Bizarre question of the day: Jet trails

**Robert Hall** · 29-Nov-2006, 13:21

I get a lot in south eastern Utah. South of Moab there is a "crossroads" for aircraft. I have a shot with an Anasazi ruin with 20 trails across the sky. (Winter afternoons is best)

**chris jordan** · 29-Nov-2006, 13:24

Thanks a ton guys, lots of good ideas. A trip to the desert southwest seems in order anyway... (but what a strange reason to go there, eh?).

**roteague** · 29-Nov-2006, 13:40

Hawaii is definitely out.

**Brian Schall** · 29-Nov-2006, 16:09

At times, there are lots of contrails over Albuquerque. I've counted up to 8 at one time but can't remember what time of year.

wfwhitaker · 29-Nov-2006, 16:36

Yosemite.

**Ernest Purdum** · 29-Nov-2006, 17:08

Near a military training base might work Oops, not too near

**Andy Eads** · 29-Nov-2006, 21:14

Chris,
Check out this website for a fabulous visualization of where the birds are flying.
http://www.aaronkoblin.com/work/faa/
Good hunting!
Andy

**Pat Kearns** · 30-Nov-2006, 11:27

If you are thinking about the Southwest, Monument Valley in the morning had plenty of jet contrails the last time I was there.

**Matthew Cordery** · 30-Nov-2006, 13:42

Dawn at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley.... Just look east and watch the train of jets stretching off to the horizon.

**Lon Overacker** · 30-Nov-2006, 13:42

Chris,

May I ask what the project entails? book? environment?

I've always been fascinated with contrails/jet trails, but never really spent any time specifically photographing them. As has been said, anywhere between major hubs and below major flight patterns. Here in northern CA, we get the north-south, Seattle/LA route as well as all the east-west routes coming in to SFO, OAK and SJ.

I agree with Mark that atmospheric conditions play a big part in whether or not the trails remain visible, allowing for the winds to create patterns and such. Also, they seem more prevalent around sunset/sunrise. Yosemite has always been a spot where they're noticable, probably more because you notice them and wish they weren't there! I recall a sunrise at Mono Lake where I counted at least 15 individual contrails.

I think the desert SW would be fine. Death Valley may be too far north, but somewhere in the Mojave. Hard to predict though.

Just for fun, here's a contrail I caught in Yosemite years ago. Fascinating how the contrail casts a shadow on the upper atmosphere!

Good luck!
Lon