Merry Christmas

Christmas 2009
This year we had some of the grandkids, some of the kids, all of the traditions and lots of fun. The first video is mainly for family but if you would like the Gospel account read too you by yours truly then click below, it is a Norwood family tradition.


The other tradition is holiday flying and we got a sweet one. Doc and K went up Kiona round 2:00 and I joined in about quarter to four. Nice little lift, we all had nice flights, Doc and K froze for an hour or better while I kept my freezer time under 30 minutes. Everyone landed at their respective trucks to complete a perfect holiday outing. After a nice chat it was back to the home front for more Christmas Chaos and Cheer.
Preacher

Avitar - Didn't do it for me.

All the hype got me to use my late Friday afternoon to experiance the new Techno flick.
While the plot was reasonable there were two problems with the big effort.

1. from the perspective of a Pilot I wanted to see the flight scenes from the Pilots perspective. - This was only 10% of the flight sequences so it left me unsatisfied.
2. What was with J.I.Joe the evil commander. - WAY B movie!.

See it on dvd if you have to.
Preacher.

Plans

Cold and Dark - The flying window is very narrow these days. - A sledder here an hour there on a cold ridge - keep an eye out for nice light North days.

This is the time to get those projects done - yuck. - Need to repack the reserve - got my new Niviuk toggles from Doug - They are the Bomb.

Already starting to think about packing stratigies for Valle on the 8th of Jan.

I hope to get and take a mini computer so I can upload video and stories from the trip. Let me know if your reading the blog.- It helps me want to write more.
Dave.

Kold Kiona

Cold Cold Cold.
Had a very cold flight at Kiona Today

With WIND CHILL: -12

Set up on RC launch at about 3:15 today. Winds were too strong on top but down the hill about 150ft they were just right.

Kiona is a great hill for high winds from the North - they tend to be very smooth and consistent. This was just what I got. - Pushing out front with no need for speed bar I ended up about 1k over and flew till I froze. - It was just about sunset when I set up for a nice set down and a cup of hot coco.

The only thing worse that cold fingers is when they warm up again. - Ouch!

Looking forward to Valle De Bravo
Preacher.

FYI these are the corresponding wind tables for my favorite Kiona predictors

Weather Conditions for:
Hanford Emergency Operations Center, WA (HEOC)
Elev: 1240 ft; Latitude: 46.392; Longitude: -119.537

07 Dec 4:45pm 13 NW 10 G12
07 Dec 4:15pm 14 2 NW 9 G12
07 Dec 4:00pm 14 2 NNW 9 G12
07 Dec 3:45pm 15 NNW 8 G10
07 Dec 3:15pm 18 5 N 12 G17
07 Dec 3:00pm 19 6 N 13 G20

Weather Conditions for:
Rattlesnake Mountain, WA (HRMTN)
Elev: 3560 ft; Latitude: 46.394; Longitude: -119.593

07 Dec 5:15pm 5 -20 NNE 33G41
07 Dec 5:00pm 5 -20 NNE 32G38
07 Dec 4:45pm 5 -19 NNE 31G36
07 Dec 4:15pm 5 -19 NNE 29G33
07 Dec 4:00pm 5 -18 NNE 28G33
07 Dec 3:45pm 5 -18 NNE 28G33
07 Dec 3:15pm 5 -19 NNE 31G38
07 Dec 3:00pm 5 -19 NNE 30G38

More - nothing better on TV - Video

Well it seems that 15 to 20 of you have nothing better to do than watch PGs go round and round. -

For your viewing pleasure a 6 installment video of a flight from Baldy to Boylston Ridge in Eastern Washington. -

Humm..... - That was Interesting!

After a long week or so of watching grandkids - doing turkey and only flying a sledder or two I was ready to bug out and fly as soon as the last little one was buckled into my daughters minivan.

Rick had called to give a heads up on Eagle - likely to be blown out, but anything to clear the head and get out with a chance to fly. On launch an hour later two hangs were thinking about folding up and Rick informed me that it just really started to blow 5 minutes prior.

We chatted and waited for the sun to set hopeing that the lack of sun would have a calming effect on the excess wind. This is a common scenario at Eagle and a 30 minute flight with a flashing light seemed in the offing. Just before the sun went down I had my wing kitting over head - except for some strange reason I was kitting away from the hill - 180 degrees over the back. - - Next moment a South flow got strong and I was hop hop hopping down the flats working c-ds as I had a good time high wind kitting in the "correct" direction. - Hmmm switchy winds. - Strong winds - What is wrong with this picture????
-
Off goes the wing into a bundle and further assessment - use your head and listen to the wind some more.

While I stood at the lip Rick was setting up and the wind simply calmed down slowly to a gentle 8-10 and held. - Rick is going to fly! - Winds consistent now - getting lighter now - Ok back in the saddle and let us see.

Rick is ready - wing over head - looks good - I pull up as he sets his down. - Good wing clean pressure - two hang buddies willing to pick us up if we bomb out (likely scenario as winds seemed to be dropping in route to calm)- - Turn and aggressive launch.

Clean launch - Winds from South South West - a bit of a problem at Eagle but if you push into them to get round the corner to the South face and it should be fine. - Nice lift - 150 over and out front - Big wind increase - still holding my own not getting blown back and no speed bar required, THEN Whack - wing tip - on the right - pump it out - Lift Lift Surge - Whack 20%er on the left - Push out a bit more - get further from the hill - Whack - Surge Back - big surge forward - Brake to Catch it - Almost frontal - Right left I am getting WORKED! - Push further out and now, I guess, run - But run from what?

I am not over the back really - This could be rotor from the south face but I am 1/4 mile out now and not in line with anything. -

Later analysis suggests that I was in the lea-side of a strong East / West convergence. Winds had been strong WSW at altitude and we were experiencing strong South to South East on Launch. - Out in the valley where I was now 2k over it was East vs West and I was in the middle. - The East was blocking and I just got thrashed as I flew away from the hill on a SW heading. What I was doing was flying along the convergence line but just in the lea - If you want turbulence do this it will work every time. - As I pushed further West/North I went through the blockage climbed strong and continued to get worked but less than on my SW heading. I made an initial efforts to get down via spiral but that failed (more about that later).

I pushed further West and it finally settled down just a bit and I was able to get I nice spiral started and got down. 400 over - push further out - still a bit rocky but under control - Nice big field with winds from 2 or 3 directions and a soft landing. - Finally on the radio "I am ALIVE."


14 minutes of high adrenalin and a few lessons learned:

1. Let your buddy launch first! -You will live longer.

2. Eagle can throw real curve balls.

3. If you kite in two different directions prior to launch - See #1 above, but consider cutting your buddy's lines as a second option.

