Very cool day. I played hookey Tuesday and arrived at the LZ early. Andy & Emily asked if I wanted to go to Crestline. I thought it was the place to be and jumped on. Tony DeLeo and Bruce Barmakian were setting up when we got there, planning to go over the back towards the Owens valley. They did: http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php ... 2dbf42b320
Couldn't get much at the Billboard but went to Pine which was really cooking and I got over 14K there. Highest I have ever been at a local site. Andy wanted to go west on the front side so I took it and went to Cucamonga but got drilled pretty badly there. We ran into a strong west wind and had to stop. I was about 300 ft. over the flats and hung in a weak thermal, drifted back to the east and eventually ran into the convergence zone of the west wind air mass. Went back to 10K and flew back to the LZ with A and E. We could have boated around at 9 to 11K until sunset if we wanted to but over 3 hours was enough for my old bones. Landed in a 25 mph west wind PIOing like it was the first time I got on a topless but ended up on my feet.
April altitudes
Gregg's landing was amazing to watch as he was getting thrashed over the AJ LZ. I had just pulled in with Erwin, who graciously retrieved me from Glen Helen as Greg was on what looked like it could be his final, final. Pardon the dark humor. He pulled it off like a champ. I was still toast from Sunday's flight from Marshall Peak to West Towers (video edit in process) but Southside said this would be "The Day". I was going to attempt a flight from Kagel to the Beach in Santa Barbara with the gopher trapper, but he had a bad case of gopher toe and didn't want to spend 3+ hours in a harness for the second day in a row. Nobody else was available to join when Fast Eddy called me and announced Tony & Bruce's plan. I called Bruce and he suggested that I follow them and just stay airborne as long as possible while they do retrieve.
I got set up on Crestline in good time but my VG rope was jammed somewhere after replacing my right downtube that I bent on landing Sunday. I was tired! So I had to break down and reassemble my right downtube. I ended up launching all alone in between 25 MPH gusts but got off well and headed for Pine where I could only get 7,500'. I encountered Emily and Andy by Cajon Peak but was on Bruce and Tony's frequency and couldn't talk. It looked to me like they weren't going to attempt to fly to Kagel along the front, so I guessed that Erwin might be able to come get me if I failed to get up across the pass.
So, at 7,100' at Cajon, I pulled in and headed straight across and mid-way I git hit with 1,100'/min sink and what felt like some rotor off of Cucamonga. I changed course to avoid landing in the lee side and dove hard for the spine with the big power lines near Devore. I beat my way upwind along that spine, praying for some thermals to break off, but there were only bubbles and no workable columns. Eventually, I got down to the top of a large bowl formation that opened up to a good sized field along Glen Helen Parkway just North of the 15. I kept scratching all the way down to 100' AGL but it was not going to be my record, low save day and I landed in the spot I chose while scratching higher up.
It was hot down there and I quickly emptied my Camel Back while calling for a ride. I finally got through to Erwin and he confirmed that he wasn't going to be chasing A&E or G. I told Erwin that I was just North of the 210 FWY but he found me by driving in the direction that my signal got stronger. I used my 1/2-wave antenna that I keep tucked away in my harness along with some minor survival gear.
As we were driving back, I was thrilled to hear that Greg hit 14,000'. That may be a record at Crestline or Pine. I didn't know that he had done this after I had flown across the pass. I thought about hanging around for a climb to 9,000' or higher so I could head straight over the back and into the desert. In retrospect, I would have been fine going straight towards Hesperia from 7,500' above Sugarpine and could have proceeded toward the 14 and chased Bruce and Tony as far as I could.
These are the decisions I have to live with and learn from. It's all good, and I'm glad that A, E & G all had great flights and that Erwin was there to come and get me. What a great crew and thanks to A&E for the Sierra Pale Ale. That really hit the spot!
Flight details: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/188060
I got set up on Crestline in good time but my VG rope was jammed somewhere after replacing my right downtube that I bent on landing Sunday. I was tired! So I had to break down and reassemble my right downtube. I ended up launching all alone in between 25 MPH gusts but got off well and headed for Pine where I could only get 7,500'. I encountered Emily and Andy by Cajon Peak but was on Bruce and Tony's frequency and couldn't talk. It looked to me like they weren't going to attempt to fly to Kagel along the front, so I guessed that Erwin might be able to come get me if I failed to get up across the pass.
So, at 7,100' at Cajon, I pulled in and headed straight across and mid-way I git hit with 1,100'/min sink and what felt like some rotor off of Cucamonga. I changed course to avoid landing in the lee side and dove hard for the spine with the big power lines near Devore. I beat my way upwind along that spine, praying for some thermals to break off, but there were only bubbles and no workable columns. Eventually, I got down to the top of a large bowl formation that opened up to a good sized field along Glen Helen Parkway just North of the 15. I kept scratching all the way down to 100' AGL but it was not going to be my record, low save day and I landed in the spot I chose while scratching higher up.
It was hot down there and I quickly emptied my Camel Back while calling for a ride. I finally got through to Erwin and he confirmed that he wasn't going to be chasing A&E or G. I told Erwin that I was just North of the 210 FWY but he found me by driving in the direction that my signal got stronger. I used my 1/2-wave antenna that I keep tucked away in my harness along with some minor survival gear.
As we were driving back, I was thrilled to hear that Greg hit 14,000'. That may be a record at Crestline or Pine. I didn't know that he had done this after I had flown across the pass. I thought about hanging around for a climb to 9,000' or higher so I could head straight over the back and into the desert. In retrospect, I would have been fine going straight towards Hesperia from 7,500' above Sugarpine and could have proceeded toward the 14 and chased Bruce and Tony as far as I could.
These are the decisions I have to live with and learn from. It's all good, and I'm glad that A, E & G all had great flights and that Erwin was there to come and get me. What a great crew and thanks to A&E for the Sierra Pale Ale. That really hit the spot!
Flight details: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/188060
