June 17, 2001 - Sunday at St. John
Sat. happened pretty much like Vince reported.
My foot stirrup malfunctioned and I flew head-high the whole day. My
glides were greatly reduced and my feet kept going to sleep from so
much pressure on them. I managed 49.2 miles and watched my coffee
can record fly away in the form of Todd who got 55. His gps
batteries died toward the end of the flight so he didn't know he was
.6 miles short of Rich's record distance . If he'd of known, he said
he could of squeaked out another mile or two. Greg also was real
close to it.
Sunday I fixed my harness. Todd
decided he'd drive; Vince decided to head home. Greg and I launched
at 1:35 to 1:40. I worked it in front of launch for about 10 mn.
Until I caught a rocket which launched me at 1400fpm. to 11200. Greg
worked the switch backs and also found strong lift to over 11000.
We headed north with winds showing 17mph from the west. At launch
they were from the south around 14.
We found more good lift after the crossing which took
us back to over 10g. The winds lightened up a bit but still were WNW
around 8. Just before Alder Springs Rd. I stopped to work some light
lift . Greg made a few turns in it, decided it wasn't strong enough
and headed NE across Grindstone. I stuck with it and gained enough
to keep me deeper in the mts.
At Doe Peak I found good lift which took me to 11200.
I was just west of Red Mt. and I worked the convergence line between
the strong westerly winds at this altitude and the rising valley
flow which was from the south as I glided north. Greg was over near
Red around 7g and fell behind me.
The convergence was very narrow, I'd say 100 yards
wide or so, and I dolphin flew it till the Gorge west of Paskenta
where I caught another thermal to 10200. This gave me the altitude I
needed to go deeper in and I was rewarded with another boomer off
the east flank of Ball Mt. which took me to 11700. Needless to say
things were pretty cold at this altitude and I shivered as I was
only wearing a T shirt, my wind breaker, and a speed sleeve. I also
only had on my batting gloves and my hands were quite numb, but I was
smiling as I figured the record was going to be broken on this day.
The winds at this point were showing some south component and my
ground speed increased from this point on.
I was deep in the mountains and knew the roads were scarce
to non-existent to my NW, since this is the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel
Wilderness. I therefore kept enough altitude to glide to the east
should the lift disappear. I was able to fly due north, finding lift
which kept me around 8 to 9400 g. I was pretty much following the
122.45 longitude line until I saw Hwy 36. I could also see the town
of Beegum to my west and the Trinity Mt.s dead ahead.
I wanted to get to the Trinitys and fly their southern sun-baked
flanks to the NE. But as I crossed 36 the westerly winds
changed my mind as I knew I'd never make it across the Bald Hills,
which looked very desolate. I could see a river to my North and some
nice pastures and buildings beside it . I flew there with a crossing
tail wind and landed in an upper pasture as the winds were quite
strong and I didn't want to be down in the river gorge. The owners
had just arrived when I'd hiked the mile to the house and they were
very hospitable, allowing me to use their phone and giving me a ride
to a cross road where they thought it would be easier to be found.
Todd and Greg were soon on the scene and they congratulated me
heartily on my flight. I love this sport!
3:32mn. 65.6mi. Foster Road, Shasta County N40d22m/W122d35m