Ken, Jay, Eric and Lynn (driver) all hiked up to the 2200 launch (twice):
Joe, Max and me tied our gliders back to Max's van
after we decided to drive down to the 1500 launch and set up there.:
We were encouraged by a gaggle of Ravens nicely climbing out ahead of the 1500:
Our plan was to set up quickly then fly up to the 2200 and top land there before the first group was even set up and ready to fly:
Joe got off first at 12:45:
He headed out to where the ravens had been climbing out:
Joe climbed out while Max & me continued to get ready:
I launched at 13:02 and didn't find enough lift in front of the 1500 and headed for Locals as I sank out and prepared to land at the Pacoima dam. Joe got on the radio and said he just landed at the 2200. Due to the ratty lift and turbulence I had to keep turning down my radio to avoid distraction.
At 2565’ before I reached Locals, I hooked a nice column that carried me to 3795’ in front of Towers Launch. Rather than backtracking to the 2200 and top landing I decided to stick to the plan and head East as far as possible. After crossing the Pacoima Wash I climbed to 4100’ over Kagel. A lot of gliders set up and I thought about spiraling down to top land but decided to head East before the sea breeze kicked up and shut down the lift. I sank heavily once again as I crossed over to Trash Mountain where I hooked another nice column that carried me back to 4100’. I went on glide to Lances Ridge where I arrived at 3100’ then climbed to 3560’ before another sinking glide across Little Tujunga Canyon Road.
I arrived over Dino’s Plateau at 2335’ and prepared to land and radioed Erwin. After scratching like a flea-bitten dog I hooked a cycle that carried me to 3421’ and then to 3740’ a little further down Little T. I glided along the T ridge out in front where the sink wasn’t as bad and hooked a column below Big T at 3320’ that took me to 4365’ over Big T as I drifted back. Meanwhile, Max had landed at the 2200 and everyone was in the air heading for Beehives.
I thought I had enough altitude at Big T to fly back to Beehives and land with the rest of the group but as I headed back I hit a headwind that stopped me and made me sink, so I turned back East. I left the front of Big T at 3566’ and glided across the Big T Wash, directly over the little league fields. I arrived low in front of Little Lukens and sank another 100’ or so to 2326’. I figured that was it but refused to throw in the towel yet. Over the next 13 minutes I fought like heck in the ratty little thermals and finally climbed to 3672’ above Little Lukens. I then spent the next 45 minutes fighting a battle along Lukens Ridge before I finally topped out for the day at 4939’ I took a shot in the dark at Lukens Towers.
I figured that I would land in Deukmejian Wilderness Park in the Dunsmore Debris Basin and called it to Ken on the Radio. As I passed 1000’ below Lukens Towers I was unable to bench up anywhere and glided as far East as I felt comfortable before I turned to final glide. I arrived over the debris basin at 3000’ and began circling my way down. There were no wind indicators visible anywhere so I monitored my GPS speed and determined that the local wind was from the East at 5 MPH. I made my base leg turn from as close as I could get to the hillside to the W-NW of the basin. On my final approach I dove to 35 MPH and headed for the lip of the basin then just popped up to clear it low and land short. Since the basin is lower in the middle I glided a ways but slowed down nicely and anticipated a no-step landing. As I began my flare, the wind swung around from East to South to West very quickly and my right wing began to rise as my tiptoes hit. I pulled in and ran like heck to keep my wings level until I ran it out to a stop after 2 hours 11 minutes in the air at 15:13.
After I broke down, I walked up to Deukmejian Park for some water and met this family out flying Barbie kites:
Ken Andrews came by to pick me up at 17:30 and had a gift from Lynn waiting for me, gathering condensation beneath its glittering metal cap. A refreshing end to a very challenging flight. Here's the track: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/194244
and the photo album: http://imageevent.com/aero92/falcon
Cheers, Jonathan
