Andy Dainsberg
Sunday, 3/4/12
about 23 miles

See Also [Tom Pipkin's Article]

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Nuthouse to East Beach

by andy dainsberg » Posted Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:05 pm

Most of the usual suspects had a legit “get out of nuthouse class“ excuse today; so it was just Tom and I. Hike was warm, but considering he’s been living on drinking carrots for the last week, Pipkin aced it!~ Easy climb-outs for us and we flew East a few miles looking for a thermal ticket to SB. Tom specked out and headed West from the Pyramid and I followed from Nordhoff ridge at @5400. We had a nice tailwind to start the long glide to the other side…

Bump 3 was especially productive for us. I rode it up to over 6k and took the high road behind Whiteledge. I didn’t have much luck thermaling from there until the trapezoid at Noon Peak. Although effective with decent tops, thermals didn't feel particularly strong to me today. Tailwind persisted up to Noon Peak, but transitioned to a WNW after the Power Lines- making for a few wing crunching, rotor infused spine crossings as I was in that familiar bind of needing to keep the high ground as much as I could- instead of pushing way out in sink in front of the spines.

Low @ Montecito Peak, a surprise thermal out front was enough to get me (and Bob A. whom I met @ Romero) out to East Beach. 2:40h flight time. Max alt: 6050.

Thanks to Ron Faoro for the retrieve!!! We got Tom, who had taken the glide out to Gobenador. Beautiful day to be a Nuthouse Flyer!