Baja in February, plan ahead.

lpedrazzi · Post by **lpedrazzi** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:38 pm

Because more opinions always = more clarity, I thought I would throw the XC skies prediction in the mix

Greg, I saw the same weather underground data as you & have also been confused about the call that Cotes would be a bust... then I found this on XC Skies: http://cl.ly/image/24100x3X0M1i

I'm guessing OP is thinking it might be blown out Sat & Monday, and out of the South on Sunday.

Caveat: I have only been doing this a year and likely don't know wtf I am talking about

OP · Post by OP » Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:25 pm

http://www.wunderground.com/q/locid:MXXX3071

It's looking like a cloudy offshore weekend. It would be a bummer to sleep in the mud for a non-flyable location.

But look, there is an awesome ultra awesome sled ride + Hot Springs based off San Pedro Martir.

gregangsten · Post by **gregangsten** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:20 am

Don't forget:
Your passport!
vehicle registration,
firewood, if you can bring some,
and a chair.

You might bring a glider too, Saturday is looking excellent.

danny bickel · Post by **danny bickel** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:05 pm

I, Danny Bickel and my wife are still in will see you at 7 Am

avianna · Post by **avianna** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:50 pm

OP, Wunderground has adjusted its forecast and now shows 13mph onshore tomorrow. Looks like it could be an ok day. Sunday/Monday at the moment are not as great. Unfortunately I've already changed my plans and will stay stateside. Have fun everyone!

If any of you go to Diablo let us know how it goes.

nzlinus · Post by **nzlinus** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 11:32 pm

Any trip reports, photos? Did everyone make it back safe?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:57 pm

No one has made it back yet. We've contacted the U.S. Embassy in Tijuana but they don't have any news and can's begin to investigate without permission from the local Federales. The BOD is composing a letter to send to President Obama seeking assistance with this. Stay tuned...

dhmartens · Post by **dhmartens** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:39 pm

I apologize.

Maybe skip to 5:40
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... d?lang=eng
Quetzalcoatl. Historians of the sixteenth century, whose texts I have, recorded pre-Hispanic beliefs concerning the white, bearded god who came to the Americas long before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:19 pm

I'm almost buzzed enough to understand WTF Doug is referring to. Maybe a couple more and I will.

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:59 pm

Nope.

dhmartens · Post by **dhmartens** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:19 am

The hang gliding platoon may have become entangled in an aerial gyre of static electricity bonded mylar balloon clusters which can hold helium up to 4 months. The aerial gyre can be confused with the winged serpent Quetzalcoatl.

OP · Post by OP » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:28 am

Can we form a mental health fund for DHM? Winged serpent Quetzalcoatl?

BudRob · Post by **BudRob** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:38 am

I would be happy to contribute.

JD · Post by JD » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:08 am

OP wrote:Can we form a mental health fund for DHM? Winged serpent Quetzalcoatl?

Why? I'd rather have some of whatever Doug has been smoking. Maybe a certain glass blower had make us some heady pipes to go with it?

dhmartens · Post by **dhmartens** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:36 am

here is a still from a video OP posted:
notice the "mylar balloon" and its reflection in his vario display.

I am as confused about Quetzalcoatl as anyone.
The History Channel Documentary is not in English, only Spanish.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGDDSQxjZgc[/youtube]
Anyway I am glad you all made it back safely from the flying trip.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:14 pm

Doug, less thinking, more flying. That should be your mantra this spring. Keep saying it to yourself, again and again and... Until it comes true.

OP · Post by OP » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:18 pm

Oh, that Quetzalcoatl. I was confused. For a second I thought you were crazy or something. That bag in the video is a birthday balloon inside a bag.

I second Jim. Come out and fly.

gregangsten · Post by **gregangsten** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 4:50 pm

Well now that I'm home, I see nobody reported anything here. It pains me to admit that the weather was mostly as predicted by the naysayers, though we did fly on Monday and had some top landings. By the time we packed up and left, it was blowing great, of course. I jumped the gap once even though I figured it probably wouldn't work, and after 3 miles, had to land since I could not get back above the ridge.

The trip was good in that we got info about the site. There is now a house with a fence around it where we used to take off and land, making it impossible there now. On the other hand, the cliff camp area still works as long as the winds are not too strong, and landings are actually easier there since the cactus has been cleared out around it. The only problem is, the cactus has been cleared because the land owner is evidently slowly working on a fence around it with plans to build cabanas there. But as some Americans with a house there said, nothing happens fast in Baja, so for now it works.

Our trip onward to San Ignacio and the whales was great, however. Met good people and had great time and a unique experience.

Thousands of miles with a bike and a surfboard:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u9r7muqvynjki ... r.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7abd2056bk27l ... p.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxwv0lnjq8bv0 ... 5.jpg?dl=0

https://vimeo.com/120340398

avianna · Post by **avianna** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:40 pm

Thanks for the update Greg! We'll have to plan another trip down to Cotes and remember this time to perform a sacrifice to the weather gods.

BudRob · Post by **BudRob** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:15 am

Looks like the whale watching was much more successful than the hang gliding.

Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Baja in February, plan ahead.

XC Skies

Don't Forget!

Baja