I began my trip on Thursday, June 29 via United airlines on a flight to Reno. I drove a rental car to Lakeview, Oregon and met Bob Gillesse, who had driven over from his new home near Medford Oregon. Similarly, Ashley Grove had flown to Sacramento and caught a ride to Lakeview.
Bruce Engen and Hugh McElrath had departed Virginia earlier in the week with all the gliders and gear. Unfortunately, as they arrived in Indianapolis on Tuesday to pick up James Anderson, the clutch went out on the truck. Thursday at about 5:30pm, they relentlessly pushed westward, arriving Saturday morning, just in time for the pilots meeting and the start of the Lakeview 'Umpteenth Annual Festival of Free Flight'
Friday (6/30) - I wind-dummied the Sugar Hill site (30 miles south of Lakeview) in a Delta Wing Dream 205 (circa 1984 single-surface wing) and (sans vario) hooked a thermal above launch, sparking the 'lemming effect'. I did not choose to go OTB
Friday evening, Bob and I went to the Black Cap launch and I flew the Dream 205 again in light winds, burbling my way northward and over the Hunter's RV park, where I nailed a no-stepper in the center of the RV and tent area (RLF - 4 sure).
Saturday (7/1) - The gang headed to Sugar Hill, where conditions were much improved from the prior day. I was happy to get back in U2 (with a vario) but only managed a piddly 10.2k msl and 18.5 miles downwind, landing in a hayfield with several other pilots.
Saturday Evening, I flew the PG from Black Cap, running the ridge northward and landing next to my tent at Hunters RV park.
Sunday (7/2) - Conditions improved. After 45 minutes struggling, I cored 1600 fpm to 12.5k and headed OTB for a measly 20 miles. I was amazed that I didn't find decent lift downwind, and learned that I was not alone. Hugh and Bruce picked me up and we headed back to the Sugar Hill LZ, were we found James with a dislocated shoulder
We packed his gear and headed for the local hospital. By sunset, James was released and was determined to continue the journey as a driver and helping hand. Sunday evening, Hugh and I flew PGs at Black Cap, enjoying a classic glassoff. I took many photos of Hugh and landed again near the tent.
Lakeview - Friday (6/30) through Sunday (7/2)
http://community.webshots.com/album/552083695CLkzkI
Monday (7/3) - a travel day. Hugh and I took the rental car and followed Bruce and James to Boise, Idaho where we picked up Gary Smith and continued to King Mountain. Gary and I took the rental car on an alternate route through the mountains and enjoyed some spectacular scenery and good music. We arrived in the Moore Idaho City Park (King Meet HQ) and met many pilots, including Jim Rowan and Mark Gardener.
Tuesday (7/4) - I awoke at 6am to the sounds of clanking. The U-joint was going bad in Bruce's truck, so he was working to replace it, using rocks, wood blocks, and pieces of pipe as tools. Within an hour, the truck was repaired and EVERYONE was awake : )
This was a pre-meet day and we expected it would be a good opportunity to become familiar with King. The day began as a lamb and ended as a lion.
Early conditions were rather mild, due to high overcast. I elected to launch PG from the King Mtn. lower launch and found sufficient lift to stay up. I eventually gained about 500' and used the opportunity to top land and assemble the U2. Hugh also flew PG, and caught a ride back up with James.
Eventually, the overcast cleared and cu's formed. I was able to get to 12.9k in the U2 and took a few photos. Meanwhile, the clouds began to overdevelop to the north. I used my altitude to fly out in the valley and landed near Bruce. Shortly after James arrived and we loaded gliders on the truck, winds shifted 180 degrees and the gust front began rolling in.
I reported conditions on the radio, suggested a southward run to Arco (9 miles), and we began the chase. Just as we approached Arco, we received radio directions to a candidate LZ from Rob Wolf, arriving there just after Ashley's landing, in time to see Hugh hovering down. I ran out to grab Hugh's front wires as the winds increased beyond 25mph. Rob landed in treacherous 30+ gusty conditions. Similarly, over near the Arco Airport, Mark G had landed just before the gust front, and JR caught the rowdy aftermath. We learned later that those who flew 10 miles astwward to Howe had zero-wind landings.
Wednesday (7/5) - We awoke to overcast skies and prepared for the Pilot's meeting. The weather briefing was not promising, but we loaded the truck and headed for lower launch, just as the first rain showers began. We turned around, loaded into the rental car and headed for Craters of the Moon National Park (h ttp://www.nps.gov/crmo ) where we did some cave exploring and enjoyed the stark contrast of lava and ash. Many of the other pilots did the same.
