From: Noel
Activity_Date: 053001
Remote Name: 198.81.17.53
Heres my post.
Matthew has a few miles xtra, but I had a little more excitement that I would easily exchange with anyone. By the way Tim was not with us, Matt must be reading the gossip columns in the pilot reports.
Basically Matt made better decisions thus getting to I5 earlier and farther. I think we left a little too late for a epic day. This is a very good site but advanced to say the least. I launched and eventually found a thermal within 10min, up to 10K, launch is at 7050msl. I lagged back, not penetrating the valley winds from the SW as well as Matt. Eventually I made it to Decision point, 6 miles SE of launch. This is where all the valley winds get separated and follow one of two ridgelines. it is also where you decide to go and in which direction. You can go to OJAI or over the back to Lockwood/ Frazier Park.
At first I was 1500-2000 over Decision point, but I due to the headwind I was pushed back behind the point and had to decide to follow the drift at 8000msl or stay put and try to find a thermal as we were told. I was on speed bar and decide to "play it safe" and try to get back to the point, I couldn't the winds were too strong. I sank into the canyon. My heart rate was high. I was now below the point, not penetrated, no where to land, shear granite walls, rock, scrub, tall pine trees in the bottom and no way to fly out. Probably 5-6 miles from any road, with a day walk if I survived the landing.
I decided to keep on speed bar, got whacked a few times, and scraped around another ridge past Decision point in hopes of ridge soaring to stay aloft and come up with new plan. The ridge I ended up on I learned is called the "Spliter" is separates these two ridgelines and the valley winds hit it head on. I was able to hold steady at 5300 only 1000 left below and so I used my ridge soaring skills, did S turns all the way back up and was happy to have some altitude back. I had to risk trying to go up the ridge and find a thermal, sure enough I hit a nice one that was sucking the heat right of the west facing crevasse and worked it till it began to form better. 6000 then 6500 then 7, then 8 and all the way up to 10.5K and I was a very happy man, these are the moments when God seems to slip into the mind. I followed the drift and crossed another ridgeline, heading toward San Guillermo Peak, in the middle of Lockwood valley and a mile from the road. I was steadily finding thermals and finally found my way into the valley convergence.
In the convergence I was at 13,500 and in some of the nicest lift, just as Matt described. I decided not to head to Frazier and followed the convergence all the way to Mount Pinos where a nice cloud was forming. At first this was a good decision but the northeast began to beat the south and I was in head wind again at Mt. Pinos, with the town of Pine Mountain and Resort below. A nice little valley with a golf course in the middle. I decided to call it a day so speed bar in the headwind and made it to the golf course, did some circles over the community pool and golf course, landed in the 18th fairway, next to the club house. As I landed , 30 kids came from the pool all wet and wondering what the heck I was doing. Nearly 3 hours of flight time, and about 21-25miles or so.
Sat had a beer in the club house, nice cool breeze on the back porch overlooking the golf course and 15minutes later Michelle and Maynard retrieved me. Thanks guys for a great day. Matt you’re the man! I need more glide, its new wing time!
Noel B. Wade 310-373-1133
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