Mooney M20G to Jackson Hole: Double Moonsets, Fall Colors, & FBO Remote Work

Building flight hours toward career goals always feels sweeter when paired with good company and stunning mountain scenery. On Friday, September 25, 2026, a friend invited me along on a business trip up to Jackson Hole (KJAC) in his Mooney M20G.

Leg 1: Double Moonset & Sunrise Over the Lake

We met at Tooele Valley Airport (KTVY) at 5:30 AM while it was still pitch black out. During our engine runup, we watched the full moon dip behind the Oquirrh/Stansbury mountains to the west. Minutes after lifting off, the altitude gain brought the moon right back into view over the ridgeline—a rare double moonset!

Departing north over the pitch-black Great Salt Lake, the total lack of a visual horizon turned the climb into pure instrument flying.

Sunrise painting the eastern sky en route to Jackson Hole.

As twilight broke, the sun crept up on our right wing, casting rich colors across the morning sky as we tracked toward Wyoming.

FBO Office with a View

After landing at Jackson Hole (KJAC), my friend left for his work while I set up shop inside the FBO terminal for some remote work.

Not a bad view for a remote work office.

Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows, I worked while watching a continuous stream of traffic—a dozen airliners alongside nearly 20 private jets and turboprops coming and going against the Teton backdrop.

Leg 2: Fall Foliage Return

With work wrapped up, we launched south for a smooth, scenic flight back home.

Autumn colors popping across southeast Idaho on the leg back.

Flying over southeast Idaho, autumn colors were out in full force across the mountain valleys. We touched down back at KTVY in the afternoon, logging valuable multi-state cross-country time—every hour counts!