2nd flight of 2014, 1st hang flight

Finally! Haven't flown the hang since Oct 31st which was a really good time .

Last flight & day of Oct. Hell of a good one considering the day. Last minute hail mary decision. Rain on the drive out there. Looked ugly at the start but worked out :-) http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/843952

 

Lot of wind forecast in Spokane, to the N usually works having less wind. It did! Steve and I ran up to Inklers hoping the snow on the backside wouldn’t be too bad. We lucked out and were able to make it up.

Snuck in a 35 min flight before running to land with threat of snow. Hawk said hello 1:14
It was the right call as we broke down a bit of rain started.
We had a great time!

2014 first flight

(Really slacked in keeping up last year, I’ll try again)

Weather, Nov – Dec offered no chance of flying anywhere within a days drive.  Finally, a ray of hope came (enough to go have a look) came and Greg and I headed for Tekoa. Given the light forecast I opted for the paraglider.
Cloud base was half way down the hill. On top was in the 35-40 mph.

Greg Ritchie and I gave mid point a look.15-20 mph. Greg grabbed his speed wing & I my paraglider. It was good for about 15 min getting a 100' or so over, then I was parked. 1/2 bar then full bar, then going backwards. Was a able to get a touch S and land while full bar pulling a B line stall as to not get drug. Worked out. Greg got his workout in with the speed wing with the semi thermic gusty conditions. Welcome 2014 flying season!

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

Tokio to Chewelah (on the flex wing) 7-22-12

Made this same flight 2 months ago on the Atos
Pulled off the same with the Litespeed.

The local para guys came out to see the tow site we had been talking about. Few of them took some tows & learned to run their winch.
Need I say more?

Really tough day for me the first half. Jorge left like he was on an Atos. I had a low(ish) tow then struggled with broken ratty thermals to Davenport. Getting frustrated I started to push on low then hit a good one. (Guess I suffered enough) Then things took a change and got better.
Around the same time things changed for the worse for Jorge. Caught up with him near Cayuse (NE of Davenport) near the edge. He was low & struggling. I was a bit higher but getting low when I found one. He eventually starting getting up but it puttered out on him around 6000’ leaving him landing near 231 & Little Falls rd.
I was able to push on to Chewelah then to the Parker LZ  for a nice no wind landing. Michele had retrieved Jorge & was arriving not long after I landed
It doesn't get much better!

Mansfield encampment part…..

Way behind on posting. No one reads it so …. no one knows.

Broke most of my personal bests so far. Longest flight. Broke my 100 mile barrier… twice! (#1 & #2  )FAI triangles to boot!

Lots a great flying with Martin, Mia, Randy & Jorge, Michele & cant forget Nick!. The lake is always a great place to cool off & the Becks never tastes so good after a flight breaking down on the lawn.

Life is good. Cant wait to get back over. (so long as Martin doesn’t decide to move…. & not tell me :-)

A day in the life

 

 

 

Man is the VR ever sleek!

 

Yeah these guys are in the sky on any given day!

July 5th–Mansfield encampment

Mia was back & it was Martins turn to fly. Jorge & Michele came out also (I forgot the mem card for my camera :- ( of all the flights to do so….)

Heading S to the Beasley hills then to Waterville. Martin drove deep to the S for the turn point but I was leery after yesterdays struggle there. He made the TP but it was tough getting back up & out. (There air was funky down there again)

Eventually he dug it out & got past me as I floundered it whatever I could find on the way to Waterville. It got much better & we continued past Waterville to the edge. Lift was good & the mts were calling. (Looked very good over there)

Neither of us had crossed over there to play in the mtns but getting close to 12,000’ before crossing gave us some room to play. We had a good crossing not loosing much as I started to see we were pushing into 15-19 mph winds. Martin said he was leaving when he got to 10,000’. Not finding much of anything (as good as it looked) 10 became 9 and then 8 was it. Time to get out of there. (No LZ’s in sight)

Arriving back on the flats we found her to be quit upset that we left & flew another area. (Never cheat!) After begging & pleading she finally forgave us & we were able to get a climb out to 11’000 (that’s better)

On towards Leahy. I called it quits a few miles short & headed back. My neck was killing me. I “arrived” back in Mansfield. Less than perfect landing but after my personal best for duration 5:45 & distance 114.2 mile FAI Triangle I was on cloud nine!   http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/636769

It was great to fly with Martin awhile. He had a 122 mile FAI Triangle & almost 7 hrs in the air. http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/632219

Jorge had a great flight as well. 75 mile free triangle & 4;40 airtime!http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/633657

Thanks Mia & Michele for crewing!

