2007 Trip West II - day 1

[mcelrah]

Bruce Engen, Joe Schad and I are on yet another road trip extraordinaire, courtesy of Bruce's uber-truck and 26 foot race car trailer with an SUV, six hang gliders and couple of bunks in it. Our goal is Lakeview Oregon, but due to lower diesel prices and higher speed limits further south, Bruce rpefers a route that takes us through Tennessee. We had thought to stop at Henson's Gap for camping, showers and flying off the radial ramp, but wind directions did not look good - and they were acceptable at Woodstock, so the first flying day of our big road trip was at our home site.

Around noon, wind was light and crossing from the south, but building consistent with the forecast. I waited with my paraglider on launch for a good hour, finally took a somewhat gnarly sled in the crossing wind. Bruce and Joe meanwhile saw building winds and got up for nice long soaring flights. Charlie Givans showed up and gave me a lift back up. He also helped me carry in my U2 and launch in the 15 mph SW cross, even though he didn't get to fly his paraglider. Thanks! I had a nice hour flight.

We experienced multiple tire failures on the trailer and limped into Denver after 40 hours. Sparky met us at Lookout Mountain after flying his paraglider and lent me his Falcon 225 to fly. Hiked our gliders up a couple of hundred feet at 6700 (puff, wheeze!) and set up, then broke down and carried them back down as it overdeveloped with thunder, lightening and heavy rain. Got to 14,000 feet later - in the car, up the paved road to the top of Mount Evans. Saw mountain goats, lightening below our altitude and rainbows. Hypoxia affected each of us differently: Sparky and I became giddy, Bruce got sleepy, but Joe felt ill. Sparky's wife Tracy served us a delicious meal. Trying Lookout again tomorrow while the airconditioning in the truck gets fixed, we hope, and four new uprated tires are installed on the trailer. Then it's off to Utah and Oregon. - Hugh

[Spark]

... Got to 14,000 feet later - in the car, up the paved road to the top of Mount Evans. Saw mountain goats, lightening below our altitude and rainbows. ...

Some pix to add perspective - click to view the larger version
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2249 ... PcZd"><img src="http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/55/455/9/ ... cZd_th.jpg" alt="DSCF0016"></a>

<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2316 ... oLIv"><img src="http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/64/464/2/ ... LIv_th.jpg" alt="DSCF0023"></a>

<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2034 ... jnKr"><img src="http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/30/466/7/ ... nKr_th.jpg" alt="DSCF0029"></a>

[hepcat1989]

Is that Colton? Amazing shots man! Can't wait to come out and see you in May.....Enjoy and BE CAREFUL!
Peace, Shawn.