230227.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_222153.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_222153.jpg\" alt=\"Wildfire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Wildfire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Along the western slope of McLeod Peak, in Jocko Tribal Primitive Area.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_222254.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_222254.jpg\" alt=\"Missoula, Montana\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Missoula, Montana<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_225735.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_225735.jpg\" alt=\"Lenore Lake and Soap Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lenore Lake and Soap Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This could easily be mistaken as a river.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230227.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Columbia River<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, it&#8217;s a mostly clear day over the Cascade Mountains. As we approached Seattle, I was given a tour of their magnificence. The approach largely followed US Route 2, overlooking Alpine Lake Wilderness to the south.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230914.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Stevens Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Stevens Pass<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A mountain pass \/ ski resort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230943.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230943.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains in Alpine Lake Wilderness\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Alpine Lake Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The highest peaks of the group still covered in snow.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231132.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Gunn Peak and Gunnshy Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231147.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231147.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Skykomish River flowing in the center-left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231345.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231345.jpg\" alt=\"West Snoqualmie Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>West Snoqualmie Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231405.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231405.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking splendid from this angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_230914.jpg\" alt=\"Stevens Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_230943.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Alpine Lake Wilderness\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231132.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231147.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231345.jpg\" alt=\"West Snoqualmie Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231405.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Cascade Mountains.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230914.jpg\" alt=\"Stevens Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Stevens Pass<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A mountain pass \/ ski resort.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_230943.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_230943.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Alpine Lake Wilderness\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Alpine Lake Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The highest peaks of the group still covered in snow.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231132.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Gunn Peak and Gunnshy Peak.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231147.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231147.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Skykomish River flowing in the center-left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231345.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231345.jpg\" alt=\"West Snoqualmie Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>West Snoqualmie Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231405.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231405.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Wild Sky Wilderness<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking splendid from this angle.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Then during the downwind segment we overflew Snoqualmie Valley. The soft twilight colors and light haze were probably the best that Cascade Mountains can offer. After that, the patches of snow on Mount Rainier, illuminated in amber color by the setting sun, was a befitting finishing touch to Cascade&#8217;s charm.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231539.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231539.jpg\" alt=\"Cascade Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cascade Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231711.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231711.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In the center was &#8220;Mount Si&#8221;, which I would climb the next day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231843.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Rainier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mount Rainier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_232247.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_232247.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rainier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Rainier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_203244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_203244.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"American Airlines B772 (N776AN)\" \/><\/a><\/br>American Airlines B772 (N776AN)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For its London service. Such widebody could only fit in the corner of the north satellite terminal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231539.jpg\" alt=\"Cascade Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231711.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_231843.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Rainier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_232247.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rainier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230726_203244.jpg\" alt=\"American Airlines B772 (N776AN)\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Cascade Mountains.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231539.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231539.jpg\" alt=\"Cascade Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cascade Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231711.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231711.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In the center was &#8220;Mount Si&#8221;, which I would climb the next day.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_231843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_231843.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mount Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_232247.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_232247.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/20230726_203244.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/26\/thumbnails\/20230726_203244.jpg\" alt=\"American Airlines B772 (N776AN)\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>American Airlines B772 (N776AN)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For its London service. Such widebody could only fit in the corner of the north satellite terminal.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a video of the landing:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G87WtdysFKI\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>After that, I grabbed a rental car, made it to my overnight Airbnb, and called it a day.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Towards the end of July 2023, I had some personal errands to run in the western states. This post would be about my flight on Wednesday July 26 from Washington DC to Seattle that commenced the trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,640,2],"tags":[537],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8521"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8521"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8710,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8521\/revisions\/8710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}