I've been a long time fan of The Royal Geographic Society's Hidden Journeys website. The Hidden Journeys Project enlivens the flying experience and transforms it into a fascinating exploration of the people, places and environments being flown over.
Hidden Journeys has just released their latest journey guide for those flying over the mountainous landscape that lies between Denver and Seattle, including the rugged Wind River Range in Wyoming; Craters of the Moon National Monument and the Salmon River Range in Idaho, the picturesque Palouse Region and the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
You can view the flight path on a Google Map and use the guide to learn how the power of glaciers, rivers and the wind have shaped these mountains into some of the highest peaks in the continent. See the classic cones of the Cascade Mountains as you descend towards Seattle, and discover the influence these active volcanoes have on the Pacific Northwest, from the impact of devastating eruptions to the ash-fall deposits that have created the most productive farming region in the country.
If you are planning a flight any time soon then make sure you check out the Hidden Journeys website to see if they have a guide for your journey.
Hidden Journeys is lovely indeed. If you are on a wifi-connected flight anywhere in North America, do check out MondoWindow:
ReplyDeletehttp://mondowindow.com
You can track your flight in real-time on a web-based moving map, and see points of interest on the ground below you from Wikipedia, Flickr, Facebook, and other sources. Also read about your destination city and connect with your FB friends at your destination.
MondoWindow uses Bing Maps, not Gmaps, because Bing's satellite imagery is more consistent and their licensing is less restrictive (take note, Google!).