4. If you are flying to fill an emotional need those emotions might mask the correct go-no-go decision.

5. I love my DHV-2; please never sell me a 2-3 or above.

6. Learned a wing control dynamic that was interesting: On my first attempt to enter a spiral to get down and through the turbulence it just wouldn't crank in. - I tried for at least 30 seconds leaning and pulling but it only turned and wouldn't crank over. - At the time I just figured the wind / turbulence were in control and I was at their mercy. - Later, as it smoothed out, I cranked in just fine. What was up? -

On the first attempt I had been and was still carrying a good amount of brake which I needed to have to have something to give back to control the big back surges I was catching. - When I tried to turn spiral left I was still holding right brake and the wing wouldn't crank in. - Lesson learned:if you are going to spiral to break through turbulence don't forget to let up on the outside brake. - Duuhhhh!!!! but - at the time - well that's what I learned.

7. Let me have it!

Dave.
nb: Rick had already learned #1 above and didn't launch but enjoyed the show.

Nothing To Do - No Good TV - Watch This

Last January I flew my brains out in Valle De Bravo - So much flying and so little time to process videos and stories.

As the winter sets in and plans to return ramp up I figured I better get something up from last year - soooo. - After watching a long video of a nice Rampart flight I figured I would grab a Valle flight and throw it up and see if anyone watches.

Youtube limits us to 10 minute videos so I split a 85 min video into 9 segments. You should be able to click through them in sequence as their names end in 1 - 9. You may need to click on the YouTube Logo and go to dnorwoodxx videos to see them all.



Hope this works - the first video is almost all on launch - Good memories for those who have flown and an introduction to the gaggle for those who haven't been. - Unfortunately the last 10 minutes of the flight are missing but so goes paravideo efforts.

Enjoy. P.

Beauty

Something about this video just gets to me.
Thanks for Shooting it Mer.

Bob's Bump in November

Saturday Bob and I went out and put in our time in High winds. - No Flying just an attempt to get draged. We were not even successful in being draged putting the wing away before it had a chance to win.

Sunday was the pay back for our showing on Saturday.

Winds were perfect S to SSW at 12 - 14 - Just what the bump loves.

When the sun was out we got extra lift from little thermic bubbles.
Back and forth and in the end we had a total of 5 flights between us one each lasting over an hour.
Great early turkey day gift.

Saddle - Flying in Fall

After a couple of very long weeks the schedule loosened up just when the winds shapped for a perfect Saddle Day.

XC-Skies winds at surface were NNE 6-8 in the AM and 6-4 in the afternoon clocking N. Winds at 6,000 were S @ 14 - this cross over raised my eyebrows but 6-8 NNE tends to translate to 12 to 14 on launch.

We got to launch at about 11:30 and flew till 3 or so.
Lots of Touch and Go's and Mer got a nice 5 mile out and back.

Rampart - 48 minutes of beauty

Ben just caught a great flight on Video - I love video and my readers do as well.
Here is what it is like to fly at RAMPART!
Nice flight Ben!!!
Click Here to View!

Need to Fly

No one had had any air time - or very little so!
Break away Thursday Afternoon for some light stuff.
Baldy worked enough for Dave to get a top landing after 30 min or so working bubbles.
The rest of us just sledded or extended sled.
Then we went to Bobs for another sledder and a comp.

Aggg - 3 days and no flights

I just don't know how my friends in soggy land do it.
But the weekend is looking up.
P.

Doing the Windows

Sunday at Saddle was an example of a mini window.
XCSkies put ENE on the table and light - With cold air in from the North heating would kick off mini thermals with hard edges and for just a little while. If figured 1:00 to 2:00 would be the best of it if at all.
Doc called me at about 12:10 and I was already on my way. - We yaked it up and finaly decided Saddle was the best shot as Kiona was blown.
On launch were 12 or so Bags and a hang. I saw dust rising from the LZ and that was all I needed to throw in. With Bob and Doc and others if figured at my back for a ride up. So I was off in search of the baby T lift. Out we went - Jeff the Hang beat me off but just by a minute or so, I don't think I was on launch more than 5 min before I was in the air.
The sled to way way cross the road was not hopeful as Jeff didn't realy find anything much searching where we both new it should be. I went further west and was a bit above him in 0's as we continued out in broad circles looking and sniffing then as I moved to where he was scratching it began to come together.
Finaly we were both climbing well and topped at about 3700 or so. - He went a bit higher.
Then out of the lift and back down to 2200 or so for a second climb this time topped at 4,000 after CJ and others had gaggled up with us. - At the top I pushed back to the hill and side landed the west hill and Bob picked me up.
Bob and Doc were clear to launch and I went down to pick up the boys in the LZ.
A good day of window spotting and cleaning but just just just enough and just the right time.
P

Baldy Fly In

Friday was fun - Saturday was blown out and Sunday we moved to Saddle
Check it out:

Baldy Ridge Soar

Monday we gave it a good old try and about 10 folk - many at the site for the first time gave it a go.
Early we had rain.

Later we had wind.
If you had your wind skills together or got lucky then it was very nice air though hard to penetrate.

Baldy to Wenatchee Direct

Two Pitchers of Beer $16.00
1 Rack of Babyback ribs $15.95
1 Order Hot wings $6.75
2 Dessert Shooters $3.50

Eating and drinking them all alone while awaiting retrieve in Wenatchee PRICELESS.

They say if you keep flying, giving luck opportunity, eventually it comes together. Sunday was not that day but Monday was. - Sunday I sank out in lea side trash. But Monday was a different story:

A crew of the usual suspects met at the rock at 11:30. I didn't call the gathering but am always willing try, so thanks for making the call ya all. I didn't want to go first, in fact I was actually thinking about driving down with the prospects of inversion - high pressure - and spunky air battles before us. But once others saddled up the auto response system kicked in and I was off.

Anticipated bad air did its thing grounding 2 of 4 within 20 minutes. I was one of the lucky ones and after a heated battle with mega sink and minor-mega bullet lift we got over the towers for a smooth cranking ride to 6,800 or so. -

I left second, pimped and avoided a sink hole by doing so, and arrived at exit 11 with plenty and caught a nice screamer to clouds base over badger pocket. Clouds marked the tit so lift was easy to find at Boylston to 8,200 or so.

Now where? The wind turbines were all facing east and it seemed that the east wind was building a bit so a push to George seemed out of the cards. Due north a cloud street was forming over the plateau East of Mission Ridge. This street became the devils tail that I was to tickle for the next hour. It beckoned me to come hither with growing strength with each passing moment.
Before it became an issue however an amazing climb/gift was granted sw of the windmills at the heavy equipment training school. Over 5,000 feet up in one climb to 8,400 or so, which started as I was picking a smooth LZ.

Now it was off to the hills - you can play with it for a while but at one point about 5 miles in it became a go/no-go call and there was only one cloud left to "promise" lift in the dreaded tiger country.
I have been dreaming of this flight ever since Gordon Grice made the line for the first time a year and 4 months ago. Dreaming and doing are separated by opportunity and execution. It is the execution that is the act of will that is really hard at times like that.
To go and accept the consequences - Glory or Folly - potential folly met with a long hike as consequence becomes a challenge to overcome.