July 4th - Mansfield encampment

I’m a bad blogger, its been so long…. anyway…..

After a few days of bad weather made my way over to Mansfield to bother Martin & Mia.
A quick tow up (Mia had gone home) and I was on my heading S toward the Beasley hills. Had some great cues on the way down and tried to push out into a blue hole.

Having good lift & climbs to 8-9000' seemed doable. (So I thought. Respect the blue hole!)
Scratching down to around 1200'agl before finding lift. There was a bit of wind there and I gave up on pushing further S.
On to Waterville then back to the tow site to close, then Mansfield to break down on the lawn.

It was a really good day! Love the Atos!

Thanks for the tow & ground support Martin!

4:25 min, 84 mile (134K) FAI Triangle

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/636767

 

4-13-12 Tekoa

Light & switchy winds. Filtered sun most of the day. Long intervals between cycles, more sink then lift. 1st flight got 1 climb to 5100' then sink. 2nd flight Morgan  & John  got some climbs. (extended scratch fest for me) Morgan broke 5000' & got a top landing in.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/590590

Flight #1  -- (This maybe 17 minutes of your life you cant get back.......)

Flight #2

3-10-12 Tekoa

High pressure was softening a bit. Winds were forecast to switch ESE to SW. In the LZ winds were 13 S, on top 23mph SSW and coming around. Again under called the winds…… its spring so what can you expect?

Started setting up & the winds got even stronger (but straight in)…… 30-37 mph, lulling occasionally to 23 ish.
Watched it for an hour or so & thought the lulls would be enough to launch in.
Myself & Mike Swift were able to get that window. Others on top reported gusting to 45 mph not long after.
We had about hour 30 min flights. I was showing 19-24 mph in flight.

I went to the airport after hearing that wind speed. (Its normally smoother there) A bit rough coming down but had a pretty smooth 19 to land in.
Mike landed in the normal LZ. He said it was a bit rough & almost went too long.

By sunset the wind was down to 18ish.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/562169

3-7-12 Tekoa

The canadians (Mike & Simon) came down for a few days to escape their winter blues. Forecast looked promising so 1/2 day off from work & I’ll join them.

A few para pilots showed up as well. Launch conditions were stronger then forecast but doable for the hangs. 20-25 mph. I was first off shortly followed by Simon & Mike. We had full cloud cover that started to break. That brought some decent thermals to work with some good sink in between. Couple of climbs to 5500’  (1700’ over) Later, it lightened up & the paras got to fly also.

2:20 later after the batteries died in the gloves my hands were frozen & I headed to the airport for a dry no mud area to break down. Pretty damn nice WED afternoon! (We only had a high of 37°, camel back froze in flight)

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/561448

 

 

Saddle mtn party 2-4-12

Following the days forecast it called for similar conditions as the prior day. Arriving on launch to find a few pars lightly scratching.

There was 20 people there. More hangs then I’ve seen in a long time not to mention at Saddle. Setting up conditions seem to improve. A good launch & light ridge & thermal mix to play in. Jorge launched & we went down the ridge to the E.

As soon as we hit the lower potions it got ugly. We were not very high to begin with & we tried to turn around. Sink city……

Followed Jorge to a nice spot to land. He had a good landing. I set up to come in to his left. On final he walked to where I intended to land thinking I was not landing yet. It worked out & I landed 15’ short of him. I managed to get it going just a bit right to miss the sage brush if I went long.

The others flying had multiple top landings & all the air time they wanted. We were the only ones to due a bit of XC.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/551470

 

Better then expected Saddle day 2-3-12

Somehow wrangled 5 pilots (para, from Spokane if you can believe that) for a Saddle trip. Forecast was light so I to thought the paraglider would be the best choice……..

