Day 2: Tekoa to N CDA casino- the long way

High pressure. Some ok climbs at the start. Tough to stay with it between 6-7000 Then it changed and got rowdy. Hard to get past 4500'. Low save by the power lines. Punchy bullying air. 2 hrs later, cues started, a couple of decent climbs confirmed it was on and I was off. Couldn't get past Mica. Ran into nasty air approaching it. Went E to previous days LZ. Thanks Jorge for the retrieve!
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/887861

And the XC season begins. Tekoa to N of the CDA casino

Rick, Jorge, Karl, Jim. Did the toilet & wind sock work.  Karl had his best to date.

One good climb then try to outrun the high clouds and shade. We did a good job of it, and had a good time!

Thanks Michele for the retrieve!
My flight
Jorge's flight:

 

Tekoa 3-18-14

Finally a chance to get back on the local hill. Cold temps. 32° on launch. It was forecast 17° at 6000' and 5° at 9000' so with the wind chill at 8000 it was -20° give or take. Bloody cold!!! But such a great time! Frozen camel back tube again. Lots of sink if you weren't in lift.
Tough conditions. Top landed, made a retrieve then took another flight. http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/885732

flight #2 http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/885733

My flight

Drag chutes are very effective

My fly by with sound effects, thanks Rick!

Inklers 3-16-14

Strong S winds leaving town.  Arriving at the hill to find N.....WTF?
Killed some time ,check some other local sites, then our suffering was over. Had a near miss with a hawk. I think he was playing on his radio

Having a good time till the rain started. Through the drag chute. Managed 1200' without much effort. Very effective tool. http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/884526
We had a great time.

My launch:  (Thanks Steve)

 

 

Eagle Butte

We usually get our first flights of the season here. Less precip & warmer temps always have our attention.Pretty good group made it down. 3 paras, 6 hangs (5 flew). Strong wind upon arrival. (This place can be unpredictable) 40 min of waiting and it started backing down. Set up and we were off.

First off the hill I found some very narrow lift. Really had to bank it up to stay in having it stop only 300’ above launch.
Shortly after Rick took off & about that time Jorge still on top said it quit. We got flushed  Managed 25 min before “arriving” at the bottom.  I had a less then perfect landing.
Jorge finally getting his maiden voyage on his new RX gave it a few and turned back on. Jim was shortly after.
We all ended up at the bottom eventually.


Back on top we find out (Doug para) had got a good climb and was off. (He ended up with a 25 miler! Nice!)

Jeff (hang) was working some very light stuff.
No one really had much motivation has the wind was light & he was only a hundred over.


I said to hell with it, 62° and sunshine I’ll have another go, I’m here why not.

Jorge wanted more time, at least another launch & landing on the new glider. He set up also. It was a great call.  40 mins in light stuff getting a couple hundred over. Buzzed launch a few times for good measure.
Another flush cycle got Jorge. I got low but milked it back up. Few more launch passes and to the bottom to break down. Really good day.