OK stop dreaming and GO! and off I went - Things worked fine in that last lift under the cloud and the SE winds were helping but sooner than later I was looking at tree tops and nice big REMOTE LZs
- ok - set up for landing - take your lumps. - then a gopher fart. - turn - nothing - turn and a blip. - no down just a touch - 350ft over set up to land - where to land? - a touch of lift and for 10 minutes or so - up a little - further down wind - up a little - more commitment to worse than ratty LZs, but up a little and then - REAL lift and a ridge I can make and AND AND - houses and roads!!!! - then ridges and lift and finally over a lovely ridge on the south of town which kept me flying for 10 minutes or so so I could get my coveted 4 hour flight along with the prize of Wenatchee Direct!
Stats: Distance 45 miles or so, Duration 4hr 5 min. Max up 2,350 ft/min. Max down 2,500 ft/m - Max Alt: 8,700ft
Sorry - No Pictures - It was 4 hours of nonstop work from launch to landing. Check out the track on Leonardo: www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/263105

Idaho

FYI - it is a bit slow to update my blog but easy to do you tube. Every day you will find new video on view my YouTube button to the right. Injoy
Preacher

Rampart

Frank and Sam over Rampart Ridge

What an amazing place -

We had a fair day at Baldy with the crew: Sam, Mer, Frank, Steve T & Steve K, Dave W.
Not everyone flew due to high pressure and hard inversion dynamics not to mention that I ended up in the south LZ - Baldy can be a challenge and up to it Mer got to the windmills plus a bit.

Not wanting to take more than her share of good flights Mer didn't pack her wing in the truck as we went for seconds up the hill at rampart. - The road is smoother when you hike it but much easier in the truck.

At launch conditions were about a good as you could hope for and it is still tricky.

First Sam then Frank then Dave all executing flawless reverse cross wind cliff launches. - I watch and wondered and then went alpine. -

Sam The Man and a Classic Launch

Rampart has two tricky elements - Launch and landing - Other than that it is magical. - Lift was 1-300 up in glass smooth butter to about 7k. Views - well take a look - Two landed at Hyak exit and two at the dam. A great day was had by all.


Off to Idaho with Doc for more sketch mountain launches. Yahoo.
P.

Hang on to your Hat

Big days of summer are here. - I posted a warning last week about very active conditions. These warnings were well founded and produced both exciting and dangerous flights with many long efforts mixed in during the very successful Chelan Classic.

This is another warning!
We have had two serious accidents in the last two days!

The first was our friend Mr. Beaver. - I don't know the full details but based on Dr. Wheeler's assessment the situation had condition related elements. - BIG air - Big wind - Big ?caution? - Remember the video at Baldy with Doug Mullin. BIG day!

Earlier today I received a report of a serious (broken Humerus, compression fracture of lower back following a Big Hit - Came with air lift and later trip to Seattle for treatment) accident following an assumed collapse just after launch green monster late mid day at Chelan. - Pilot out of state from NY. - More info on request.

In posts about condition dangers over the past 2 weeks I got this sobering post from Doc. "Here's a quote from Willy Muller, who died a couple years ago flying Chelan in July: "Chelan is too dangerous to fly in July...". "

Tune up your skill, focus and get away from the hill. Listen to the Locals. Don't fly what you don't know!

Now is not the time to experiment mid day - Come with your full game face on!
The Aussi's are flying 100mile+ from Pine as we speek! - ROCK @ 11 (1,500fpm up guaranteed)

Preacher

Day 3 found

Day one was one big mistake - left low and didn't make it past the first turn point.-

After doing fire stuff w/ top landing on day 2. Glad Matty was fine just in pain w/ back injury that will work itself out.

I was ready to fly on day 3

So now off to the races. -

I got high and tended to stay high - not always with others but always close. It was a fun and quick day one to the next - Found lift and sometimes big it was a great day of flying.

I made one decision that paid off big!!!
Heard from Mike H. that we should stay in the valley and not work back to the hills because it doesn't work as well. So when picking a line I always went outside or toward the valley to the left of the furthest out glider - It worked

Kept it up all the way to Goal. skimmed the last ridge at tree top and dropped in a spot landing at Goal.

8 other pilots at goal and I was last of the comp. 2 or 3 ff/wtec also made it.
Great day of flying and - Yea it is Great - No pic's only flying

Back to day 3.

Blog Blog Blog

I have tried to post several times but with out much success.

One more day left.
Day 1. - left too low - landed in lz after just making first waypoint
Day 2. - Top landed to help downed pilot
Day 3. - Great flight - made Goal and was only Sport class to do so and last to Goal of 9. - So I can Do this.
Day 4. - Tried to be clever and took an early trip to "Burnt" for top up but it wasn't working - ended up 3 ridges behind. Made it to 8k short of Goal.
Day 5 - Tried same thing and this time it worked - Massivly Good Start - 9.5K at start and 5 sec behind the leader - and above him - ROCKIN - then 15 min later nailed at Rabies with a painful landing high on the ridge - Brused ego and left heal.
Day 6 - Tried same thing and dusted in time for relaunch and on second flight came up 15k short of Grants pass but a wonderful fun flight .
Day 7 - TOMORROW - Big grins - Tired and at least 7 more pounds lighter.
See you all when we are done.
DAVE aka Preacher

Weather

It is real - This past weekend we all faced weather and depending on "guts" and "smarts" we had various experiences with big air.

One pilot at the rock said - "See Ya" and drove off.

I had a great flight on Friday but was chased in the end by a slow moving front.

Three of us made our directional decision on Saturday bassed on working to stay wide or away from one of the biggest dumps/t-storms and rain drop the roads up baldy has had in several years.

Returning to the possiblility of glass at the end of the day we were kicked in the stomach as Doug got plucked and sent over the back. - He made some mistakes which he lists on his blog but we did as well as we were planning to launch at the same time.

While we waited for him to hike back up the North wind went to 25/30.

Lessons learned - Big weather is Big. - Margins are ??? enough.

Sunday more than one pilot was very wet after landing prior to a dumper. I got to the hill late and was going to fly until the wisdom side of my brain kicked in. We did fly a sledder when it was all shut down but I came to the hill ready to fly mid-day.

Monday I flew in the needle and had a nice flight but didn't push it and, due to nerves, missed out, on a great street running to the south east from Bill's. Big lift and great streets can run hand in hand with big risk.

When the weather is big expect big changes. - Calm to 30mph in less than 15 minutes.

Wait till it is stable and expect it to change anyway.

Maybe - just get in your car and say "See Ya, I don't fly when T-Storms are in the forecast."

