Flying saucer cloud sighting

It was early Jan. 24 when a giant flying saucer cloud hovered ominously above residents of Fish Springs. If you've lived in Fish Springs very long you've no doubt seen the fabulous flying saucer clouds. They sometimes give the appearance of an imminent invasion from outer space. I call them flying saucers but their proper name is lentricular wave-clouds. They get their lentricular name because they're shaped like lenses. 

They are formed by waves in the wind in the lee of nearby mountain ranges. That's us, Fish Springs is on the leeward side " the sheltered, drier side of the High Sierra. As the warm, moist Pacific Ocean air blows over the Sierra, it cools and condenses into clouds. When there are several layers of humid air, smooth wave-clouds form and appear to be stacked like pancakes. 

Because of our close proximity to the High Sierra range, we are treated with a spectacular show of dramatic cloud patterns. Some of the resulting clouds are most unique and distinctive to the great plains of the world.

Landscape artists and photographers love to capture the awesome clouds of Carson Valley on canvas or film. Nationally acclaimed artist Jim Lawrence once told me Carson Valley has "the most wonderful clouds in the entire world."

I sure wish I had one of Jim's inspiring clouds hanging in my living room. I do have one of Ron Walter's amazing photographs of a cloud that is shaped just like a large white horse. Some people can also see the face of the infamous ghost of Fish Springs imposed on the horse's head. We also have a Mimi Jobe print with stunning pink clouds and a dramatic black and white photo by Jack Pirtle that catches stark white cumulus clouds rolling up behind our backyard windmill. I took a photography class from Jack and really enjoyed it.

Perhaps if I keep my eyes to the sky, someday I will capture a vivid replica of the fantastic flying saucer cloud over Fish Springs. I caught this photograph that I took from my deck on the afternoon of Jan. 24. I love it!

n Linda Monohan may be reached at 782-5802.