Inversions and fata morgana
During the middle of January we were inverted?!?!?!?!? The valley floor was below freezing and foggy while above the cloud line it was sunny and near 40 degrees. During this time you could see the effects of a Fata Morgana aka mirage an optical phenomenon caused by the refraction of light in air layers with different densities: one cold layer near the surface and warmer air in the general atmosphere. Really amazing to see. It makes you want to rub your eyes and do a double take. Normally it’s a hit and miss phenomenon but we could see them here for nearly a week during the most recent inversion. Below are two images of the mirage playing tricks with the pointy Mission Mountain Range. Amazing!
I spent the rest of the morning shooting the sunrise and skiers. Enjoy the images.
The Mission Mountains look more mesa like than rocky range.
The entire Mission Mountain Range seen from the summit of Big Mountain.
Chair 5 sitting high above the clouds.
The Flathead Valley socked in with dense fog during a recent inversion.
The sun pokes between peaks in the Great Bear Wilderness.
This job must rock on these days.
Chair 7 lift operator Josh heads down to his post.
Sarah testing out the groomers.
Sun and fun with friends at the summit of Whitefish Mountain Resort.
TJ Andrews flys off a snowghost at sunset during a recent inversion.
TJ flying high above the clouds.
TJ smacks off a snowghost at sunset.
