The Plateau is a broad, fairly flat forested area about 6000 feet above sea level - well above the surrounding desert. It is not a good place to glide over low, but the edges of it usually produce fine thermals.
From great lift at Boomer, we proceed up the crest to 8000' Owens Peak, and if we're not already very high, it may pay to loiter in this area until we do get high.
We're now on the main watershed of the Sierra crest, and it will rise MUCH higher ahead. If we leave Owens Peak low, we could be shot down and need to land at Cinder Cone Dry Lake.
(Little Lake is a beautiful place with a paved landing strip that is TOO NARROW and OFF LIMITS.)
In this area the soaring conditions often change - usually for the better. If we stay with the first good thermal we find, we might be able to climb to 16,000' or even higher, and maybe remain that high for many, many miles to come !
If the usual tremendous thermals aren't working, it is some sometimes possible to simply slope soar the whole way, gradually rising with the terrain. In other conditions, we might fall off to the east, below the ridgetop, and then find good shearline - or just periodic thermals above the flats. Wave is also a possibility.
The problem with leaving the mountains here is that we would then be in a very narrow corridor between high terrain and the China Lake restricted area 2505. For permission to penetrate that airspace we would again call Joshua Control, but this time on 120.25 or 127.5. If there is lift in those barren hills, OK, but we must remember that there is NO PLACE TO LAND.
