6/19/05 11:16am US40 mile marker 164
No Internet connectivity. We made it into Denver by 5pm on Friday (about 26 hours) and visited Tim Denton, who assisted us in modifying the motorcycle rack so we could get in and out of the truck more easily.
Based on web forum messages from http:/www.rmhpa.org the Rocky Mountain Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, We cancelled our plans to go to Villa Grove. I spoke with a pilot who was willing to sponsor us on a flight from Steamboat Springs ski area, so we headed in that direction, arriving Saturday morning. Unfortunately, our sponsor did not arrive as planned, so we back-tracked an hour to Willams, a site overlooking Green Mountain reservoir on route 9 between Silverthorne and Kremmling.
Williams has two launches. The upper launch is at 10,200 msl, 2200 feet above the LZ. Arriving at the LZ (by the reservoir), we met several Denver-area pilots who had already flown, left the motorcycle and headed to the top with our new friends. Conditions had improved and several pilots flew. As we began to set up, winds began to cross and
increase, so we waited for conditions to improve. Finally, a local decided to fly, so we 'suited up' and prepared to launch.
Bruce was first off and immediately was able to get above launch, eventually climbing to over 15000'msl. Other pilots (including me) were not so fortunate and most of us felt happy to be safe in the LZ. I encountered strong turbulence from the spines to the N of launch and encountered extended periods of sink exceeding 1000fpm down. I made it to the LZ with a few hundred feet and made a no-stepper
landing at 8000'msl.
As we folded our wings, I could hear Bruce on the radio, complaining that he could not lose altitude. He reported that he was able get down to 12.5k, but was unable to prevent climbing back above 14k. The winds in the LZ had switched 180 degrees and were blowing from the NE (towards the reservoir). Eventually, after strenuous effort, Bruce was able to descend below 11k and finally landed with us, making an an approach
over the water and executing a perfect no-step landing, a few feet from water's edge.
We camped on top that night, but decided to drive north towards Crawford Mt near Randolph Utah. We are currently enroute.
Photos at -
http://community.webshots.com/album/370938176uzSaIf
More later.