Video of Doug's over the back:

First Day of Baldy Comp

Couple of post - see below. - ARUN had a great flight on Thur.
Pic of Thursday's Clouds

Friday was an early day - Great Call Gordon.
I got off just before a big cu shut down the hill - No where to go but Selah Butte at that point - After 35 or 40 min Baldy started to work again and the flock was off -

I returned to join them and Doc and I were first off for Manastash.
Doc took the low road and I the high - He was faster and beat the development to well past Ryegrass and I went a bit higher and slower and had to turn back west, not making it in time to duck under the developing cu at Ryegrass.

Took the same route that Steve P. took a month ago - up past the windmills then turned back along the foot hills of North Eburg on a westerly track . - Didn't quite make 97 but had a great flight.

A cloud street sat over the foothills while a slow moving/growing cu built over Ryegrass after I left there. If I thermaled the cu would catch me and the suck/speed bar battle was on. -

This happened three times - none of which were fun. - Topped at 9,400 ft on the first fight. - Lots of weather/cloud work/learning. - Not a flight for the faint of heart. Check out the video:

Why SPOT

On Thur - We needed to Spot the big flier ARUN - BUT NOOO! he didn't have a spot on his great flight up 410. - Mer and I looked and looked but no ARUN.

GET A SPOT

Rules of Fronts and Flight to Wenas

The first flyable day after a cold front is the lowest cloud base. - Good conditions but not high sky cu. Tue should be the best XC but today was fine. Had a hard time as the Uptanum ridge and cloud base converged but it was a fine flight nonetheless.

Lots of walking - a good 1hr 45 min hike up Baldy at the end of the day. - Lost my hat in the UPS truck.

Fly again Wed.

Raw Video of Thursday's Squal

Gust Front

WOW! - After 1 hr in the air - Rick got 2 - we were both down for better than 40 minutes and then:
Kiona Over the Back

Twitter SPOT

Finaly figured out how to link my SPOT account to Twitter.

Why you might ask?

Twitter is a tool used to "follow" peoples actions and locations via web and or cell phone.

Paragliding retrieve involves "following" peoples actions and locations via CAR.

Linking SPOT TO TWITTER works like this:

1. Get a twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/
2. Link you twitter account to twittermail: http://www.twittermail.com/
3. On your SPOT "Messenger Profile" add your new twittermail address to the notificaiton list.

I added mailto:prepreacherw@twittermail.com

This caused my SPOT account to email twitter with a tweet of my location when I press OK. (NB: you have to shorten your SPOT text message - tweetmail truncatess and you loose the lat/lon if you use more than 35 charitures for your name and phone number.)

My SPOT now TWEETS.

The advantage of this is that a stranger or potential retrieve driver met on the hill can now get your SPOT Ok messages w/location on their phone. To do this they:

- text: follow preacherw to 40404

Thats it. - Now your friend is following you and will get your GPS location when you SPOT

They can later turn off there following with a similar command:

To turn off notificatoin - text: leave preacherw to 40404

Good luck and let me know if I can follow you.

Oh a side note: If you have not tweeted or followed then twitter will set up your account when you send your first message to 40404, they ask your name - this will become your twitter userid. If you have not twittered yet 40404 is twitters SMS-phone number in the US.

Amazing

Getting your lunch handed to you, or Are we having fun yet?

Today at Baldy and points East I was reminded or maybe taught where Eastern Washington thermal flying meets the question: "Are We Having Fun Yet?"

Paul my firefighter friend gave me a couple of hours and got me to launch about 2:00.
Cycles felt just right - light southerly mixed to 12 at peak. No question there was lift but no developing cumulus.

Launch and low lift were normal with fairly sharp edges to a small but strong house thermal. Action to 300 over was typical for a hot active day. Once over the towers life became more interesting. - The north and south flows converged at about 500 over and climb rate went to 5-7m/s. No worries but focus was needed to keep smooth in a bit of rocking and rolling.

At about 6,800 it became even more interesting. - The inversion layer had broken down but the top was still near. Twitchy air became violent, this twitch had real power from the 93 degree desert floor.

As you move round a strong Baldy Bullet it has always seemed safer and more stable to try to stay toward the center. Not today, today the center was too strong and crazy. To take on that buzzard was to subject oneself to 40 percenters, 180's, tossing back and forth with no right side pressure at all or was it left - anyway -, so the best bet was to stay on the outer edges and milk it, hoping you didn't fall back into the fire.

This might be fun if you pay for it at a theme park but - man - get me out of here.

On to exit 11 with my tail between my legs and plenty of lift with a bit more sanity on top along the way.

Caught good lift and a bit of crazy at the transition off Menastash to over 8,300. Again at the top it was leave or heave.

Nice glide to the Boylstons and the tit worked fine until about 5,500 and again all H... broke loose. Right, left, up down - where did that come from let me out and only 5,500. A bit of searching found a couple of better formed flows but still not to high and at this point I was totally gun shy.

I got to Rygras with 1,500 to 2,000 so I hoped maybe things would get better but - NO WAY. -

This is not fun and not getting high to boot just made the call all the easier. WE LAND right here, right now.

LOL - more of this on the way down but lots of room so the LZ was just fine and the landing soft but what a work out for a 16mile XC.

Are we having fun yet?

RULES TO LIVE BY

The lure of big air spring flying is very strong just about now. Many have been waiting for opportunity to fly and each "Good Day" seems like a unique opportunity that must not be missed. - Add to this the amazing flights we hear about and think - "if only I could have been there......".
Right about now the temptations are maxed out and the corresponding risk is as well. I haven't been around long enough to have correlative data but I must assume that spring is the most dangerous time in the air sport year.

Today I was reminded of a very valuable Rule/Lesson I last employed on Disappointment Cleaver on one of my last climbs on Rainer.
That day had temptations like spring flying:

I was lead with a friend whom I had promised I would "get to the top." I made the promise when we made the decision not to tempt weather and cold on a previous climb instead deciding to return down to camp. -

On the day in question we were climbing in chain with a large group of climbers forcing our speed to be faster than I was able to maintain. After 3 or 4 hours of fast pace climbing I was getting dehydrated and facing mild exhaustion. It was then that my mind began to fritz and I knew it. I couldn't tell if it was early signs of cerebral edema or just hyper exhaustion and dehydration.
The thing that saved me/us that day was remembering a rule given me by a very wise climbing buddy about making go/no go decisions during or prior to a climb.

Here is the Rule:
You can break a single rule some times if you understand the risk involved. - You may break a second rule and continue to climb if you must but you are now on very thin ice - YOU MUST NEVER break three rules at the same time during ANY climb.

Rule one: Climb with two rope teams: BROKEN
Rule two: Climb within your physical limits: BROKEN
Rule three: If your not thinking clearly don't go any higher: ALMOST BROKEN we went down.

This Rule of Three works for Paragliding as well and I found myself using it on Baldy today.

