Going the distance: 193 mile state distance and N America FAI triangle record (Who knew!)

My alarm goes off on this early Thursday am……… no, not for work, to get gear packed to return to the “Mansfield encampment”. 
(What is that?  Just ask Martin: “For the past 18+ years I have based my summer vacation of flying out Mansfield Washington (for many years, nick named the “Mansfield Encampment”). Flatland flying in what is commonly known as Washington State’s “Columbia basin” can be some of the finest cross country flying to be had anywhere in the world. Every year, while my primary goal is to fly safely and enjoy the spectacular air of this area, my secondary goal has always been to try and best my previous years personal best On Line Contest scores”) The previous day while I was at work, I followed Martin’s Spot track on his epic huge flight!
I was thinking for sure he  was going to get the “mythical” 300km FAI  triangle that I have heard stories and adventures of chasing after it in previous years. (Invaluable knowledge can be obtained from all these flights, attempts, out landings, and “there I was” stories)
The lay of the land ….. and do’s and don’ts are all there…. one just needs to listen)

Back to packing, the local store in Mansfield we drank out of (the previous week) our favorite “washing the dirt out of our mouth” beverage ….. “Becks”

So, I'm off to the local store to pick up some Becks to bring with me and low and behold…. none. “Are you F’ing kidding me?”
Off to store # 2…..“ we don’t carry that” …………. shit!!!!
OK “Google”…..
finally, 2 case of Becks (unbeknownst to me there were 3 N/A Becks in there……(jerks) thanks for that. We will find someone to give them to later

On the road and running behind, arriving at Mansfield to find it seems I'm ok on time.  A “hello, how do you do” ….load up the truck and off we went. Setting up, trying to plan “something- big-ish” I was thinking of a 275 km, Martin chimes in “looks similar to yesterday, have a go at the “300”    Yeah ok I thought to myself. (No way could I fly 8 hrs. I've seen Martin’s track logs before, and the time it takes to do it. I didn’t think I was up to the task)

Feeling it was late ….12:40 on tow with lots of smoke.  (should be able to get good and established though)  I had a long tow, about 5.5 miles.  (Half way around course it felt like
Towed through a section of 400 fpm down… on tow! Oh boy….. what will the day bring?
25 min later on glide over 12,000 asl  it was looking great. Strong climb, very smooth. Get going now, I kept telling myself, you are going to run out of day with the smoke.

After passing “Wilson creek” (really never gotten past it before) I was in new territory. What did Martin say all those times going this way…..?

A bit of a blue hole to get through to Lind, “this area can be hell” I remember hearing. The smoke had really taken the edge off the very strong climbs so far. This blue area though,…..didn’t have much smoke. It ended up being very rowdy and broken.
Once close to Lind and the edge of the cues it was a rodeo.  On the radio I asked Martin how I was on time. “By 3pm you need to be moving to your next TP”
Working this rowdy stuff till 3:15, time to go.
I was about 5 miles short of  Lind. My thinking was I could maybe extend it N past Davenport to compensate.

Pushing NE that way things settled down, more smoke and smoother climbs. Clouds were still looking good and gave me something to fly fast to.

A hole to jump to Davenport but it wasn’t too bad. I nice high climb allowed me to glide most of it.
How am I looking for time I asked Martin, “about 5 pm you need to be pushing towards home” he said.
I pushed about 4.5 mile N trying to make up for the Lind short turn point.  On towards home now at a little after 5

Now you need to change gears I told myself from lessons past. Don’t get in a huge hurry, but don’t dilly dally (landed on the E side of the lake a few times from this), there's work to do. Still about 64 miles back take off  to close.

Lots of smoke but some nice clouds helped me to pick some good lines.

The day was decaying, I had caught up with Mia shortly before the edge. I had had some good lines and clouds to help guide me. She was just enough behind that she didn't fare so well.
She has a huge struggle and work ahead…..

Looking back the clouds, they were receding 
(Come on Mia, you can make it!)

I was able to push an Extra 8.5 miles to the NW to help extend my distance

Final glide back to the take off area yielded a very nice sunset.

At this time, I really had no clue as to what my flight actually was. It wasn't until uploading it that made clear it was a 311 km (193 mile) FAI triangle!!!!!!!!  The largest distance flown in WA state, and what is believed to be the largest FAI triangle in N America. Martin, just the day before had this title!
Two back to back… huge, amazing flights. Both flown with a fair amount of smoke. This place is amazing.

Mia and I both rendezvoused with Martin in the LZ where he had Becks and ground conditions waiting for us.
Excellent nose up landings and a beautiful sunset to break down with.

