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I made a trip across the Great Basin this last week. As usual with almost every trip during the winter I get to hear the "VFR flight is not recommended" many times from FSS. If I didn't fly when VFR flight is not recommended, I would never fly from November through May most years. An interesting observation is I mostly hear Bonanza's and Mooney's on the radio this time of year, actually most of the year across the Great Basin. May be a function of the distances between much of anything. Approaching the Sierra Nevada mountains from the east at about 10,000 feet on Wednesday there was about a 30 knot headwind and a cloud cap on the top of the mountains and uncertain ceilings on the other side. I decided being high was the best plan of action. We turned on the Mountain High EDS oxygen system and I began looking to line up on several lines of lintecular clouds. Running parallel to the leading edges it was nice to see the VSI swing to 500 up. The secondary line about 20 miles behind the ridgeline took us to 15,000 feet. I lined up on the primary between Bridgeport and Lee Vining and watched the VSI climb from 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and finally topping out at 1000 feet per minute while cruising at 140 knots over the ground. I topped out at 17,800 feet and could see clear skies in Central California so turned west along the south rim of Yosemite Valley. My wife got to enjoy one of the best views of Yosemite you can imagine. Nice to use the free lift of the Sierra wave to make the crossing much more comfortable. The return trip was much easier with a 20 knot tailwind. Was nice to cruise at nearly 160 knots at 9 gph. I still got the usual "VFR flight not recommended" from FSS as I opened my flight plan. Most of the return flight was in clear skies and 100 mile visabilty.