Sunday, 1/13/13 [Weather] and [Flight Articles] by [Bob A]  [Ron Faoro]  [Andy Dainsberg] [Tim Barker]

Bob Anderson (aka yna / Cougie / BobA)    Saturday, 1/13/2013

EJ Bowl to Magic Mountain

Article copied from: http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2746#p8264

Posted by BobA » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:28 pm

Track Log: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/712731

Met up with Jon at the beach, left a car, and caught the Eagle van for a ride up to EJ Bowl along with Ron and Timay.  Nice flying and nice posts!  What a day, it was awesome!  Not exactly the kind of day we all wanted but exciting to say the least! Ahieee!  The lift was strong and the west wind was strong - not a pleasant day to run laps but a serious day to fly outta town!  It can get pretty uncomfortable in our comfortable spots on strong days, and sure enough it was more comfortable down range, down wind rodeo style!  Woohoo! - buckle up boys, it's gonna be a live one!

I took a live one from out in front (and to the SE) of La Cumbre peak, the drift took me to nearly in front of EJ bowl and under a large cloud...10+ tailwind.  I flew behind RnR a bit, then the same at TF but veered out to fly under a cloud SE of the top.  A few turns and Montecito was assured...came into the Road Cut at Romero low - fished around a bit.  Seemed light!  Took a drifter across the canyon and dolphined it to Castle point - same thing - low drifter thru the gap to the next ridge - no downdrafts at these spots - just WSW wind chopping things up... connected a few spots low over the top to the wires and found a beauty to 7k' into wispies drifting close to Noon.  I went on to West Divide to find light lift.  I took a few pictures until I began one handed wingovers.  Headed into East Divide fast and flushing but alass light lift.  Drifted it a bit then fell off the lift diving on Whiteledge, lots of sink on the way but the wing yanked into the huge lift waiting there seconds after I was past the edge (over bottom) of the white slab.

Ran down to Bump Three but wasn't rewarded.  Dove onto the Nuthouse launch with a few hundred - worked ridge lift for a few spines climbing but deep and low.  Hammer zipped by (never below 4k' until at I5 where he arrived at 1800' and climbed back to 7400').  Willy flew on top of me.  I chased him a round a bit but had to fly out front.  I found a solid one leading back toward Nordoph peak.  High again I aimed for Willy about four spines down, out on front points, nearly in front of Chiefs.  After a few quick up and downs along West and East Repeater Willy disappeared.  Finding the fat lift it was clear he beamed out and headed for Santa Paula ridge.

Cutting the corner a bit coming into the back of the shadowed ridge didn't matter much as there was converging lift there to over the spine and all along the dragon's back to the other end!... I hit 7k', Willy had hit 7.5k there and Jeff nearly the same awhile later.  Andy was landing in Fillmore when I flew by - said he was gonna catch the first bus back and concerned that Piru didn't have a bus stop - stoked to be high, and I since I hadn't thought of retrieve to this point, I told him I didn't care.  Andy gave me the 'copy that' and that it was 'good day to go for it'.

With tailwinds about 12 with occasional WNW gusts to 20 it was easy to get past Fillmore.  Back in the hills a bit past the radar towers fat lift was good to 6250' or so before getting weird.  I went on a long glide to past Piru and groveled in the foothills along the 126 before a final thermal lifted off that sheared at 5k'.  I took a few pictures as I headed to I5 and Magic mtn.  I crossed I5 for prosperity in low lift but the urban landscape and rocky terrain had me turn tail back and land next to Willy - 61.9 miles from the Eliminator.  Jeff came in just shy of this field while Hammer landed in Sand Canyon at 71 miles out for the flight of the day!

Phoenix provided precision chase, while Hammer collected us all, took us to Taco Bell, and on home.  Many Thanks - we're stoked!  Terry was out there and others but not sure where they all ended up.

Irene

West Divide looking back west

One Handed

West Divide looking East

Piru

Hyw 126

Cheers!