Afterward, we drove eastward to a hot spring and soaked in mineral waters as we gazed at a clearing sky. Not much later, we were racing back toward King with hopes of flying Big Southern Butte, a 2k agl volcanic cinder south of Arco. Due to building storms to the south, NW winds and waning daylight, we elected instead to fly from the Coyote launch, a NW-facing just south from the King launch. After observing waning winds, I chose to fly PG and launched first, quickly sinking out. On my way to the LZ at about 600 agl, I encountered 50fpm lift and gradually worked my way back above launch and above the peak, gaining about 2k in 30 minutes. Bruce and Gary joined me in the air, and we all enjoyed smooth air and a beautiful sunset.
Thursday (7/6) - Having missed scoring flights on the first day, everyone was eager for some XC. The weather briefing called for moderate high pressure (=ratty thermals) with 30% chance of OD, but we were optimistic.
Up at launch, a Route 3 (eastward OTB) task was called, due to potential OD to the N. Encroaching cloud cover suckered many pilots off of launch, including me. I managed to hang out and outlasted many others around me, but after observing some major whacks in both the bailout and main LZs, I chose to use my altitude to attempt a safe landing. (Note: 2 years ago I broke a LE and DT while trying to land a WW Talon at King in rowdy conditions) This time, in spite of a 100 degree wind shift, I pulled off a successful landing. I understand Bruce made it eastward to Howe, approximately 15 miles. Hugh and Gary landed in the designated LZ.
Craters of the Moon National Park, Idaho (7/5 - Wednesday)
http://community.webshots.com/album/552081450swvKtQ
King Mountain - Tuesday (7/4) through Thursday (7/6)
http://community.webshots.com/album/552081436YwXdpR
Thursday afternoon, Hugh and I packed the majority our gear into Bruce's trailer and drove eastward with our PGs toward Jackson Hole Wyoming, arriving in time for a spectacular sunset and great views of the Teton mountain range.
Friday (7/7) - At 6am, we headed to Teton Village, ate a hearty breakfast and met the local pilots at Jackson Hole Paragliding. Our aim was to ride the aerial tram and fly PGs before the tram is closed to public access in August. Note: I learned to ski in Jackson Hole in December of 1964 and skied there almost every year through 1975. I rode the tram the first year it was opened.
http://www.jacksonhole.com/info/jh.tram.index.asp
Due to fog, we had to wait until about 9am to catch our first ride. I got my first Jackson Hole 'cloud dive', but unfortunately, my camera batteries died while I was in the air. Afterward, I flew twice more. On our final flight, Hugh and I were able to thermal for awhile. I've provided links to pre-cloud-dive and post-fog flight photos below.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming (7/7 - Friday morning)http://community.webshots.com/album/552088304OcyKeB
After our final Tram flight, we headed south toward Salt Lake City Utah, with plans to fly either the Crawford Mountains near Randolph Utah, or Point of the Mountain (POTM) near Draper, Utah. On arrival at Randolph, we found crosswind conditions and continued southward, arriving at the 'Point' by 7pm. Strangely, few pilots were in the air. We soon learned that conditions had recently improved. I quickly pulled out my PG and launched (forgetting my vario) into 15mph+, easily benching up and over the ridge behind launch. Hugh waited awhile for winds to abate and enjoyed a tour of the lower ridge. After about 90 minutes of mostly hands-free flying in baby-butt-smooth air, I top landed near Hugh and cold beverages.
Links to photos are provided below
Point of the Mountain (North Side), Draper, Utah (7/7 - Friday evening)
http://community.webshots.com/album/552088120VMOyko
Saturday (7/8) - We awaked early (6am) and headed to the South Side of POTM, hoping for some early morning soaring before our flights home. Unfortunately, winds were light south, providing for some kiting and sled rides. Hugh flew a few times before winds switched from the north. We packed our gear and headed for the airport.
Hugh headed for Providence, RI enroute to Martha's Vinyard where he crews a sailboat back to Annapolis. I volunteered to give up my seat on an overbooked United flight, departing about 3 hours later (first class) to Dulles via Chicago, with a free round trip flight voucher in my pocket ... the seed of a new flying adventure ... a story yet to be told.
While at the airport in Utah, we heard some bad news. Bruce was injured in an accident while flying at King on Friday, but has been treated and released with non-life threatening injuries from which he is expected to fully recover without permanent disability. This is sad and sobering news. I am very thankful that he escaped more serious injury.
Bruce's generosity, patience, kindness, tolerance, and perseverence have been an inspiration and example for me these past six years, and seven Trips West. He is a very dear friend and I am praying that he will have a speedy recovery.
Other news: while I was in Idaho, I received an offer on my house and it is now under contract with a closing date of July 31. I will depart for my new state of residence in Colorado on Monday, July 31. I have leased a property in Evergeen where I will reside whilst seeking a more permanent domicile.
I plan to attend the High Rock party on July 28 and hope to see any or all of you there. Once in my new habitat, I will publish contact information, and all are welcome to come visit for skiing, flying, or whatever.
'Spark