Rule one: Never fly Alone: - to be broken
Rule two: Fly only when you are feeling up to it and strong: I WAS TIRED
Rule three: Fly skies and conditions you know and are comfortable with: It looked prefrontal and winds were forecasted to increase in the afternoon. I didn't like the look of the sky, it was changing too fast.

I had three rules in front of me, and was thinking about breaking them until I remembered the RULE OF THREE. - NEVER! - I didn't - and thanks old friend for returning the call.

Monday At The Office

Isaac & Nico

Today one of my youngest parishioners, Nico, who is just learning to talk, asked his dad if he could see me, (Pastor Dave). His request came at the same moment I was stressing BIG TIME over how to get a second 4wheel drive for retrieve at Baldy.

"Chance" had it that his dad was at the gas station an hour later as I was gassing up for the day. He told me Nico's unique request and I was off to their house to see Nico before going flying.

As we started talking it turned out that Nico and his brother Isaac(4) were just about to head off on an adventure with their dad and grandfather. I suggested they take a detour in their nice red 4wheel drive Tundra and take me and a couple of friends to the top of the hill. The boys wouldn't mind watching Pastor Dave fly would they?

The game was on as Pastor Dave's prayers were answered through a 2 year old and his father.

Go Figure.
Here is the video:

Dateline Manastash Ridge

In a cunning move North West Star Paraglider Pilot Meredyth Malocsay took the lead in this season's Pacific Northwest XC competition. Taking a page from comp flying she feigned a tactical mistake to hide a brilliant strategic move. Comp pilots will often wait for very long times in thermals for a bold or foolish pilot to lead out. Like in bike racing where the leader is used as a wind break, paraglider pilots use a solo leader to judge the rising or sinking air further down the course. Malocsay's found herself eye to eye in a thermal with her competition, the up and coming pilot known as Preacher when she made her move.
Preacher's lead after the first weekend of competition placed Malocsay in a bind. If she were to fly as a team they might have worked similar lines which would have led to similar scores. "Preacher is flying really well," said Malocsay when asked about the competition. "We usually try to work together early in a flight but I knew there was a chance he would head out early if I held back. It worked out to my advantage, as it turned out."
Malocsay's move occurred over launch as the two were thermalling together working to reach the towers in the house thermal. In a right hand turn, established by Preacher they were at 180's in 500fpm lift when after 2 or 3 circuits Malocsay inexplicably turned left leaving Preacher and the thermal. "I still don't know why she bailed," Preacher complained. "It didn't make any sense we were cranking just fine and then she was gone." The move left the new comer at the top of lift having to choose between waiting for others to join him, risking that a building layer of cirrus might shut down lift or heading east in search of the next thermal alone.
Malocsay's strategic plan paid off when Preacher dirted on the newly opened right spine of the Boylston Ridge. Malocsay reported: "I saw Dave on the ground and knew I wasn't going that way and stayed with the traditional line. He paid the price for searching out a new line without having enough height. But tomorrow is another day." There is always something to learn in paragliding and sometimes that learning is done from the ground.

When asked about Malocasy performance Preacher said: "I don't know I guess she just thinks and flies at another level." Logging over 35miles to Preacher's 10miles Malocsay takes top honors for the day and the yellow jersey for the competition.

The second day of Round 2 begins Saturday at the Rock @ 11:00.

Guess Who Dropped in For Dinner

Friday and Saturday - My Oh My.
A quick look at leonardo will tell the story about Friday. Thanks for the retrieve M.

Saturday was great for many. Baldy was a challenge early on with a Easterly Flow that made launching difficult and thermals at ridge top and below very tricky to find and work. Those who got up really went up. Those who didn't went down and experience a nice day on the mountain but must have lusted after those way high.

Cloud base was around 9 to 10,000 ft. I launched last for a variety of reasons and had no particular plans other than maybe a little triangle or something.

On my second top up I found a street in front of me heading toward the firing center and South and it looked like it might go round the corner East through what Steve P. calls the "needle."
The needle is a corridor of airspace between Yakima Firing range restrictions and Yakima Air Terminal restrictions. - Parts of it also includes flying over land you can't land on but can fly over. Tricky stuff requiring advanced prep which I did a bit of and was ready when the streets appeared over the route.
I figured I would go as far as lift allowed and found streets granting 5,500 to 9,000 for over two hours right down the line.
At the 3/4 mark about 6:00 the street was looking real big and suck started to be an issue. I headed due South into the next valley to get away but was able to maintain contact with the street for lift as I continued S.E.
About 6:50 the sun had given up on heating the ground and the cloud street above and in front of me literal evaporated before my eyes.
The Air turned to Glass and I was at 8,500 on final glide. - More distance or ?? what to do. Sunnyside was to my right and I have a good friend who lives there that happens to have a large green back yard - About 1.5 acres. SWEET.
Got there with a thousand to spare - Set up and landed.
Where did you come from was the question and I said North of Yakima. - Smiles all around cold beer, Salmon on the barbecue ready on landing with cous cous and fruit. - What a way to end a great two days of flying.

Friday

:)

Perfect Retrieve at Dunlap

I had a great second task at the Nationals. The effort required just to get out of the valley was right at my max ability and everything was working.

Once southbound however I was out of my element. Just freeflying South without any experiance as to what would work or what wouldn't.

I took a line that put me too far east for sustained lift and I landed in the middle of nowhere which was fine because they had set up radio high ground and I had good communications with Sonny the retrieve maven.

After waiting on 152 in a nowhere valley for about 45 minutes a single car came by and offered a ride. - Following procedures I check w/ retrieve, informed them of my new destination - corner of 152 and 245 and my eta. We headed out and I was dropped in nowhere again. Now however there was no radio or cell coverage but I sent another SPOT OK and set up shop for the long wait.

The following Video shows what happens when you do what your supose to do and so does the system.

Timing is everything!!!

quicky report

just a quicky - all is well - landed at the ranger station but kept it safe - big day.
posted most of my flights on leo except last two days.
Having a great time and learning alot.
Fly home on Sat
One more day to try and make goal. - We will see

What a wonderful day Tuesday. – Sun, Sun, Sun.

A fine crew came from the wet side and were treated with Sound of Music fields on top of Selah Butte. A couple of short retrieves and a couple of hours of flying in active air added to log book and practice hours.

No one went very high, maybe 5.5k or so, I think the high pressure kept us down, a counter perspective blamed winds. Whatever the cause we didn’t go high but had lots of fun. I finaly got to fly Selah Butte and met the owner of the treatment center at the south side of the canyon. He asked that we not land in their nice green grass or the large field just North of their facility. Be advised.

Now I fly to Dunlap where my wing and I meet for the first time tomorrow evening. We have much planned.

I am not even taking my OZONE. Let us hope the new relationship goes well.

