Did a spirited ground loop coming back to Minden from the Root some years back. Weather was forcasting T-storms south of Minden moving north. Unstable atmosphere, hot, and with smaller white cumulus above me. Surface wind was easterly as I flew the "pattern" to land along the north edge of a dry lake bed so Thumper (golden retriever co-pilot) could do her thing. On rollout light easterly changed to strong southerly. Full rudder and left brake didn't help at all, as the lakebed was glazed and slick. Around we went, and as probably most would do, I watched the left wingtip as it swept within a foot or two of the ground and we finished our 180 in a cloud of dust. Whew!! Most of the sidewalls covered with alkali dust. Considered myself lucky waiting or pulse rate to get out of the red-line range.
As I got out, wind was blowing under the fuselage strong, but shortly abated. Must have been a thermal kicking off just to my north, with resulting in-rush wind.
