Tree in Dunlap

Conditions was weak, overcast most of the day, light thermals, typical task to Woodlake. I was trying to catch up with Josh, Eric and Kansas. They choose more direct route to Squaw Valley between Grany and ranger station and it seems working for awhile. When I get closer to ranger station game was over for them. Eric and Josh did not establish on ridge and was going to land on turkey farm, Kansas was landing on ranger station. My only friend was white Advance who struggle with me for awhile but then give up and landed on ranger station. I had enough altitude to go to Bold, so I went there. I hope for lee side thermal, but did not go deep enough and instead though I had enough altitude to go around. Big mistake, I did not found anything but head wind and very limited number of landings. The best option was landing high on mountain side, clear from trees, but it looked quite steep, so I choose small field between trees. Big mistake.

There was wind gradient close to the ground, so I did not quite made my intended LZ, still manage to get down to the ground, but could not steer my wing out of the tree.

Old lady came to check if I'm fine and later found and gave me old saw, which was used last time probably 50 year ago, but my persistence was rewarded and after 2 hours of work I was able to free my wing from tree embrace. Rescue team: Aaron, Kurt and Szilard arrived just in time to help clear lines from branches, thanks a lot. Arun, Jug and Tom flew over my head earlier when I try to explain that I'm not the only one crazy pilot that fell from the sky. Key for the day was to wait for conditions to improve.

Net damage teared wing tip:

Which was repaired by Mitch McAleer very well, color is slightly lighter, but this is it.

If you need to repair PG wing or harness I certainly recommend Mitch as he has 20 years experiences with Wills Wings as production engineer, he's also HG aerobatic champion.
http://users.ez2.net/skyfreak/

Garlock flight, 5 miles

Its tradition for Sylmar club to go to Garlock in spring when desert flying could be fun even for low experienced pilots. Day did not start well as Max's car broke just after intersection with highway 14, but we was able to squeeze into another 2 cars. I launched first around 12 and was scratching around for 15-20 minutes when conditions just start to improve. You have to remember that Garlock is west facing site, which means its start working late. Jonathan launched next and after another 15-20 min we got quite decent climb and start our journey toward Trona, our goal for the day. Big mistake, I have to wait another 30 minutes at least when conditions improved significantly. I made only 5 miles or so, Jonathan was more lucky and find low save and finally made goal with another 3 pilots.

Joe Greblo:

Kagel to Glendora flight, 33 miles

I landed almost at the same spot as last year and repeat my mistake again. Its essential to get as high as possible over Monrovia Peak before gliding over relatively low terrain eastbound. This time I try to push low as far as I can because I know there was quite a few good landings down wind, but generally speaking it was bad idea, punchy thermals, windy, no fun. I landed near Glendora Equestrian Park:

 Jonathan, Bud Rob and Seabass landed few miles east on San Dimas Golf Course, well HG has better glide, so no surprise, but they made basically the same mistake. Only Ron who take time to get high over Monrovia Peak was able to make Rancho Cucamonga.
My track log:
http://paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/593176

Testing new harness

Hmm, which knot should I use? Bowline or maybe Figure Eight?

Yeah! Its working!

Nuthouse to Chief Peak and back flight, 16 miles

Nuthouse is hike up launch north from Ojai, CA right off highway 33. I know about it for awhile, but did not had a chance to try it before. Weather forecast for SB was so-so, and much worse for other sites, so I join Chris for Nuthouse flight. There were just 2 of us. We met at Nordhoff school at 10:00 and was on launch by 11:30. Hike took me about 55 minutes and Chris was 10 minutes faster. Its short, but very steep. I was first to launch at 11:55 and climbed quite well. After flight Chris tell me that I skip a usual scratch fest near launch. Since launch altitude AGL over the road is only 900 ft you have pretty much 1 chance to climb out, so picking a good thermal cycle is very important. In my case Chris was doing a good job to help me choose a right cycle. After I flew away it was his turn to launch. He was not that lucky and spent some time scratching before he join me. I waited for him near Nordhoff peak and we continue together. Tag Chief peak where I flew before and then I decide to flew back before west wind kick in. Chris followed and we both landed on Nordhoff school LZ. Here is short video of the day:



GPS track: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/535846

Crestline to Anza flight, 61 miles

Just the next day after my successful flight from Kagel to Glendora we continue with brave XC attempts. Typically there are several days in a row with a great XC weather and you never know which day is the best. If you not there you will have to wait 1 year for the next chance. I met with Jonathan and our driver Wally at Andy Jackson flight park LZ around 10. Since upper wind was out from the north our plan was to cross Banning pass and fly toward Laguna Mt. I launched from Crestline at 12:20 and climbed straight to 7500, which means that we were late again!!! My plan was to fly back range to Keller Peak since I never try this route before. It was quite easy flying with strong fat thermals. It took me 1:10 to tag Keller and Jonathan catch up just before the peak.

