Yosemite
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Yosemite
Sallie and I drove Randy's and my gliders out. (We rode bikes on the Katy trail in Missouri and had a nice visit with friends in Fort Collins CO). Randy and I had made our appointments with the site monitor at YHGA for 3, 4 and 5 June months in advance. You have to be a H4. The first day was cancelled due to a kerfuffle with the new USHPA insurance regime. We met at 0645 on Glacier Point, filled out paperwork, paid $5 (+$15 for the t-shirt), and set up - no wheels! The launch is steep and smooth - glider would roll - plus grass is pretty high in the LZ (Leidig Meadow, near Swinging Bridge. The monitors inspected our gliders, scanned in our USHPA cards. Launch is straightforward if you are used to, say, Woodstock - just don't trip! It's a 12-15 minute sled ride from 7200 to 4000, with dramatic granite cliff faces and waterfalls - lot's of water in the park this spring (this was the first weekend for flying - there's still plenty of snow up on Tioga Pass). I had walked the wrong LZ, wondered where the gliders were, finally found them in the shade of tall trees, saw my reflection in standing water in part of the meadow. Met Eaves Tallchief, the "mayor" of Yosemite hang-gliding, who gave us a tip to try and work the scree slopes under the cliffs to the left of Yosemite Falls - he got an hour once. They make you launch in the 8 o'clock hour, so not much chance, but I got a few beeps. We loaded Randy's glider and said goodbye - he had his entire extended family with him. I flew at Fort Funston midweek (got the helmet sticker early by mail). Flew HG at Woodrat Mt Oregon yesterday (bit strong and rowdy for PG) - buy helmet sticker at Ruch country store, land at winery... Headed to Lakeview... - Hugh
Re: Yosemite
Hugh,
I wish you would have told me when you were going to be at Yosemite. Zelda and I were there from May 28 and left on June 6. Would have helped you out with your flight. As a mere H3 I would not have past muster with the park service, but could help with launch and landing. I thought the window for launch was 9 to 10 am.
Back home yesterday and unpacking from our six month extended westerly trip. Let us keep in touch on travels in the future. Zelda and I are joining Steve Kinsley for two months in Temecula, come January 2017 and Feb 2017. We got in a lot of flying this year and hope to repeat the same next year. You should consider joining us for two months in Cali next year.
Joe
I wish you would have told me when you were going to be at Yosemite. Zelda and I were there from May 28 and left on June 6. Would have helped you out with your flight. As a mere H3 I would not have past muster with the park service, but could help with launch and landing. I thought the window for launch was 9 to 10 am.
Back home yesterday and unpacking from our six month extended westerly trip. Let us keep in touch on travels in the future. Zelda and I are joining Steve Kinsley for two months in Temecula, come January 2017 and Feb 2017. We got in a lot of flying this year and hope to repeat the same next year. You should consider joining us for two months in Cali next year.
Joe
Re: Yosemite
Tell Zelda I'm good for a glider or motorglider ride when I'm back. I think I've got Sallie hooked on the Applegate Valley (Woodrat Mt) in SW Oregon. I had a nice flight on my Falcon 195 there Friday, landed at a winery, like you do there. Wind was cross at Lakeview yesterday. Will check in at King Mt ID, then Missoula...