Mo’s Cloud. Owens Valley near Mammoth, California. May 28, 2005. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved..

We spotted this remarkable cloud while camping in the desert near Mammoth during a Memorial Day ski trip. This portion is the west end of a layered cloud that extended for many miles to the left of what is shown here. I think this is probably what is known as the “Sierra Wave,” a cloud band that is formed by air rising over the Sierra crest.

The title “Mo’s Cloud” derives from the fact that Maureen (“Mo”), a friend and one of our group members, reported that she had watched this cloud for hours as she drove up the east side of the Sierra from Southern California.

Although the layered cloud moved little if at all, it was very windy where we were and the local clouds were moving quite quickly. Timing was everything in terms of getting an interesting pattern of light and shadow in the foreground.