New Wing - New SPOT

"Uadjet"

The wing is in the Air - Hope to get it by Dunlap. Rob thinks I will get it in time so we will see. I wonder when they put the rest of the lines on it this pic seems a bit light on lines.

I have a new web site for linking all our SPOT pages. The link is new on the right of this page. Make a note of it and submit your "SPOT share" page to me and I will add you to the list. The more the merrier. Useful on retrieve as you never know who you will have to find.

Preacher

Scratch and Save

Saturday was very busy - A number of issues for work took the morning then flying in the afternoon and football ref for a semi pro game in the evening. Busy Busy Busy.
Flying was great - Mer cranked a masive flight for the conditions - high presure kept us under 5K most the day.
I took two flights on baldy and the second was the rocker. - Launch and scratch nothing working well the ridge was sparse and eventualy I went out after being tired of risking my life for 10 feet. -
All the way down the ridge to the South LZ - just 500 ft over road just enough for a clean landing and I got 0's and 10 feet up on a pass and 3 feet down and back up and back and forth and 40 minutes of hard hard work and I was on top again.
The reward was a lift to just under 5K but the deep pleasure was cracking the mountain.!!! - GREAT STUFF!!!!!!

SPOT on Nuvi

Thursday was SPOT On!
Flying with the big boys and girl was great fun for Mike and myself. 11:00 at the rock confirmed by text and cell. - It was a day for technology to shine. Dave W., Mer, and Myself all had our SPOTs on.

Nice lift and great looking skies provided a wonderful day of flying at Baldy. Everyone went XC except Chris A who was testing out his new pod and arriving late took a toplanding option. Mike took his first ride to exit 11 - nice work. I had a Big up and Big down dusting on the top of Manastash ridge while Mer, Dave, Stefan and Steve P went toward Windmills and points north.

This blog is more about retrieve technology than flying. 7 minutes after landing on top of the ridge I got a phone call from Bob Bunger who had noted my landing on my SPOT page. He was checking to make sure I was ok and was able to answered a critical question for me: "Is it a shorter walk down the ridge or hike along the ridge to the north?" I didn't know but he did because he had me on my SPOT map. The answer was to go down the ridge directly to I82.

My phone was low on power so when I got to I-82 I turned it back on to find Mike 10 minutes away and a text message from Mer's SPOT with her Lat/Lon - I punched it into the her Nuvi on the dash and we followed the line right to her. Stefan was on the same road and we picked Mer up just as she got to the road after a 20 min drive right to her!!!

A couple of phone calls and once Dave forwarded his SPOT Lat/Lon to Mer we were off with a new target on the Nuvi and got to him 14 min later just as he finished packing his wing. - Next catch was Steve P who got a ride to E-burg and his Lat/Lon was a Texaco station and the finish line on the Nuvi brought us right to him. -
For No Brainer Retrieves:
Get a SPOT, a texting phone and a Nuvi!!!!!

LEO seems down - will post flight when it is up.

Check out this little video of Mike McIntyre from the day before.

Baldy Season Begins

Mike Over The Tower

So much for a winter of cold ridges an solo launches in freezing winds. The sun is out and the laps rate is climbing. Thermal season has begun. Last Saturday a crew came out and flew their hearts out. Lift was not great but the North flow kept many in the air as long as they liked. 4 pilots went XC - no great distances but fun nonetheless. Clouds streets were in play but they wanted to play over the firing range.

Wednesday became the day of wondering - On again, off again, calls for wind - to much wind- just the right amount of wind. The final morning call was it should work and work it did. Steady flow on the hill of 7 to 14 north on launch from 12:00 till almost 4:00. Mike McIntyre and I took turns flying, only one 4wheeldrive between us. I went first and had a very uncomfortable time on the east ridge catching ratty air to about 1k over then sinking out back and forth for about 40 min before I lost it and sank out. I left the hill just a bit to early.

Mike hit I just right 40 min later. On launch and big air catching cloud suck and playing till his heart was content.

The final flight with winds increasing and clouds growing the toss up went to me.

The launch was fine and lift instantaneous. I was up and over the back in 2 minutes or less and the primary thermal was laying over at an angle I couldn't believe. But, the vario was screeming so down wind I went and up toward base.

The same problem that faced us on Saturday came to bite again. Wonderful street going right over the firing range. I opted to hang a right and hope for something on the much less hopeful mini street forming to the west. It was not productive and the sink in route was massive. I should have stayed with the primary street all the way to 82 rather than heading sw. I would have had much more altitude and might have been able to make the corner near Rest Haven. Ended up landing south of the canyon about a mile or two. Nice air and a very fast ride total air time for the screemer was 28 minutes average speed 21 mph max ground speed over 40. Today and tomorrow will be good North and then West. Come fly with us at Baldy

Baldy Spring & The Pink Panther

Bob Bunger and I got a treat Friday afternoon. A Badger Pocket customer of his drove my rig down for us so we got a free flight at Baldy. - Winds were great, NNW 12-16 on launch. Thermal pockets when the cu's let the basin heat up. Top for the day 4.7K. Lots of fun and a good hour or two were left in the air unflown. I got an hour and a half - Bob's fingers were colder so he dropped out a bit sooner.
Enjoy two videos. The first one is just a fun search for Bob in flight and the second is my attempt to break my JVC camcorder on launch.

April Fool

I spent a couple hours late Wednesday looking for wind that would work. This is what I found. And an extra video also just below.

I promised video from Kiona Spring Lift - here it is:

Flying in Google Earth

You can fly your flights and those of your friends with a great perspective view in Google Earth. - You may have already figured it out but I just did so I figure some others could use a leg-up.

Great lead from Mike Bomstad: IGC FLIGHT REPLAY @ http://ywtw.de/igcsimen.html -real cool and easy to run!

Try it you will like it.

Thursday - Spring Lift

After a meeting in Sunnyside I was half way to Kiona and the winds were predicted to move from overpowering to light through the day. Where would they be on arrival?
2:30 was just about right - nice easy launch and then spring thermal joy in 500fpm smoothys to almost 4K.
Rick and Curt came and flew a bit. I got 4 or 5 flights and some video that will show up later this weekend.
Where is My New Wing!!!!! - Come on Bruce fly it and send it!
Dave (limits?)

Warm Up

Double Click Image Above.

Monday was a good warm up for summer XC planning through execution. Initial look at XCSkies indicated that good lift (3500ft agl-tul - the red line above) along with a tailwind, would present itself over the SW to NE XC route from Eagle. Eagle wind speeds would likely exceed launch parameters mid day when lift was maximum for the XC route so I planned to launch early work ridge and wait for thermals.

Not a bad plan and it was great to watch the day work toward goal but a long XC will have to wait for later in the season.

