Today Joe Greblo and I went up Lukens with Danny Black and Jim Shaw.
The Forest Service had not yet put our lock in the chain on the gate, so we had to show the firemen our permit and ask them to unlock the gate. We'll follow up on the lock.
We looked around for launch sites. The historic site is overgrown so that it is barely recognizable. It will need a good sized work party (10-20 people with saws, loppers and implements of digging, working for several hours.
Joe, then I launched from a west-facing slope that was nice and clear of brush, but definitely facing wrong for the prevailing wind. It was cross and turbulent because of high brush on the left (south) side. Joe soared in a Delta Wing Dream and I plummeted to earth.
We landed at a bail-out LZ on the north side of Day Street. Thomas Guide, Page 504 C-4. [ In Glendale, follow Lowell Avenue north from the 210 Freeway and bear left just before hitting the hill.] The LZ is at the bottom of the little hill on the right.
N34'15'' West 118'16". Google Earth Link
The LZ is a bare strip north of the street. Land west to east, it's pretty small, and there are lots of houses, tall palm trees, power poles and signposts to make it a high-concentration exercise.
Neighbors seemed surprised to see hang gliders landing there. Joe believes that we were the first in about 20 years. While we waited for Danny and Jim to retrieve us, we picked up trash on the lot, just to show the neighbors that we are good to have around.
Lets have a Lukens work party sometime soon.
SIBLsucker
Mount Lukens Lives Again
Moderator: Chip
Gitchyer Hang 3.
First, Mt. Lukens is a high mountain with steep slopes on the south and west faces. That means really strong thermals on good flying days. Ask the hotshots who fly over there from Kagel regularly. Lukens kicks !
Second, "Little Lukens", the ridge west of the summit, is a gnarly, rowdy place to fly. Excellent close-to-the-terrain skills are frequently required.
Third, it's a fairly long glide out to the Big Tujunga Wash, the LZ of choice, because it"s nice and big, with reliable wind direction on most days, and easy retrieval. Because Big T is some distance away, a glider with a good glide ratio is best.
There are bail-out LZ's at the foot of Mt. Lukens, two debris basins which are nice and big, but the wind might not be consistent and getting one's glider out of the locked chainlink fence enclosure, though not impossible, is a problem at both locations. The Day Street LZ, described above, is very narrow, close to palm trees, power lines, houses, and eight-foot high sign posts along the street. It probably shouldn't be attempted by pilots who don't yet have their Advanced rating.
We definitely need the work party for the south launch.
First, Mt. Lukens is a high mountain with steep slopes on the south and west faces. That means really strong thermals on good flying days. Ask the hotshots who fly over there from Kagel regularly. Lukens kicks !
Second, "Little Lukens", the ridge west of the summit, is a gnarly, rowdy place to fly. Excellent close-to-the-terrain skills are frequently required.
Third, it's a fairly long glide out to the Big Tujunga Wash, the LZ of choice, because it"s nice and big, with reliable wind direction on most days, and easy retrieval. Because Big T is some distance away, a glider with a good glide ratio is best.
There are bail-out LZ's at the foot of Mt. Lukens, two debris basins which are nice and big, but the wind might not be consistent and getting one's glider out of the locked chainlink fence enclosure, though not impossible, is a problem at both locations. The Day Street LZ, described above, is very narrow, close to palm trees, power lines, houses, and eight-foot high sign posts along the street. It probably shouldn't be attempted by pilots who don't yet have their Advanced rating.
We definitely need the work party for the south launch.
Soar With Prudent Passion
Larry Chamblee
Larry Chamblee
Advanced or Intermediate?
I thought Lukens was rated a H-4 site for now. Is that wrong?
lw
lw