Got on top to find stellar conditions for both hang & para. (Almost to strong for para) The military was running some training flights though the area about 6 total this day. (scary to hear them coming while in the air)

My first launch was good….for about 2 sec, I had pulled up  into a slight lull only to quickly find a thermal behind it. Up 15’ then backwards. A was too rusty to adapt quick  enough, really should have got to the speed bar. Flew it backwards for about 20’  then came down. A reverse somersault was to follow. I & the gear were unscathed.

Next launch was better, I was less complacent & ready. 5-600’ over & top landings galore for everyone. A total of 8 para & 4 hangs flew this day. (Really missed my hang glider)
My second launch (flight) almost was identical to the first, up 15’ but then a hover. Slowly creeping forward.

Lots of firsts & bests for most of the guys!

It was a damn nice day.

Steptoe 1/8/12 ……. paragliding?

4/20/09 was my last flight on a paraglider. With no snow & light winds it was hard to get motivated to take a hang out. The day was to nice not to try to commit some sort of aviation. Borrowed my old gear from my brother & off I went.

6 other para pilots were there! Crazy for Jan & for the Spokane area. This many pilots constitutes a fly in! It was light with little bits of lift to to slow down in. Managed 5 flights. Forgot how easy it was to throw it out, not to mention landing. Glad it all came back, almost like I never left. (Not nearly the confidence to really snug up to the hill though.)

Everyone had a great time. Amazing we still have no snow in the mtns……..

 

Early Christmas present 11/23/11

With no snow this season & a system moving through the stale air finally got moving & in the right direction. Off to Tekoa for a try. With temps in the teens this week, a high of 30°  was going to feel warm.

4 paras & I got on top around 12:30 to find the XC skies forecast to be correct, 13-16 SSW. Robert was off while I was futzing with a new headset & helmet combo (ahhhh) Not realizing during this I did not buckle me helmet. Nothing came of it as I figured half way through the flight. (Wondered what that noise was….buckle hitting the helmet)

Got an hour & 40 minute flight out of it & managed to stay warm the whole time. Wind switched to a SSE & got sinky. The LZ had an E 3-5,  odd it was 90° off from aloft. Pulled off a nice drogue chute landing.

Everyone had a really good time.

11-25-11 fine Nov flight

Leaving town with SW winds gusting over 30 mph to what's forecast to be lighter to the north of town again. (Worked last time) Arrived in the LZ to find NNW 3-5…… well… lets go up and take a look.

Steve, Jimmy, Clint were at Parker (NE of where we were going) since 8 am looking for soaring conditions. Having a mixture of light & cross they managed 2 sled rides. Rick & I were able to make it to the top (12” of snow a week earlier, not much snow left ) to find 15+ straight in. Called to boys to let them know it was on here. They were headed over, but upon retrieving the last rig from the top they said it was starting to come in and would stay. With another sled ride they should have came over.

We set up & I was 1st off. (This was my 2nd flight from this new site we just opened. 2nd time being flown as well) Lightly soarable but soarable. Rick was not impressed with conditions & the fact he had to pull my left wing down on launch.(We are learning that you need to move to the right as this tends to happen) Add the fact we had no driver he opted to watch & ultimately break down.
Was able to squeeze an  hour flight out of it. This was for better then the first time Jorge & I flew it with a 4 min flight. Really nice Nov flight.

Nice Nov flight

What the site looked like during clearing. Its come a long way.

11-13-11 lite thermal flight

Left Spokane with 20-30 mph winds. Forecast called for lighter to the north so I headed to Inklers for a try. After a Tekoa run the day before to find 35-40 mph winds and 30° I was mildly optimistic.

 

Couldn’t muster anyone else to go as the wind was blowing & forecast to blow. The LZ had 10-12, launch was showing 12-15 cycling in. Set up & off I went. Light ridge with light cycles mixed in. Worked an hour and 15 min flight out of it.  2 bald eagles joined me for a few minutes.

Towards the end of the flight reaching my highest altitude, I ran into what I think was shear. Forecast called for upper level winds to be strong and 90° to surface. I got tossed around pretty good. checked the reserve handle a couple of times. Few hundred feet lower it was better. Was not a pleasant felling. But a good flight for sure.

Sure did not look or feel like mid November……..