As the top of usable lift increased over the morning - each successive ride to the top was higher by 4-500 feet but the winds also increased making it harder and harder to penetrate back into lift or to the ridge when I lost the thermals. After about 2 hours of work I dropped out the back in a laps in attention and it was all over. I couldn't make it back to the ridge and had to top land on the plateau. The nice thing about Eagle is that the plateau is big, flat and rotor free.
It was a good warm up to work through weather, route, strategy, tactics and execution.

Lessons learned - Focus Focus Focus.

Last of Winter - First of Spring

The Last Day of Winter and the First Day of Spring both gave up marvelous flights.


Yesterday Rick (Doc) Shallman, Curt Boschek and I spent the better part of 4 hours soaring, skimming, kiting, thermaling and even a little hiking at Eagle Butte in S.W. Richland. The wind was just right and valley heat gave us lots of texture to play with. Great way to finish the winter flying season. Unfortunately I left my GPS on the kitchen table so no LEO tracks for my 5 flights, 20min, 30min, 1:12, 56min, 15 min.

Friday afternoons Bob Bunger can fly so we met at the Bump LZ at noon for a sledder or two. On top we were thrilled to find cycles and very launchable conditions. Bob left first as I screwed around with my wing including letting it fall on my head - good thing no one was watching: lol. I looked up and Bob was 400 over launch and laughing. The bump sometimes gives up ridge flights but thermals rides are rare because we don't really like low level thermals and Baldy is so much safer, but today it was Bob's.

Just as I launched Bob said he thought it was dropping off and was heading for the LZ - Truth was it was likely the back flow of a major cycle and I launched right into it. I was 600 over launch before Bob was half way to the LZ.
Back and forth and up and down a real rodeo ride. At one point I was about 300 ft over the top of an invisible dusty that kicked me with the news that YOUR GOING THIS WAY! a quick 360 up and back kept my wing over my head but it was quite a ride.

After about an hour I was finally able to get my radio out of my pocket to talk with Bob who had returned to launch. He said it looked to be more fun than he was interested in and informed me that the afternoon forecast called for SW @ 15-20. - That was enough for me and out I went for nice but active LZ landing. 30 minutes after landing the winds really kicked off and were better than 20 gust to 25.

Lessons learned: Don't launch with your keys and radio in the same pocket.
Always have the weather forecast figured even if your just going for a sledder.
Spring has Sprung.
Preacher

Great little Valle De Bravo Video

Enjoyed this one:
Paragliding worlds 2009 Mexico from broers philippe on Vimeo.

Wind and Wing

Winds are on in a big way over here. 35mph - The house is shaking so I guess we won't be flying today! Hopefully the Big Snake will arrive this week and by Friday the winds will die in her honor. - Look for my new colors: Cobra XL, Orange White and Red - Airwaves Fire Pattern.

Pick Your Pleasure

Saturday was a classic nice spring day between fronts. Saddle projections looked almost perfect for a XC thermic day but my begging, cajoling and pleading reaped no takers. Next pick on the list of sites was Tiger so 9:00a.m. found me on the road up over Manashtash looking East at developing cu and wishing someone had said yes. As it turned out weather reports from Saddle and environs proved out with light N winds till 12:00 then switch to South. Temps in the mid 40's with cu and blue sky. Was it the better call - we will never know. So goes flying in the spring.
The 12:30 Tiger shuttle was full and it was great to see Mike although his tree avoidance radar seemed in need of adjustment. On launch Stefan and Steve launched after the first wind dummy rocked and rolled trying to figure out surge control. It was working on the South launch. The skyrockets lifted and caught a bubble and were soon out of sight. If they can work it I was sure I could kick it as well. - Well not so fast - lift was out there but I missed a couple of turns or the timing was just off, in any event I found my way to the wall and unable to bench up and had to succumb to gravity and ground.
On landing I had a nice chat with the folk and awaited the van for the 2:30. Looking up I saw Randy L. cranking up and I wished I had waited till he had launched. He reported topping out well over 5K. The van couldn't leave soon enough for me I helped load and forgot to grab my coat and flight suit from the picnic table. This time we missed the tree and we were safe on the South launch by 3:45. I almost ran to launch in hopes of getting the last of the big lift. A look in my kit confirmed my dread and no jacket or suit was found. - The pilot standing next to me unpacked his jacket and flight suit, (one of Mark's crew) said I could use his jacket. -THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to the forgotten named saint who saved my day. The Jacket was left at Mark's) - A quick launch was the right call, a little back and forth heavy weight shift figure eights and I was over launch in the sweetest little light lift constant no edge thermal I think I have ever ridden. Beep Beep beep and the first off stayed at the top of the stack with only a momentary race with one other Blue bird wing. I topped at 4,762. Word has it that Steve Wilson with good karma aboard worked up later to even higher with at least one other high bird in tow. Well done for all who enjoyed the day.
I followed the ridge up and on to top the towers and started looking XC - I was happy when Randy radioed back his willingness to take retrieve. - Owe you Randy and thanks Conrad. A nice little glide with cold hands and I was hovering over the new soccer fields in Preston. Step one in my Tiger Tag XC portfolio. - The beauty of Tiger and the foothills in the sun and snow is hard to describe and being high is an awesome privilege and joy. First time up high and out at Tiger was a great pleasure.

Kiona

A quick run to Kiona this afternoon proved a wize move. - Winds were good as I figured and I spent about an hour in the air with a couple of nice no drag top landings and one landing in the LZ. - Thanks for comming out Brian.

Sledder Sledder Sledder

Got to fly, just Got to fly. - Nothing but hiking and taking quick sledders. I hope the lift comes soon. - Now to the calandar and scheduling for summer flying. - Got the Boss to give me an extra week off so I can find some time to fly.

Advice

Here is how to break a camera. - Thanks for the insurance advice Ross.

Saddle Prognosticating

Saddle from the South - Big Cloud on Launch

Cold and a bit wet, the wing got a nice work out today. No intrepid souls rose early for this one. The XC forecast showed solid 6 to 8 due North all day with possible light precipitation early and clearing later. Mattawa wundergound showed 6 N most of the day.
Launch was socked in.

By 12:00 base was at launch and by 1:00 we had 300ft ceiling.
It was cold but smooth, winds were 14 to 17 laminar North. I flew the ridge - dropping as low as 2400msl east keeping ridge lift and clearance for the return flight. Leonardo gave me a nice score: 39.90. My fingers and toes were cold and I needed facilities that the ground offered which the air could not, so after about 2 hours this bird sought shelter on terafirma.
Jimmy and Chris brought their hangs and fought icing all day. Every time one went close to the clouds there started a frozen mist of little bitty ice crystals. Cold and hard to see after a while.

Armond had a very sweet launch and flight but you will have to ask him about the "landing." Every one left the hill with smiles. Even Obi wan, who left saying "Cloud too Big! Wind too Strong!" was smiling. He was still smiling after his Kiona flights while listening to this young Jedi preacher brag about his day.
Reports are that there were a number of Kiona flights, keep your ears open.