We climbed together in 1000 fpm, but he left first bitten by turbulence, while I have to take it to the top. I glad I did. Its long glider to get out from there and I use most of the altitude I had.

After crossing highway 38 I got low and have to ridge soar for 10 minutes before I get out.

Jonathan was already flying into the pass. There was a small fire south of Banning and smog was very helpful to see wind direction and strength. It was light west through the pass. My options was to tag little San Gorgonio, get high there and cross

OR start crossing early with less altitude. I figured out I will not be able to cross on 1 glide anyway, but starting early will give me advantage to take drift toward pass, so chose this option. I was following little canyon along Bluff St. and found a good thermal.

My assumptions was right, drift was moving me exactly where I need to go while I was gaining more altitude. Downwind after first one I found 2nd thermal and took it. Now I was at 10500 between Banning and Cabazon ready to cross I-10.

I experience a lot of sink and some cross/head wind, but came over Jan Jacinto foothills still very high 6800.

Then I jumped over higher terrain, but keep a good margin between me and peak. Landing toward the San Jacinto Peak was problematic only tree lading. My bailout was highway 74. Even if I can’t make all the way to highway there were some landable fields toward this direction. I got a nice climb just before Idyllwild to cloud base 12200. There was a cloud street to my left and lonely cloud over the other side of valley to my right. That’s where I made my first mistake, which put me on the ground. I opted to go to lonely cloud via Lake Hemet, where Jonathan landed not long time ago. Over the lake I was not confident that I can clear Thomas Mountain ridge and change my mind turning to the left to cloud street. I did not have enough altitude and did not encounter any good thermal to make it there. After cruising another couple miles along highway 74 I landed on the road side. Developing storm ahead was a good consolation.

Wally and Jonathan were there shortly after. 8 miles short of record, but hey successful crossing of the Banning pass is achievement in itself.

GPS track: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/503185

Advice from Rob McKenzie concerning the Banning pass

Kagel to Glendora flight, 32 miles

Since Kagel is my nearest flying site I was dreaming of a long flight out from it. My farthest flight so far was out and return to Mt. Lukens. Next target was Mt. Wilson and beyond. Today was the day to make it. Jonathan picked me up in the morning and we headed to Kagel LZ, got ride to launch and I was first in the air at 1:20. I climbed to 5900 right away, which means we were late at least by 1 hour. Easy going to little Lukens where I stuck for 20 minutes and Jonathan had chance to catch up.

Then we flew together until the end of the ridge and he went straight across Arroyo canyon (highway 2) while I slow down to get more altitude before this critical transition. Up to this point there are many options for landing, but this canyon looks scary. It’s wide with power lines and other (east) side looks even worse. Long, gentle slopes and then houses to the right. The only friend is a steep ridge deep in the canyon Brown Mountain.

While I was trying to convince myself to continue I find a weak thermal right above highway 2 and drift with it across the canyon arriving almost at the top of the ridge. Tank up more and continue toward Mt. Wilson. Just before Mt. Wilson I met Jonathan again, he tagged it was coming back. There was nice cloud street behind Mt. Wilson shaped as arc into the wildness. That was my ticket to make Marshall, but I was not ready for such commitment and refuse it. Instead I keep going along the front range. On Monrovia Peak ridge I did not top out thermal, which was a big mistake. After this point it was pretty much final glide. I had an option to fly low over little ridge after crossing highway 39, but it was windy and I can’t see good landing spots ahead. On the other hand it was already 4:00 pm and day start to shutting down while I made only halfway to Marshall, so my chances to make Marshall was low. I landed on huge empty field, which looked nice from the air, but after all had a quite high fence.

It was interesting feeling when cars slow down to see better how I was trying to get over fence with my PG bag. Big thanks to my wife Karina for retrieve and Jonathan for ride to LZ.

GPS track: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/502847