Special thanks goes to Martin and Mia for the towing and all the local knowledge a person can take in. It was this that made it possible to attempt, let alone accomplish.
I had the perfect conditions, and the knowledge of where to go to make the best of that. Thank you!

This is my personal best for distance, duration and a few hundred feet short of my highest altitude.
Mia also had her personal best for distance and duration.
What a spectacular day!
My flight track log                                             Pictures from the flight

Mia’s flight track log

Martin’s blog on the days events here

Video of the flight played on google earth

Amazing views

You just never know what you'll get until you land.

20 minutes standing on launch to find something straight enough to launch in. It'd been 90° cross during cycles, almost 0 otherwise. (Launch timing was going to be crucial on this day.)

Finally the wait paid off and something came in to launch in the rest as you can see........

After a good climb and glide from the hill I did not remember well enough the forecast and blundered to the south where as the forecast said it was not going to be as good.

Struggle for some time trying to climb out only getting back to 5000' asl to get me back 2.5 miles from town.

A quick retrieve back to the hill and snuck in a late day extend para extended sled ride.

No complaints on this day.

 

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/735359

The XC that almost wasn’t……

It was a high pressure un-motivating day.  Getting to the tow rd  around 3 pm. Some of the local paras had done some training & had some flights already. Wind had been on the L & V side.

A bit of coercion to set up & I was ready. Maya was taking another para tow ahead. She was off & we were shortly after. Finding nothing on the glide back I see Maya getting her first thermal ever! This was good for me as well as I had a thermal marker. Shortly after we were climbing. She did really well. Leaving it around 5000’ asl.

I stayed in it. Drifting about 3 miles topping out at 6800’ asl (highest for the day) Had a NE light wind & was just going to go to the Spangle airport.

After getting a couple miles  from it I was convinced to get some mileage. (Thanks Michele & Jorge) It was late in the day, conditions were soft & the climbs were short (6000’ ish would be it for the rest of the flight)                     But what the hell, why not.

 

Eagle past by me, really cool to see.

Windmills near Oaksdale WA

 

Low & slow climbs I eventually made it about a mile short of the Steptoe LZ. There is a small hill I did not have enough to get over & I saw a great LZ a ways back.

The track log stats

 

 

The 2013 XC season begins!!!

Some conflicted forecasts said it could be bad or just not so good to the south of the tow road. The sky looked fantastic as we set up.

Had a great tow but released in the absolutely worst place if something goes wrong……. well it did, no re-wind. The tow line dropped down onto a line of trees (the only ones on the road) and some old barb wire fence. I cant believe I did that. Jorge had to walk the 1.5 miles down to get the rewind going & finish helping to get the rest of the line out.

40 min later (so sorry guys) Jorge was up. I had pushed down to Rosailia where I found broken & weak lift. The sky didn’t look as good either.

Gave up on the push south & headed east.  Jorge was pushing east also. Into a blue hole end ended up decking it from 7700’ on what was a final glide.

 

Got up in a good thermal at the home site Tekoa & was going to push south in the mtns.

After getting near Tensed gave up on going south. It just wasn’t looking good. Headed NE thinking I could work the mtns & get to St Maries. After getting low(ish) over no mans land I was going to give up on the idea & keep going N (At least there were LZ’s that direction.

Getting nearish Plummer I got a climb that was good enough to get me to St Maries. And so I went.

Hell of a great day! (Thanks Conrad for the retrieve)      Link to the flight

 

Spring is finally here!!!!

A day with a great forecast was well....…… we tried to make the best of it.  Steve launched first & was 75’ over launch quickly. By the time I was finished getting ready he was on the ground in the middle of the field. Said he found a lot of sink.

Waited for it to get better as graupel was falling. Accepted that it would probably be only a sled ride.  Struggled for awhile & was able to stay up long enough for it to better. The better it got however, the more graupel fell. Was ready for the sky to fall on me as it looked quite ominous. It stayed very civilized.  Had a few 700-1000 fpm climbs. Temp at 6000' was forecast 17°, it was very bit of that + the wind chill. Managed not to pile in with a no wind landing. Glad I was able to still move :- )

 

Snow, cold, birds, trucks, airplanes oh my!

Had to talk myself into going. Forecast looked very light & unmotivating. Couple inches of snow & ice on top but when I got there it was cycling! Had a long launch run. Some light thermals to work (In Dec? wow!), some hawks came out, & Cessna 9:40 did a fly by. Very light winds on top when I landed. Hell of a great day! http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/704024