Villa Grove

Spark · Post by **Spark** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:33 pm

This is about a week late. I got my first flight at Villa Grove on 30-Nov.

Villa Grove is located near the northern end of the Sangre de Cristo range in southern Colorado, about 2.5 hours from my place.

I snapped a few shots, before launch, including this one of my wing .

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains on Earth. They stretch from Poncha Pass, Colorado (near Salida where Mike Chevalier lives), sothward to Glorieta Pass, New Mexico. There are ten peaks over 14,000' high in the range, and more than two dozen over 13,000'.

The San Luis valley below launch is a large expanse of LZs, mostly 8500' os so msl. ... think 'flare timing'.

Launch is about half-way up to the top on a rough 4WD road. It was the first time in years that I've gotten to really do some more serious off-road driving.

Although I didn't get to cruise the range and take awsome fall photos, as I hoped, I managed to scrape myself up from low, stayed awhile and learned a few things about the site and met some of the locals.

Mike nailed his landing in his new U2 and I have a photo to prove it. (click on the photo)

After my half-hour HG flight, I caught a ride up and enjoyed the evening glassoff in the PG.

Thanks to Mike for his hospitality.

'Spark

Post by **huddlec** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:05 pm

I was lucky when I visited Mike it was a great day and was able to cruise the ridge. I was talking to Mike last night and I think he said that the day after the one you wrote about was much better. He said he got to 16K or so and flew down to Crestline (or whatever the name of the town is) and back. He's really liking the U2.
Christy

Post by **mcelrah** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:00 pm

Thanks for a good motivating post as gloom over office imprisonment and impending winter enfolds me. (Yeah, I know, fall can be great, but I hate the short days...) Stand by for visitors! - Hugh

Post by **hepcat1989** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:58 pm

Yes indeed! That sounds like the real deal. I sure would like to fly out there this spring. I'll call ya soon.
Heading to Hyner this weekend.
thanks for the write up, and letting us know how you're doin.
Peace, Shawn.