"Final Glide Truckee" - How does it look like to glide home over Lake Tahoe?

Some of the sweetest words one can say while soaring out of Truckee are the words "Final glide Truckee" - especially coming back from the south late in the day on a long flight - when such a final glide (ie, the last glide of the flight that gets you home) over Lake Tahoe might be in question. Otherwise, getting back usually requires a landing in nearby Carson City or Minden - and an aero-retrieve home.
This often challenging crossing can be intimidating to new pilots to the area - even for otherwise experienced pilots. But, like most everything else in soaring, with time and experience this spectacular crossing becomes more and more certain. One thing is for sure - it never gets old!
Invariably, one can hear a pilot's special feeling of triumph when making this particular radio call.
A while ago I was having a conversation with a non-pilot friend about this very special final glide that is so unique to soaring out of Truckee, over the lake. After describing it, the reaction was that it must be both intimidating and spectacular. Good combination of attributes!
It is hard to convey in words or even in photos, how it really is. How it looks like, visually, from the pilot's vantage point.
So, to show how it looks like, I had put together a simple video of the last part of such a final glide - taken from my first flight to Mt Whitney which happened this last season (the glide actually started on the Pine Nuts). I then let it go all the way to a full landing.
As Kurt Thams said in response: "....the challenge is wrapped entirely in a blessing, a naturally beautiful one."
The wonderful music used in this video is from the band ALMA. You can watch the performance here: • INFUSE INSESSION - ALM...

[@Xman8184]

The beauty of flight / soaring is so adventurous it never gets old. I would love to take a lesson.

[@ramiveiberman3182]

awesome video! really inspiring

[@teamCharlie6]

Thank you Rami. That is the best that I could ask for - from this video.

[@mikkeljacobsen1152]

Awesome video! Love it.

[@teamCharlie6]

Thanks Mikkel. Appreciate the feedback!

[@duobob]

Thanks, David, brings back lots of memories. Several final glides to TRK from Mt. Patterson at ~15K', Duo Discus 5H...

[@teamCharlie6]

Good thing Bob, great to hear from you. Morgan in 5H had landed just before me in this flight, you can spot it in the turnout at the end. Also you can see it's signature on my PowerFlarm display while on downwind at ~5:05. Best.

[@duobob]

Glad to see 5H back in the area and making great flights. It knows the way...

[@mudpitboarder]

Great video Dave !

[@teamCharlie6]

Thank you Ati. Glad you liked it!

[@jzawodn]

Nice video! It's a little hard to believe that it's been 8+ years since I flew gliders at Truckee. Perhaps this year that trend will start to reverse...

[@teamCharlie6]

Thanks! Glad to hear you are making plans to fly out of Truckee again. Should be a fairly short flight from home with your new plane. See you there!

[@jzawodn]

Our gliders are based in Minden now and once Kathleen is comfortable there, we'll probably move 'em to Truckee at some point. But, yeah, flying to your glider(s) is hard to beat. :-)

[@keope49]

great video. Nicely produced. I hope to be calling final glide over Lake Tahoe some day. This video has inspired me to keep pushing on improving my XC skills.

[@davidg4474]

nice. thanks. could have left the music out though.

[@iansimmonds9076]

turn your volume down - pretty easy...