Saddle - Early Thermal Lift - Eastern WA

9:00 A.M. - Winds light to 12 NNW on launch. Just west enough to put launch in the lee of the little ridge west of launch. I kited for a bit but kept taking left side asymmetrics from the rotor. After 20 min or so I decide to warm up in the car and await James and Pam. I knew Pam would leave her rig in the lz and would fly so I though I could watch and see how boaty the nw wind would be. At 10:30 we were three on launch and the winds - still a bit west were now cranking. - Pam set up for launch but a rock edge caught a bit of sail and she had to step off launch to fix her glider. - By then it was strong enough to assure a good soar so I popped it off and went for sky. - Very nice lift - a bit cold but very nice. Flew for a while and found thermals sucking me up into the clouds. Base was only 4 or maybe 4,500 so it wasn't skying but the lift was fabulous. Armond from Leavenworth was next up and off after flying his zag for a bit. We both had nice flights and top landings.
More kiting and flying - Will have to check my GPS to see how many - - James had a nice flight before Pam stepped back into the slot and took for the sky.
She had the flight of the day - able go out and challenge the thermals because of her car option in the LZ. - She flew out and about and down - had two or three very nice thermal saves and ended up with all our envy as she brought it back in for a top landing. -
Thanks James, Pam and Armond for great company on the first Eastern WA thermal day of the year. - well ridge plus thermal.

Dave.

Prediction: - Monday should be as nice or even better - any takers? - Hope you all found some flying - I know the Tri-Cities crew was in the air.

Saddle Friday - Spicy?

Spicy was the question. - Spicy for whom? - Early it was a bit lighter and I was able to get off the hill. I flew for about 25 minutes and then headed East for a few more points on Leo. - Mistake - the winds dropped off as the hill dropped off to the east. Fortunately a nice family stopped on the LZ road and took me to the main road where Jimmy was just passing. - A ride up to the top proved just that. - Winds were up and only Hangs got off the hill from that point on.

Mickey's North

Mickey's is a great site. I'm looking forward to soaring in nice North conditions. Very easy launch and nice big LZ. Hike up is also very straight forward about 30 min. The video is the first I have taken from my wing.

Archives - Video of My Helo from SIV

This summer I took two SIV's and this is the best of the video from that great experiance with Brad Gun -
Also Check out my Leonardo flights - New Site: Mickey's - Both North and South Sledders - Didn't get a track on the North effort last week but the South is there.

Toys for No Flight Days

Check this little goody out. $120.00 US
You can always fly!

Desperation Launch - Saddle South

Glad you found my new Blog Site. - I just felt I needed a change in name. Newbeeskypilot was not only spelled wrong but some have been suggesting that I may no longer be a Newbie. Fair enough, the reflections of my first year will hopefully grow into reflections of flight in general and of renown if fortunes strike.
As to the new name "Preacher" some of you know the story and some may not. You will have to stay tuned for the explanation post. The story is worthy of a crafted blog so stay tuned.
I also hope to post a recap of Valle soon but life, work and flying seem to take more time than the sun allows. This blog is for flying so - After a week of terafirming Friday's clamor rang the bell.
Doc S made the call for Saddle and we hit the road by 10:00am. - The winds were just right 8 to 13 the only problem was that they were due south over the back. - A quick check and a move to the alternate site, the South Launch at Saddle.
South at Saddle you ask?
Yep there is a South launch at Saddle. It takes about 45 minutes from the normal LZ to get to the top. You just head east from Mattawa about 22 miles and turn left up the hill to Saddle ridge and then back West to the high peak Wahitas. The key to South at saddle is the retrieve. It is no man's(sic.) land - long hike to the road. Rick and I got permission from the local orchardist to park my rig at the far NE corner of their property making a glide from Wahitas to the rig a possiblity.
We got to launch about 3:30 and found it blown out and snowed in so down we went with tails between our legs checking lower level south facing bowls as a lark. The wind died off and our hopes were raised. Back we went to the launch and we found favorable "cycles."
Rick's truck got a scolding for not making it the final 1/4 mile up the summit trail. But 5ft snow drifts gave it a reasonable excuse. Rick stayed with his truck and launched from the lower eastern most point of the summit complex while I hiked up and west to give my glide hampered 1-2 a chance for the truck.
Rick's forward went without problem but the top launch almost munched me. Heavy sharp rocks and brambles between them made for impossible footing and challenging line management. - Of course just as I was ready to launch the winds pick up to 12 or better making precision imperative.
A quick pop and stumble and over I went, the wind picked up and I had to pop my beaners to avoid a drag over the back. This launch was not a good idea so I bundled and trundled down to a nice saddle near but not at the very top. This worked well and off I flew - Tight and small hoping to make each ridge that separated me from my truck.
I could see Rick hiking by the time I launched and we joined forces at the truck just as I was folding my wing.
Rick says this site has been called "desperation launch." - You have to be desperate to fly if you find your way all the way out here in the middle of nowhere for a 6 min. sledder.
But We FLEW.

Valle Day 10

Just in case you forgot what I look like.
Wearing the Colors on the 20th.

Still worn down from all the flying. - Made a number of low saves round El Pinon and on the wall - hit the wall below the crest and did a very nice job working it and my faithful G spot up and out - thank goodness the G spot was calm today. -
Nice climb to cloud base and track toward Sacramatati but got drilled to the mesa and no hope for big tails.
Caught a ride out with a official of some agency that distributes blankets - very interesting and a free ride to town - bout 2 hrs. - Good tortas and watched another reserve deployment. 5 in total this week.
All is well with money to spare for the taxi to the airport in the morning.
Great new friends and lots of fond memories - Back next year.
Dave.

Valle - Day 9 : First to Goal

Late in posting - still no new pics. - Flying has been quite active. Normal for this trip the North Winds pushed the convergence right over launch and down the spine. I launched mid early and popped to 9k in one or two passes - left for El Pinon and got it just fine then on to the mesa.
Lift was good and strong but I didn't find anything towering. - Bill from Montana tells of his trip above the clouds to around 14k surfing up the windward side of the convergence. Wish I could say the same.
The lift was strong enough that I was able to tag Elspina and get back to Crazy at tree tops. Crazy at treetops takes lots of focus but after 5 min or so I was well over the G spot with lots of lift back to base. Up and down mostly up and cold I was set.
Now here is something I never though I would say. After about an hour I WAS JUST TIRED OF FLYING. - Those who know me you can close your mouth now.
I did go back for glass but it was so crowded that I bailed for the Pinon at 8400 and couldn't scratch it out and landed short of the Piano next to a bull field.
Today - Lake maybe and long - we will see then it is time for the big jet and home.
Making reservations for next year.

Oh, First to Goal - I bugged so early that I made lunch at Jovans before anyone and got the number 1 chip.
David