Chief's for us mortals 9/30

From: Dan
Activity_Date: 9/30/01
Remote Name: 24.8.188.224

Comments

We had more than a car load today. There were 13 bags at launch today. Bruce via his wife and daughter, drove me, Zvi and Benson to launch first. I was first to be ready to launch. The wind had been measured up to 20+ mph at launch. I waited for a down cycle and when I went to pull up the wing pull to the side very quickly and I was grabbing for the appropriate brake to keep it under control. Zvi filling my aborted spot was next to try and he was lifted straight up in a stronger cycle and was deposited at the rear of launch on his rear. His spot was immediately filled by Benson. Benson launched in such a down cycle that he had to run down launch's face. I am convinced it was the last time that day we had that kind of cycle.

I stepped to the plate and pulled up in a 10-15 mph cycle and made it off launch. (2nd off the ground) The south wind was definitely there and about 75 yrds past launch I stopped penetrating and took an elevator ride straight up 200-300'.

Today was the first time I used my speed bar to make an upwind leg to a thermal because the wind was so strong. I hunted for lift on the first bump and then just past the second bump to the west there was 970'/min lift. Smooth from 5400' to 6617'. I took the height out to twin peaks and straight out towards the middle of the valley.

I got to the end of the spine with 4670' when I found some smooth convergence/lift that took me back to 5590'. While thermaling, the drift was to the west and instead of Bocalli's field I choose to the drift down to the bumps in front of Nordoff. The glide from twin peaks to the big bumps in front of Nordoff was 25-30 mph hands up with a loss of altitude down to 5242'. Basically zero sink.

I thought of angling to Nordoff Peak to climb back up but I left with 1500' less yesterday and made it to NHS so I angled to the school instead. Later, pilot reports stated that no lift was to be found at Nordoff. Good choice!

I came in 3457 next to the school and steadily watched the gps report slower and slower speeds as the sw wind stopped my forward progress. I landed in the baseball field to the south of the stadium at NHS in disorganized air all the way to the ground. The temp sign at Washington Mutual's building was flashing 107.

Great day flying for us mortals.