Kagel to Lukens and back, 20 miles

Original plan was to fly from Kagel to Marshall, but day was too weak for such task. I started at 11:37 and first half an hour was straggling to maintain couple hundred over launch. Then Jonathan join me and we left for the east. It was difficult to establish on Big-T (as usual), but after 3 attempts I finally get up there and catch up with Jonathan. Then we glide to Little Lukens, get up there and continue to antennas. Most of the canyons until Lukens are landable, but next gap over highway 2 is wide and land there is problematic. It was obvious that we don't have enough altitude to jump toward Mt. Wilson, so I turn around and flew back. When I arrive to Kagel day turned on and it was easy to move around. Here is a Jonathan's video of the day:



My track log:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/431394

Snowboarding at Lake Tahoe

Its about 8 hours drive from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe, but with chains installation and slow traffic just before the pass on highway 50 it took us 10 hours. I was at Tahoe before, but never ski or snowboard, so this was my first winter trip there. There are 10+ ski resorts around lake and my choice was Heavenly because of close proximity to Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe where we stayed. Well, that was a bad choice. Conditions was perfect with a lot of fresh snow, but resort does not designed very well, it takes forever to move from one side of the mounting to another. You have to unhook board because trails is not steep enough. There are couple good, steep trails on Nevada side, but there is no lift in the bottom. You have to walk along park boarder to lift for 15-20 minutes. So, I had a mixed feelings: on one side we enjoined by fresh snow and some good trails as well as gorgeous lake view, but on the other side I was disappointed, Mammoth Lakes so much better in terms of park design and trails available.

Monarca Paragliding Open 2011

This was my second Monarca. Conditions was perfect as expected, we flew everyday and only one task was cancelled due to strong wind. I was much more confident this time in flying and stay around 45-ish place whole comp, but did not tag a start cylinder last day, so drop to 57 (out of 109) overall. There is no results for serial class, but my estimation is 28 (out 76 or so). I had one scary moment when trying to get out from cloud suck on big ears and went to deep stall -> full stall -> cravat -> etc. It was my first cascade on Venus-2, lost about 150 meters, but finally exit fine. Good idea was to apply speed bar with big ears, which could prevent deep stall in the first place, but I did not realize how important its to use speed bar with ears at that time. Now I know. Here is a video:

Valle de Bravo, Mexico 2011 from Alex Gagarin on Vimeo.

Happy New Year

This time we join our friends to celebrate New Year holidays in mountains near Big Bear Lake. Weather was great sunny with fresh snow, ideal conditions for snowboarding.

Big Bear Mountain Snowboarding from Alex Gagarin on Vimeo.

Alta Peak hike

Forecast was for 20% chance of rain on Saturday, but I was desperate to go hiking in Sierra before winter comes in. I saw small bear in Potwisha campground on Friday night, he came to check out what I'm cooking on fire, which is smells so good. Wake up at 6:30 and on trail by 8:00. It starts from Wolverton parking lot (GPS 36.5966, -118.7341), 1.8 miles via Lakes Trail, then 1.0 mile via Panther Gap trail. Until this point you walking in forest and there in not much to see, but after you have a gorgeous view on canyon to your right and high peaks in front. You continue another 4.2 miles to Alts Peak (36.5906, -118.6611, elevation: 11,204 ft/3415 m). It took me 4 hours to get there and 3.5 to come back. Snow/rain finally catch me on the way back.

NorCal XC League, Paiute, September 2010

The finale for the Northern California Cross Country League (held on conjunction with the Southern California Cross Country league and the Oregon Cross Country League) was held in the Owens Valley this weekend. It was very successful trip. We flew all 3 days: Sat., Sun & Mon. Weather was similar all 3 days, cross wind from south on launch with light east component on the top of lift. Base was around 13K-15K.

Saturday's task was Paiute -> Boundary Peak -> Bishop (52 miles). I was 2 km short of goal because of strong head wind near Flyns LZ, but few pilots made it.
My GPS track, Results

Sunday's task was similar, but with shorter up wind leg with goal at Benton. There was 40+ pilots flying, including one HG pilot from San Francisco and 30+ made goal this day, including me.
My GPS track, Results

Short task at Monday was straight down wind to Benton. It took us little bit more then 1 hour to make it and again most of the pilots in goal. Many pilots had best flights (longest, highest, etc).
My GPS track, Results

Flight from Paiute, Owens valley, 50 miles from Alex Gagarin on Vimeo.

Overall results for 2010 North California XC league is here. I made it into 6th position this year, which is -2 from last year. Thanks to Jug for organizing such a great competition.

Hiking to Bubbs Creek in Kings Canyon

Last time we spent only 1 or 2 hours in Kings Canyon and I want to explore it more this time. Hiking with a family assume that trail must be easy and choice was between Paradise valley and Bubbs Creek. First 1.8 miles is the same route, but then it splits with Paradise valley going north and Bubbs Creek continue east. Most of the trial going through the forest with multiple river crossing:

Trail is almost flat except section with switchbacks when it climb out from Kings Canyon to Bubbs Creek. In forest we found wild raspberry:
and gooseberry:
saw two deers:
Overall very nice and easy trail we like it a lot.