Other Weekend [Flight Articles] and [Weather Archive]

Bo Criss
Super Bowl Sunday, 2/5/12

Article copied from http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2416

The Alternator to Los Olivos
About 24 1/2 miles straight line
1 1/2 hour flight, 12:20 launch, 1:50 landing

I could tell when I rolled into the T for the van ride up, that pilots were pretty psyched to fly after yesterday's epic air. Two van fulls as well as Ken Hudonjorgensen's clinic rolled up the hill. When I got to launch, I immediately noticed a steady base wind from the southeast and thought this day is going to be different than yesterday. I was slow to pull my kit out and decided to watch for a while. Good pilots were launching and getting pinched by the wind finding themselves low on the spine and behind West Bowl. After a time some of the pilots started climbing pretty well, but I could see the east wind having an effect on the slope of the climbs. Andy and Aaron eventually made good climbs and started heading west.

I was one of the last to launch around 12:20 and was concerned about the wind, I figured I'd stay local. After working the points just in front of launch for a bit, I finally started climbing. My goal was to not commit to the main spine low as pilots were getting pummeled by the wind there. I figured the points in front of launch would work better due to less wind compression and it paid off. My vario doesn't have a display so I don't know how high I got, but it seemed to be over 6k. I took the altitude and rearranged my fly local plans and headed west. I had a massive tail wind and I didn't make a turn until the VOR where I only made one turn, then pushed on. At Painted Cave I made 2 circles and pushed on. I was still high when I got to the terrain past the 154. I found some lift and made 4 circles and pushed on. It was ridiculous. I started to get low as I approached a pile of rocks that gave me good lift yesterday. I climbed a thousand and pushed on to Lizard's Mouth where I didn't find anything, so committed to pushing on. Calling out on the radio, I learned that Andy and Aaron had flushed off and were landing along the 101. It was discouraging, cause I wanted to fly with my amigos and it feels better to have someone watching your back. I found a touch of lift at the first bump in the gap that gave me confidence to push on to Condor Ridge. Here I got a ripper and hung on to some unbelievably strong and sometimes turbulent lift. This took me to an altitude even with Santa Ynez Peak which was the next major spine ahead. I pushed on to the spine and caught a solid thermal, not as turbulent as the last, but not taking me to the moon like yesterday. I was probably 800 over the peak and then pushed on west over the main spine. The tailwind was still strong. I was getting lower and decided to commit to going over the back.

As I went over the back my sink increased greatly and the tailwind was now almost due south. I had 600 over the terrain and was confident I could make a clearing in the foothills just over the ridge. I went straight between two spines over the canyon that was clear of trees sinking quickly. Looked like a good place to land near a dirt road, but a longer walk out to civilization. Suddenly the vario beeped. I gingerly made a circle and realized the tailwind was strong. Facing south towards the ridge I just had left, I was traveling backwards at 5-10 mph. It was a very weird feeling as I continued to milk the lift flying backwards on the upwind leg. It had the feeling of stalling the glider and I was careful not to pull the brakes very hard. With this lift I knew I could make it out of the foothills and land in the fields south of the 246 HWY. As I headed north to civilization I saw some birds circling, two Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed hawk over some construction area in the flats. I connected with the thermal 300 feet above ground and held on as it frisbeed me over the valley. I probably climbed 700 feet drifting due north the whole time. I could see Los Olivos and thought if I could just get a couple more circles I might make it there. The thermal finally stopped and I pointed up the valley. There are a number of fields, but I realized many were growing grapes with lots of fencing. I found a field of alfalfa a block away from downtown Los Olivos and curved in with a 180 approach to a very soft landing in a headwind at 1:50, so 1-1/2 hour flight. Straight line it's only 24.5 miles. Yesterday's flight to Solvang was 24 miles, but this one seemed more accomplished with a bit of flat land thermalling. It sure is nice to be away from mountain terrain turning circles.

The neighbors across the street came out to find out more and when they asked if I needed a ride anywhere, I told them I thought there was a bus going from the casino. They drove me over there and I found out that Saturdays there is a 2:30 bus, but on Sundays you have to wait till 8pm. I decided to give my thumb a try. I walked a block away from the casino, put out my thumb and 4 minutes later Salvador was my salvation. He spoke a bit of English and had a heart of gold as he drove me all the way back to my truck in record time. Ken and his crew were just loading up and I tagged along with them downtown to Santa Barbara Brewery for the Superbowl. Damn good game and a remarkable day of flying.

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