From: Benson
Activity_Date: 7/20/01
Remote Name: 208.3.185.113
What a great weekend of flying. Having pilots at launch in the early AM is helpful when calling the flying conditions.
I was last to launch on Saturday morning, about 1155, and couldn’t connect with anything to get above 8700. John and I tried all the usual spots for nearly an hour and landed at the Sand Pile with the two pilots who launched just before me,
On the afternoon flight I was again last to launch after bringing my wife and baby up from a meet at the Sand Pile. Conditions were looking dismal, Dan and Casey launched ahead me and were not quite maintaining at the last knob on the ridge. I tried to launch twice in cycles that were too light and finally got off the ground in a slightly better cycle coming up the hill at 4 to 5. I came in high on the ridge but found nothing and dropped down to the last knob, just above where Dan was trying to work zero sink. The thermals were small and weak and, for a moment, I thought I was going to have to head for the road.
Just when I thought it was over I found a weak thermal, worked it to 6700 and transitioned up the ridge. Above launch I found lift that got me to nearly 9000, but on my way to Reyes I was sinking badly so I headed SE. Eddie told me that there was a good thermal marked by a RC plane just back at the ridgeline. I turned for it but I was loosing too much altitude flying into the wind and I couldn’t see the RC. I took my altitude and headed out.
I got an excellent glide and came in over Caltrans with 8100. Since everybody was going back to the campground and they were already at the Sand Pile I decided to head back. Even into the west wind I was getting a good glide. Above half and quarter moon it looked like I had the road before the Sand Pile made, so I continued on into the canyon. I hit some sink that made this a bad plan and the canyon was too narrow for a U-turn with my altitude. I saw a small field just ahead that looked like it would work for a down wind landing, so I headed for it. I came in tight on a ridge just before the field to get the best glide. At the last moment I saw an obstacle on the ridge and made a quick correction to avoid it. I turned into a large bush that caught the right side of the glider. I landed without a scratch and I was closer to the gaggle of campers.
Back at the campground the food was great and the children were having nearly as much fun as the adults. On the way home that evening we stopped the car for what turned out to be an Owl standing on the road at Quarter Moon. The Owl flew over to the side of the road and I was able to get out of my car and get my powerful Scuba light. I shined the light on him as he sat about 30 feet from us there for a while. Then I caught him in the light while he was flying away, and we saw another Owl just as the first was about to disappear. These huge birds were a magnificent sight slowly flapping their wings against the black night sky.
For Sunday’s flight I laid out the glider and checked the lines, they looked good. Thinking about my bush landing I checked them again to be sure. As soon as I got into the air I realized I had a twist and a nasty little twig caught in my B's on the same side. Immediately I decided to go out and land since the glider felt very twitchy on the left side. I flew out towards Half Moon so as not to go against the wind and come up short of the road at Sand Pile. I took several minor collapses on the left. By the time I was half way out to the road I had gained 1500 over launch, and I heard voices on the radio suggesting that I turn.
I was in the convergence and defining the line for happy pilots back at launch. I came in over the Sand Pile with 9400 and was taking minor but scary whacks constantly. I tried Big Ears, Big ears/Speed Bar, but the canopy felt very unstable on the left no matter what I did. I tried going west and got punched around badly, so I headed for Caltrans. As I headed east I realized that the west wind had dislodged the twig from my lines and the glider was a little more stable. Before long I left the convergence and emerged into wonderful smooth air. After a few minutes I began to enjoy the flight.
Ron gave me a heads up on wind at Caltrans. I came in with 7900, thought about continuing on to Rose Valley, but decided to use my altitude to practice maneuvering my wounded glider. I did a glide out to the ridge above the Slide and enjoyed beautiful views of Rose Valley, Ojai, Lake Casitas, Ventura and the Pacific. After floating around for twenty minutes or so I landed on the road right at Caltrans turn off.
It was a great weekend of flying and socializing. Thanks to Ron, Bob and Dan for the food Saturday.
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